Support for trans and non-binary students

Confidential advice and peer support

If you're seeking confidential advice or support around gender identity or transitioning, you can access:

UWE Bristol Student Support Advisers
Students’ Union LGBT+ Officer, Trans Welfare Officer or LGBT+ Student Society.

UWE Bristol does not tolerate bullying, harassment or discrimination. The University will act to protect your dignity, safety and wellbeing.

There are two ways you can tell us what happened:

report anonymously – share your experience without revealing your identity
report with contact details – speak with a trained adviser who can support you and help investigate the incident.

Other UWE Bristol support options

Wellbeing Support – includes in-person and online support.
UWE Cares – support for students who are estranged from their family, care leavers, carers or Sanctuary Scholars.
Equity – personal and professional development opportunities for Global Majority students .

External support

Using your affirmed name and gender

Enrolment

You can enrol and study at UWE Bristol using your affirmed name and gender.

If you are applying through UCAS you can update your name by emailing the UCAS Process Team.

Alternatively, you can update your details with UWE Bristol during enrolment. Contact the Student Support Adviser Team directly by calling +44 (0)117 9656261 or emailing infopoint@uwe.ac.uk and asking to speak to a Student Support Adviser.

Identification

The UK government requires that all students present identification at the stage of enrolment including a passport, visa or birth certificate combined with other forms of identification. As not all trans people will hold a birth certificate that is reflective of their affirmed gender, you will be given the option of providing more than one type of official identification, for example a driving license, passport, a Statutory Declaration or change of name by Deed Poll.

If you do not have any identification that includes your affirmed name or gender, you will still be able to enroll using the name and gender of your choice.

See the Trans and Non-Binary Policy (PDF) – Section 3 for details.

Changing your student record

The University stores student records in multiple places, including centrally, in your School and in Student and Academic Services.

If you want to change your affirmed name and gender during your studies, you can request changes through InfoPoint or Student Support Advisers. Updates will be made across systems including ID cards and email.

You do not need a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) to change your name, gender marker or access support. UWE Bristol recognizes affirmed identities without requiring legal documentation.

Agreed date of change

With your consent and from the date agreed with you, we will amend or destroy records held which refer to your former name and/or gender marker. At certain times, for example, immediately prior to an assessment deadline or exam date, changing records may not be possible. A Student Support Adviser will be able to highlight any potential difficulties and agree a date with you.

Transitioning while studying

Who to tell

You can choose who you feel most comfortable speaking to about your transition. This may be a Student Support Adviser, your personal tutor or programme leader. Student Support Advisers are able to provide support throughout the process of transitioning and beyond.

Confidentiality

Your privacy is protected under GDPR and the Gender Recognition Act 2004.

Your disclosure will be treated as confidential. No one else will be informed until you have been involved in a discussion about who needs to know you have given your consent.

If you want to make changes to your student record, the Student Support Adviser Team will need to be informed, with your consent.

In exceptional circumstances, where the person who you tell is concerned for your safety or that of others, they have a duty to inform relevant bodies. In such instances, disclosure would relate only to concerns about your safety or the safety of others.

Time off for medical or wellbeing appointments

Where possible, you are encouraged to arrange medical appointments outside your scheduled learning activities. Speak to your Student Support Adviser and Personal Tutor if you anticipate absences for medical or other appointments, including appointments for speech therapy, wellbeing support or other counselling. You don’t need to disclose specific medical details, but evidence of appointments may be required.

It would also be useful to have a conversation with your Personal Tutor, Module Leader or Programme Leader about any absences you expect to take so that measures can be put in place to minimise any impact on your studies. Your Student Support Adviser may need to speak to your Programme Leader to help make these changes, and if so, they will ask for your consent.

Student Support Advisers can provide advice on how to manage long-term absences because of transitioning.

Financial support

Student Support Fund

UWE Bristol offers financial support for trans students through its Student Support Fund, available to both Home and International students, and can cover:

medical costs – up to £1,500 for non-NHS treatments
personal items – up to £250 for ID changes and £500 for buying new clothes.

You can see a full breakdown of what the fund covers in the Student Support Fund guide.

DBS checks

If you have changed your name since your last Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, please contact DBS to find out if you need a new check.

You can apply confidentially through the Sensitive Applications Route offered by the DBS. This route allows transgender applicants to prevent disclosure of previous names or gender identities on their DBS certificate.

Email: sensitive@dbs.gov.uk

Tel: +44 (0)300 131 2784

Accommodation and campus facilities

Student accommodation

When submitting your online application, you will be asked if you prefer to live in single sex or gender-neutral flats. There is a free text box where you can expand on your preferences. We do our best to meet these requests when allocating rooms, unfortunately, as with all accommodation requests, this cannot be guaranteed.

Speak to the Accommodation team by calling +44 (0)117 32 832601 or email accommodation@uwe.ac.uk to discuss any specific and individual requirements.

Once you’ve moved into university accommodation, if you wish to change accommodation you can contact your Accommodation Manager, who will be able to explain the transfer process and discuss the different options available. However, all room moves are subject to vacancies.

Gender-neutral toilets and changing facilities

All members of the university community are legally obliged to:

use facilities designated for individuals based on their sex or use gender neutral facilities
respect the rights of others under the Equality Act 2010, including the protected characteristics of sex, gender reassignment and protected beliefs.

The University will not monitor individual access to facilities and does not support any staff member, student or visitor to police or challenge the use of facilities by others. This includes questioning, confronting or otherwise attempting to enforce facility access rules on behalf of the institution.

If any member of the university community has concerns about the use of facilities by others, they should be directed to established reporting channels such as Report and Support (students and staff) or People Services Advice Hub (staff).

These channels are designed to handle concerns confidentially, respectfully and in accordance with university policy and legal obligations.

Sports, clubs and societies

At UWE Bristol you can join Team UWE Bristol, which includes over 40 sports clubs offering both competitive and social opportunities. Clubs are open to all students, and many offer beginner-friendly training.

UWE Bristol and BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) actively promote inclusive participation in university sport. BUCS has a clear stance that sport is for everybody and no student should feel excluded from competitions or programmes due to their gender identity.

BUCS’ Diversity & Inclusion Action Plan outlines its commitment to embedding equity, diversity and inclusion across all sports, including support for LGBT+ students.

For guidance on competitions, leagues or inclusive participation, contact the UWE Bristol Sports Development Team.

Dress code

You are supported in dressing to reflect your gender identity. There will be times where there is a requirement for a specific dress code or protective equipment, as an outcome of a Health and Safety risk assessment. This requirement will be in place to protect you, and those you may be working with, from any risk that is present.

Student Support Advisers can speak with your College to offer support and advice on any gendered clothing requirements, particularly connected to your placement.

Support during trips and residentials

If you have any specific concerns around trips and residentials, it’s best to speak directly with the academic leading the trip to discuss any needs or adjustments that would help you feel safe and supported.

This could include room arrangements, travel plans or access to facilities. You can also speak with a Student Support Adviser for confidential advice and help with planning.

This guide has been co-produced with input from the trans and non-binary student community to reflect inclusive, compassionate and lived-experience-informed support.