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Change your name, gender and pronouns as a current student

How to update your student record to reflect a change in details, and what happens next

You can make changes to the details we hold about your identity. This includes your preferred first name, legal name, pronouns, title and gender. This page tells you what you can update yourself, and when you need to ask us to make a change for you.

Your department is not automatically told if you update your name or other details, but you can ask us to inform them on your behalf. You can read more about what happens after you update your details.

Advice and support

The Student Support Advice Team can give you a confidential space to talk about your choices and decisions at any point during your studies, including if you are in transition. We handle all enquiries professionally and sensitively. You can also read our guide to LGBTQ+ student support at Bath.

Graduates and former students

If you are a graduate or a former student, please read our guide to changing your details.

Preferred first name and title

If you use a first name in everyday life that isn't the same as your legal name, we call this your 'preferred first name' or ‘known as first name'. Your preferred first name is used in our IT systems and class lists.

How to update your student record

Log in to SAMIS. Select Student Home, then Check Personal Details.

Important information

  • You don't need to tell us why you are updating your preferred first name or title, or provide any evidence. We might contact you to confirm the change you have made.
  • We don't issue your award certificate, record of assessment, or final academic transcript in your preferred first name. These must be issued in your legal name.
  • While we record your title, we don't normally use it day-to-day.
  • We're currently unable to support use of preferred middle name(s) or surname/family name. To update these on your record, you will need to change your legal name. If you feel you have exceptional circumstances, please contact Academic Registry, academic-registry@bath.ac.uk using your University email.

Legal name

A legal name is the name that identifies a person for legal, administrative, and other official purposes. A person's legal name is generally the name of the person which appears on a birth certificate, but this may subsequently change.

How to update your student record

To update your legal first name, middle name(s) and surname/family name, please submit a request to update the legal name on your student record. You will need to provide evidence that confirms the change, but you don't need to tell us why it's changed. If you can't provide suitable evidence, please still complete the form and we'll contact you to discuss how we can support you.

Accepted evidence

Accepted documents include:

  • Deed poll (or change of name deed)
  • Marriage or civil partnership certificate
  • Birth certificate
  • Gender recognition certificate
  • Statutory declaration
  • Affidavit
  • Passport
  • Driving license
  • Divorce papers (accompanied by signed documentation that confirms you have changed your name)

Important information

  • Your legal name is used on your award certificate, final academic transcript and record of assessment. It may also be used in some formal letters.
  • We ask you to check your legal name is correct before we issue your award certificate.
  • If you have a Student/Tier 4 visa, your change of name will first be reviewed by the Student Immigration Service. They may contact you for verification purposes.
  • We'll ask you during the process if you'd like us to inform your department that you've changed your legal name.

Gender

How to update your student record

Log in to SAMIS. Select Student Home, then Check Personal Details.

Important information

Pronouns

How to update your student record

Log in to SAMIS. Select Student Home, then Check Personal Details.

Important information

The pronouns on your student record are not shown in Microsoft apps such as Teams. If you would like your pronouns to be visible on these apps you will also need to update these yourself using Teams.

Transitioning

You can update your name, pronouns and gender in your student record by following the steps on this page.

Advice and support

It is up to you whether you wish to be open about your gender identity and who you tell. The Student Support Advice Team can give you a confidential space to talk about your choices and decision at any point during your studies, including if you are in transition. We handle all enquiries professionally and sensitively.

You can also read our guides to:

Important information

  • You can update your Library Card free of charge to reflect changes to your name and pronouns, and update your photo.
  • Your department is not formally told if you change your preferred first name, title, pronouns or gender. Instead, they'll see your updated details in our IT systems, or when they next run a class list or report that shows your name. If you would like us to tell your department for you, please contact Academic Registry, academic-registry@bath.ac.uk from your University email.
  • If you update your legal name we'll ask if you want us to tell your department.
  • If you permanently change your gender, we can work with you to remove reference to your replaced gender in your student record. Please contact Academic Registry, academic-registry@bath.ac.uk from your University email to discuss your options. If you don't have evidence that confirms your change of gender, we will ask you to confirm in writing that you have permanently changed your gender.

What happens after you update your details

Name changes are made within one working day on the University’s internal Person Finder, Microsoft apps such as Outlook, Office and Teams, and other IT systems.

Class lists, or other reports used by your department

Changes will be shown the next time these are run by your department.

Pronouns in Teams (and other Microsoft apps)

The pronouns on your student record are not shown in Microsoft apps such as Teams. If you would like your pronouns to be visible on these apps you will need to update these yourself using Teams.

IT username

When you first started at the University, a login was created using the initials of your legal name. We don't automatically update your username when you change the name in your student record. You can request a new login to match your name by using the Self-Service Portal. Select DDaT Support: IT & Audio Visual, Report an Issue and Report something else.

Disability Action Plans (DAP)

Contact the Disability Service to update your name.

Your staff record (if you also work for the University)

Your student record is not linked to your HR record. If you need to update your details, please contact the HR Operations Team, HR-Operations@bath.ac.uk.

University Medical and Dental Centres

These services are provided by the NHS and don't have access to your student record. You will need to update your details directly with the University Medical Centre and University Dental Centre.

If you find a system or process hasn't updated

You can let us know by using the Self-Service Portal. Select DDaT Support: IT & Audio Visual, Report an Issue and Report something else.

Updating your Library Card (University ID)

Your Library Card is your formal student identification. We'll ask you when you first register if your card should display your preferred first name instead of your legal first name, and your pronouns. It can be re-issued, free of charge to show:

Before you ask for a new card, your student record must match the changes you need to make. You can request a new card from the Library by emailing library@bath.ac.uk from your University email, confirming what details have changed.

Data confidentiality

All data held by the University of Bath in connection with any change of name will be treated in confidence and will never be disclosed to a third party without your permission. You can find out more in the University's Data Protection Statement for student registration.

Further support

If you have any questions about our processes or have found that updates to your details have not been made as you expected, please contact Academic Registry, academic-registry@bath.ac.uk.

The Student Support Advice Team can give you a confidential space to talk about your choices and decisions at any point during your studies, including if you are in transition. We handle all enquiries professionally and sensitively. You can also read our guide to LGBTQ+ student support at Bath.

If you are a Tier 4/Student Visa holder, the Student Immigration Service can advise you on the impact of updating your legal name and gender on your visa.

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