A supportive environment

The University aims to provide a supportive environment for trans students. The University’s Statement on Trans Equality sets out in more detail how the University will support you during your studies.

Your choices

It is up to you to choose whether you wish to be open about your gender identity and whom you tell. Therapeutic Services can give you a confidential space to talk about your choices and decisions; to support you if you are in transition or at any point during your studies.

We will aim to deal with all enquiries professionally and sensitively.

If helpful to you, we can offer:

• face-to-face meetings in a private space to discuss what support you will need
  
• work with you to identify who you would like to tell and how (e.g. your tutor/head of department/other academic staff/students/housemates)
• identify appropriate supporters or facilitators who can work with you while you inform people if needed
• inform relevant people on your behalf if you would prefer this
• discuss whether training or briefing of other students or staff is useful, who will do this and when

Practical steps

Everyone’s circumstances are different, but there is a range of practical steps we may be able to offer to support you. Not all of these options will be appropriate for everyone and we will only provide this support if it is what you want:

• work with your department to arrange for time off study in advance, if undergoing medical and surgical procedures related to gender reassignment
• arrange new or multiple ID cards e.g. library and other access cards, as required throughout the transitioning period
• support you to change your name, gender or pronouns on your University student record
• you are entitled to use toilets for the gender you identify with. There are also a number of gender neutral toilets around campus and changing facilities in the Sports Training Village which you may wish to use, but you are not obliged to do so. Student Support can advise further.
• work with the Students' Union to sensitively handle your membership of gender-specific sports clubs and societies
• provide funding information from a Funding Adviser if your trans status impacts you financially.

We can meet with you to discuss putting these steps in place but if you prefer you can email studentsupport@bath.ac.uk us and we can talk about it that way.

Support from other students

There is a well established LGBT+ Society Trans Network at the University of Bath Students' Union.

You may want to look at the Student Trans Roadmap. This is a guide for students by students from the University of Bath.

If you are a doctoral student you may be interested in joining Kaleidoscope, the LGBT+ group for our staff and doctoral students.

Any concerns

We want your experience as a trans student at Bath to be a positive one. Harassment, bullying, discrimination, or victimisation are all serious disciplinary offences and will be dealt with under the Dignity and Respect Policy. If you have any concerns about your experience at the University please request a confidential meeting with Student Support or consider alternative reporting options.

Many families will be highly supportive of your transition. If this is not the case for you, please come and talk to us. In some cases, a formal estrangement might be in place and this could entitle you to additional support and funding.