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Support for transgender and non-binary students

We celebrate and value the diversity of our community, and we are committed to treating all staff and students with dignity and respect, providing an inclusive and supportive environment.

We recognise that trans students may face additional challenges at university, and we have worked with trans staff and students to develop information and services to help support students in their affirmed gender identity and with any practical needs they may have.

We acknowledge that the term 'trans' can mean different things to different people. We are using it as a broad term covering many identities, including:

  • trans people with binary identities
  • those with non-binary/genderqueer identities
  • gender variant people
  • people who are questioning their gender in any way

Enrolling with your affirmed name and gender

If you have legally changed your name and updated your documents, you can enrol using your updated name and the gender marker that best aligns with your identity (e.g. male, female, other).

While the UK government requires certain forms of identification for enrolment - such as a passport, visa, or birth certificate combined with other forms of identification - we understand that these may not always reflect your affirmed gender or name. To support you, we offer flexible options for confirming your identity. You may provide a combination of the following:

  • Passport
  • Birth certificate
  • Statutory Declaration
  • Deed Poll (change of name)

If your identification documents do not yet reflect your affirmed gender or preferred name, you will still be able to enrol using the name and gender marker of your choice. Any legal documents required for verification will be stored securely by Registry and will only be accessible to authorised staff.

Accommodation

When submitting an online application for university residences all applicants are asked to indicate if they would prefer single or mixed-gender flats, and there is also an option to request to live in dedicated residences for LGBTQ+ students and allies. The Residence Teams will do their very best to meet these requests when allocating rooms, but it cannot be guaranteed.

Applicants are encouraged to contact their Residences Manager or the Residences Office to discuss any specific accommodation requirements.  These will always be considered and accommodated wherever possible.

If you wish to change your accommodation, you can contact the Residences Manager. They will explain the transfer process and discuss your options with you. However, room moves are subject to availability.

Gender-neutral facilities on campus

The University recognises the many non-binary and gender-fluid identities which exist. Gender-neutral toilets and facilities are available, and there are plans to increase the number of gender-neutral facilities on campus.

Students’ Union Gender Identity Fund

Trans and non-binary students can access the Students' Union Gender Identity Fund to cover costs related to gender-affirming care. This includes items like binders and packers, as well as transport to clinics for appointments.

Support and community

We have supported many students who have transitioned while at Cardiff University. Transitioning is a highly personal process that can take many different forms, whether social, medical, legal, or a combination of these.

Should you decide to transition while at university, you do not have to let anyone know. However, if you decide to let someone at the university know, please know that support is available to help you, should you require it. The process of transitioning would always be entirely led by you.

Ongoing support can be provided by specific contacts – details of which are available in the Trans Policy. There is also a dedicated Trans Support Service you can access. You are welcome to access support to discuss any queries or needs, even if you are not sure whether you want to transition.

The Student Health and Wellbeing Service has a dedicated Trans Support Team that can help students who are transitioning. They offer guidance and can help with practical matters, such as:

  • changing your details on university records
  • informing relevant staff of any changes (if you wish)
  • directing you to other relevant sources of support
  • remaining a point of contact for anything related to your transition

You can contact the team by emailing transcu@cardiff.ac.uk or through their online referral form.

A trans support adviser would invite you to an initial appointment within seven days to discuss your needs. Further sessions with your trans support adviser would be available afterwards, as required.

The student health and wellbeing service provides counselling and wellbeing support for LGBTQ+ students.

If you are experiencing any kind of emotional distress, do not hesitate to get in touch with the team. Support is available for any difficulty, no matter how big or small, whether it's related to gender identity, transitioning, or any other struggle.

All counsellors and wellbeing practitioners will listen to you without judgement and offer support in a safe, confidential space.

LGBTQ+ wellbeing champions

These students have received health and wellbeing training to provide peer support to other LGBTQ+ students. They host regular events, such as coffee lounges, to create a safe space where students can socialise, meet new people, or chat one-to-one with a champion for support or guidance.

Gender diverse spaces

Our Gender Diverse Space is a social space exclusively for anyone who considers themselves gender-diverse, including students who are trans, non-binary, questioning, gender queer, or any other gender outside of the binary. It is hosted by gender-diverse wellbeing champions and is available regularly during term-time.

CU Pride (LGBT+ Society) hosts several socials a week and organises events throughout the year. To ensure that everyone has the opportunity to join in, events take place on and off the gay scene, at different times and on different days throughout the week, and include non-alcoholic events.

TANGGS is the Transgender, ally, Non-binary, Gender questioning and Gender non-confirming Society, which seeks to build community among trans and non-binary students, via weekly socials and a variety of other activities.

The LGBT+ Association represents students that identify as lesbian, gay, bi, trans, questioning and other minority sexual, romantic and gender identities. The association works with the Students’ Union to improve the university experience for LGBTQ+ students through welfare and awareness campaigns on campus, and by lobbying for policy change.

Enfys is the LGBTQ+ network for staff and postgraduate students. Enfys organises and takes part in events for LGBTQ+ History Month, IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia) and Cardiff Pride. In recognition of the work it does, it has been awarded a Star Performer Network Group Award by Stonewall.

Reporting incidents

We are committed to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive community for all. The university will not tolerate any form of bullying, harassment or abusive behaviour, which will be treated as a disciplinary offence.

There is a dedicated Student Support Intervention Team (SSIT) available to provide support and assistance to any student who has experienced any form of bullying, harassment, discrimination, hate crime or any other kind of abuse.

Report and Support is a confidential platform where students can report an experience of this kind and access support from the SSIT if they want it. You can make a report about yourself or others and can choose to report anonymously or with your name. All reports are handled by trauma-informed specialist practitioners who are there to support you.

Our commitment

We strive to continually improve the experience of our LGBTQ+ students and have been recognised by Europe's largest LGBTQ+ equality organisation, Stonewall. We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion and have achieved a silver recognition award in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index 2024.

Our Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Damian Walford Davies,  wrote to our students and staff shortly after the Supreme Court judgment of April 2025, reaffirming our commitment to creating and maintaining a respectful, inclusive and supportive environment for all.