When a student changes their gender or the name they identify with, how do universities handle it?

BarcelonaThat when the professor addresses the student, they should use the name they prefer and respect the gender with which they identify. This objective, which at first glance might seem easy, until a few years ago involved a high level of bureaucracy for university students who, for whatever reason, do not identify with the information reflected in their official documents such as their ID or passport. However, public universities are now making it increasingly easier to make these changes. However, these modifications will only be valid in the strictly university setting and will not be reflected in official degrees.

The latest university to take a significant step in this direction has been the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), which, starting this academic year, allows students to change their gender identity with just one click through the school's intranet. This was explained this Wednesday by the UAB parish priest, Javier Lafuente, who explained that students can access their file and change their gender directly "as many times as they want," and the professor can see how they want the student to be treated. "Until now, we had procedures that had to be done in person and explained to other people, which probably prevented some people from doing it for reasons of A, B, or C," he admitted.

A decade of being able to change your name in the classroom

Beyond the immediate gender identity change announced by the UAB, the four major public universities—UPF, UB, UPC, and UAB—have been allowing students to change their names without having to submit any changes to the Civil Registry for almost a decade. Although each institution has its own procedure, name changes generally apply to student lists, corporate email, the intranet, and university ID cards.

In the case of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), students who want to change their name (the name a person wishes to be identified with, according to their gender identity, and which may be different from their legal or birth name) until now had to do so by notifying academic administration once the academic year has started, but from the university pre-registration period. Regarding the number of UAB students requesting this change, 52 people requested it in the 2022-2023 academic year, 26 students in 2023-2024, and 23 last academic year.

At the University of Barcelona, name changes have been permitted since 2020. If a student is enrolled at the UB and wants to change their name, they must fill out a written request stating the name they want to be identified with. The Equality Unit reviews the request, confirms the change to the student, and notifies all services so that the student does not have to repeat it.

At Pompeu Fabra University, name changes have also been possible for almost a decade. However, in this case, after submitting the request, the student must attend an interview with the Equality Unit, and then the same body is responsible for submitting the request to the different services to change the name. Finally, at the UPC, students can change their gender and name online, and since last year, they can also request it when registering.