Gender Reassignment/Transgender

Gender Reassignment

SGUL has practical experience of supporting students who have chosen to reassign their gender while studying at the University. For instance the institution is fully committed to being guided by the wishes of the individual at all stages of the process. A designated staff member will be assigned lead responsibility for liaising with the individual and will have overall responsibility for ensuring all pre-agreed plans are implemented smoothly.

The Equality Act and trans status 

Gender reassignment is defined as ‘a process which is undertaken under medical supervision for the purpose of reassigning a person’s sex by changing physiological or other characteristics of sex, and includes any part of such a process’. However, the Equality Act now gives protection from discrimination to a person who has proposed, started or completed a process to change their sex. It also removes the need for a transsexual person to be under medical supervision to benefit from legal protection.  Additionally the Act protects people from discrimination by association because of gender reassignment.  For example, it would protect the parents of a trans person from being discriminated against because their child is transitioning.

A definition of the term trans

This is an inclusive term for those who identify themselves as transgender, transsexual or transvestite. The term trans can be used without offence but should only be used as an adjective, for example a trans student.

Support and other useful information

Support is provided to trans students via the LGBT student society. Please contact our Equality & Diversity Lead for more information.

Transgender policy (PDF)
Transgender procedure (PDF)