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Reliable process

Early change of first name now possible

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Icons: female, non-binary, male © devnorr​/​stock.adobe.com
News picture - trans-inter-nonbinary
TU Dortmund University has long supported the wish of trans*, inter* or non-binary students to have their new first name entered in the university's databases, documents and email addresses before a court decision is made. The university has now developed a new internal guideline to ensure that the process of changing first names within the university is reliably regulated.

If the gender identity and chosen name of trans*, inter* and non-binary people do not match the registrations in the university systems, this often leads to unwanted outings and discrimination. However, an official change of first name and gender affiliation is a lengthy process. TU Dortmund University sees itself as a university that lives and values diversity and aims to create study, research and working conditions that are low in discrimination and supportive. For this reason, the university has decided that students have the opportunity to apply for a change of first name and gender entry in the university context in advance without a court order. In future, enrolment can also take place with a new first name. Once the application has been submitted, students will be listed in full under the newly chosen first name.

The process of changing first names early at TU Dortmund University has been reliably regulated with the help of an internal guideline. The guideline was accepted by the NRW Ministry of Culture and Science without any objections. The procedure could also be implemented in the same way at other universities in NRW. At TU Dortmund University, everyone involved is already benefiting from the fact that the process is no longer determined by a series of individual decisions.

Students can seek confidential advice from the Equal Opportunities, Family and Diversity Office in all cases of first name changes and/or gender changes.

To the Equal Opportunities, Family and Diversity Office

To the application form