ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳

When you join the University you can tell us your title, known as name and pronouns so we know how you would like us to refer to you. However, your student record will show your full, official name to match official documents such as your passport and birth certificate. 

You can update your known as name, preferred pronouns or title at any time during your application to study at the University by emailing: 

• Undergraduate: myapp@st-andrews.ac.uk  
• Postgraduate taught: pgt.application@st-andrews.ac.uk  
• Postgraduate research: pgr.application@st-andrews.ac.uk 

You can update your official name during your studies by providing evidence of a name change and completing the form.

Official name 

Before you arrive  

You must use the name on your passport or birth certificate when you apply for a course and when you matriculate at the University. This is your full official name and it should match any information held by external bodies. 

To prevent delays: 

• The official name you provide for your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) must match your passport and any information you provide when you apply for your visa.  
• For tuition fee or maintenance loan applications to the UK Government, the name on your application must match the official name you give the University.

Change your official name at University 

To change your official name, please ensuring you provide any supporting documentation. Registry staff will contact you if they need more information.

Supporting documentation 

You can use a new name in the UK without legally updating documents, however, the University has a responsibility to prevent fraud. To change your official name on University information, you need to provide one of the following forms of evidence: 

• Passport or national identity card. 
• UK visa.
• UK or Irish birth or adoption certificate.  
• Statutory declaration (witnessed by a practicing solicitor).  
• Marriage certificate.  
• Decree absolute (or divorce decree in Scotland) and a copy of your birth certificate if returning to your birth name.  
• Police report to verify the use of an assumed name because you are a vulnerable person.  
• Change of Name Deed (formerly ‘deed poll’). The University will accept an 'unenrolled' deed poll if it is signed and dated. 

Check the Government website to learn and how you can make your own ‘unenrolled’ deed poll. 

When will my details be changed?  

When you request a change to your official name or title, the University will update your student record and your new name will appear in .  

When any of these changes are made in your student record, the relevant University systems will update your name automatically.  

If you need a replacement student ID card after changing your official name, email idcards@st-andrews.ac.uk. Student ID cards currently display your known as name and surname. 

After you graduate  

All students can check that their name is correct and make any necessary changes before graduation.

The University does not allow retrospective name changes, including name changes after marriage or divorce when you have already completed your programme and have graduated. This is to protect your degree certifications and ensure that your degrees can be verified after graduation.  

Name changes after graduation may be made if: 

• your name changes because of gender reassignment 
• you have changed your name because you require protection from a government agency as a vulnerable person  
• there are exceptional circumstances.  

Email studentrecordsadmin@st-andrews.ac.uk to request a change of name or gender after graduation. If you completed a postgraduate research degree and want your new name to appear on your thesis, you should include this in your email and a document from the supporting documentation list. 

You will be asked to return your original degree certificates and transcripts, and new ones will be issued. 

Known as name  

This is the name that you want to be referred to during your studies. It may be a shortened version of your first name, your middle name or something completely different. 

The University will normally use your known as name during your studies, but formal documentation like your degree certificate will show your official name. 

When you apply to study at the University, you can provide a ‘known as’ name and this will be transferred to your student record. If you do not provide a ‘known as’ name, one will be created on your student record based on your first name.  

During your studies  

The University will normally use your preferred first name when communicating with you, but formal documentation will show your official name. Formal documentation includes: 

• letters to confirm your University matriculation 
• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies if you have a student visa 
• degree certificate 
• transcript.  

Title  

When you apply to the University you will be asked to provide a title such as Mr, Ms or Mx or other academic, aristocratic, military, or religious titles.  

Preferred pronouns  

You will have the opportunity to provide your preferred personal pronouns: 

• he, him 
• she, her 
• they, them 

The use of your ‘official name’ and ‘known as name’ 

Known as names may be different to official names for a variety of reasons. They may be: 

• a shortened version of a first name  
• one of many middle names 
• multiple first names 
• a different name entirely.  

Whether or not a formal official name change has been made, to ensure that the identities of transgender and non-binary members of our community are respected and affirmed, the University will avoid the use of names a person no longer wishes to use, sometimes called “deadnaming". To support this aim, the University is developing its student systems and processes to use known as names as the default name, except in cases where the official name is required.  

University systems 

Most University systems do not use your title, but the student record system shows your title, known as name, official name and family name. 

Systems using the known as name will usually show your known as name and then your last name if you have one, or your first name and last name:  

• Microsoft Account and email display name  
• Moodle 
• MySaint  
• Enhanced Record Card in the student records system 

Systems using the official name: 

• Enhanced Record Card in the student records system 
• MySaint tasks will show only your full official name  

Names used in documents and communications  

When communicating with you, we aim to use your known as name. You may receive communications in your official name, but we will try to minimise this. 

The following formal documents are likely to use your official name: 

• Degree certificate (or other award certificate), official and interim transcripts. This shows your official first name and last name without title. 
• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies and other immigration documentation if you have a student visa. 
• Official letters like bank letters, confirmation of registration and council tax exemption.  
• Formal letters about your registration or conduct. 
• Financial statements.  
• Accommodation contracts. 
• Student ID cards currently display your known as name, followed by your last name.  

Names shared with external organisations 

The official name is usually used with these organisations including:  

• The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for statutory data returns.  
• Fife Borough Council for council tax exemption and electoral registration.  
• UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for immigration.  
• The Student Loans Company (SLC) and other funding bodies for fees and funding.