The process of choosing a university, moving there and then settling into an entirely new community is daunting for every student. For LGBTQIA+ students and anyone questioning their gender identity and sexuality, this can be especially true.
A range of support is available to university students who identify as LGBTQIA+ or questioning, including peer-to-peer support, student societies, college counsellors, external resources and scholarship opportunities.
Below is a guide to just some of the support that may be available to you as an LGBTQIA+ university student.
Studying abroad in the UK as an LGBTQ+ international student
Being non-binary and queer at university
How to overcome feeling isolated as an international student
Peer support
Many LGBTQIA+ students find support through meeting other queer students at university.
This is what Andreas Copes found when he moved from Berlin to the US and began his studies at the Community College of Philadelphia.
“In hindsight, I consider starting college as one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” he says.
“I found an amazing safe space and like-minded people at college, and most other students had similarly unconventional backgrounds. I was lucky to find and build a strong LGBTQ club and sense of camaraderie over time.”
Reaching out to other queer students, attending queer-friendly student events and LGBTQIA+ societies are all great ways to find other students on campus and form supportive relationships.
“The queer network I developed in my first two years at college taught me how to be proud, which later helped me find new queer friends in an online campus environment,” adds Andreas, who has now transferred to Temple University, to study communication and journalism.
“I’ve realised that developing a chosen LGBTQIA+ family can carry you further than you ever thought you would come.”
University support
Many universities have counsellors, staff and student union representatives who work together to provide a range of support for LGBTQIA+ students.
If it’s not clear from a university’s website what support is available, you can contact your university directly to ask.
Belito Bale, student communities' development co-ordinator at the University of Middlesex, highlights university support as a great resource for LGBTQIA+ international students.
“As an out queer trans member of staff, I’ve had lots of informal conversations with international students about our identities and experiences,” says Belito.
One student intern at Middlesex University who had been active in the LGBTQIA+ scene in his home city of Kerala in India before moving to London was very keen to share his experiences with other international students at a queer event which was run by the university.
“This was particularly important for students who had not been able to be so open at home, or who had just come out,” says Belito.
“Since LGBTQIA identities are perceived so differently in different spaces and places, our international community really benefited from hearing from other students who were able to talk about their own queerness from their own cultural perspective,” Belito adds.
“Being able to talk to someone who shares your experience is so important in being able to celebrate it."
As well as supporting the creation of safe spaces for students to have these discussions, you’ll also find support staff at universities who provide professional counselling and guidance to LGBTQIA+ or questioning students, and the opportunity to network with LGBTQIA+ alumni.
Some support staff members will be able to relate to your experience and be able to advise you, while others may be able to just listen and provide a safe space to share your story.
Societies are also a great way to find support and celebrate your diversity. Amir K Bachari, a graduate from entry medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, shared his experience.
"The RCSI community cultivates an inclusive environment that reveres diversity, offering a secure and nurturing space for individuals across diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.
Over the past year, we organised enlightening sessions such as the HSE Rainbow Badge Training and the TENI Trans 101 Training. These sessions were aimed at educating students and staff about the appropriate language to distinguish between sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. We tackled stereotypes head-on and actively promoted inclusive attitudes during AIDS Awareness Week in December. Our goal was to establish a supportive atmosphere for individuals affected by HIV or AIDS, thereby combatting the stigma and discrimination surrounding this issue.
To conclude the year, we hosted our most remarkable event to date, RCSI's Drag Race. This event served as a powerful platform for LGBTQIA+ representation and visibility, while simultaneously challenging conventional gender norms. By doing so, we fostered self-confidence, self-expression, and celebrated individuality within the RCSI space."
External resources
Beyond your peers and the support that may be available at your institution, there are lots of external organisations and foundations dedicated to supporting LGBTQIA+ communities. Here are just a few examples:
Mind Out – a UK-based mental health service run by and for LGBTQIA+ people.
Young Stonewall – this set of resources from LGBTQIA+ charity Stonewall has lots of information and guidance for students. They also provide resources for schools and higher education providers to help them make their campuses more inclusive.
The LGBT Foundation – the LGBT Foundation has lots of advice for students. The main section of its website is dedicated to sexual health, but information on many other topics is available.
The Consortium of Higher Education Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Professionals – this organisation supports LGBTQIA+ students and higher education professionals and works to make campuses more inclusive and welcoming for the LGBTQIA+ academic community. It also has a useful College Mapper tool where you can find out how near your university is to one of their support centres.
Campus Pride – a non-profit organisation that develops a range of resources, programmes and services to support LGBTQIA+ and ally students on campuses across the US. It also has a list of resources for LGBTQIA+ prospective students.
CenterLink – a US -based organisation that supports the development of strong, sustainable LGBT community centres. Click here to find the centre nearest your university.
It Gets Better – the It Gets Better Project is a campaign to uplift, empower, and connect LGBTQIA+ youth around the globe. There is a great range of talks and resources on its website.
Scholarships for LGBTQIA+ students, allies and queer studies researchers
There is a range of financial support available for students who either identify as LGBTQIA+, allies to the community, or wish to research queer theory or LGBTQIA+ issues.
Below are just a few examples of the scholarship opportunities available for LGBTQIA+ students, allies and queer studies researchers. There are sure to be more scholarships available than the ones we have listed here, so take the time to do your own research to find the right scholarship for you.
The LEAGUE Foundation – offers scholarships for LGBTQIA+ students entering their first year at an institution of higher learning in the US or Canada.
Point Foundation scholarships – the Point Foundation offers an array of financial support for queer-identifying students, including international students who want to study in the US.
Stonewall Foundation Scholarships – offers a range of grants to students focusing on the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community.
John M. Kerr Memorial Bursary Award– this bursary is open to LGBTQIA+ and two-spirit students in any accredited post-secondary education programme within the province of Alberta, Canada.
Pride Foundation Scholarships – these scholarships are offered to help LGBTQIA+ students with any financial or community issues they may face and is open to students across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.
LOUD Scholarships - LOUD offers scholarships to LGBTQIA+ students in Canada that “possess drive, vision, compassion and knowledge” and can help lead and share diversity and unity with the community.
The Pinnacle Foundation Scholarships – This foundation offers education scholarships and mentorship programmes to LGBTQIA+ students in Australia. With many types of scholarship on offer, students can choose to apply for whichever award will suit their next steps, be it The Allan Howard Scholarship designed for applicants from rural areas of Australia or the The Reg Holloway Scholarship, open to those pursuing a degree in music.
Campus Pride also has an extensive database of scholarship opportunities for LGBTQIA+ students and allies in the US, while the Human Rights Campaign has a global database of scholarships for LGBTQIA+ students.
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