LGBT

If you need any advice or guidance throughout your time at Keele there is lots of support available:

Student Support

The Student Experience and Support Team can offer advice and guidance on a range of different issues that you may face at University, including personal, financial and academic difficulties. If you would like to speak to an adviser you can contact them by phone, email or live chat. For more information email student.services@keele.ac.uk or call 01782 734481.

Counselling and mental health

University is often a great experience, but it can also bring with it stress and challenge. The Counselling and Mental Health service can offer you one-to-one support and appointments as well as workshops and group work.

Disability Support & Inclusion

If you have a disability, including specific learning difficulties or mental health and wellbeing issues, the Disability Support & Inclusion Team can advise on a wide range of support to meet your individual needs. It is a good idea to contact the team before you start your course at Keele University to discuss any support you may need and ensure any necessary adjustments can be put in place.

Keele Health Centre

Keele has its own GP surgery on campus which serves the whole of the Keele University campus, Keele village and certain areas in Newcastle. For more information or to register as a patient please visit their website.

Support on your course

All students at Keele are allocated an academic mentor who is a single point of contact on your course. Your academic mentor can provide advice, support and general guidance on academic and non-academic issues. With your permission, your Student Experience and Support Officer can liaise with your academic mentor to ensure we provide the right support for you.

Careers advice and support

The Careers and Employability service is available to all students. As a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender student, you can also access targeted resources and opportunities that might be valuable for your career planning and progression.

Students' Union

The Students’ Union Elected Officers are elected to serve the student population and can be accessed for advice and support. 

The Students' Union's ASK service also offers free, confidential, non-judgemental and impartial advice and support. 

The LGBTQ+ society is a vibrant and very active part of the Students’ Union and Keele campus. The main aim of Keele LGBTQ+ society aims to create a confidential, safe and secure space for members of the LGBTQ+ community, and allies who may not define at LGBTQ+. You can find out more about the LGBTQ+ society on their KeeleSU webpage.

The University offers a sensitive and confidential support service where you can discuss how you feel about your identity and how you could make any changes whilst at the University. Based on our comprehensive Transgender Policy, our ethos is to be led by your feelings and needs, and to assist you in managing your identity through your transition. 

We can support you in completing an action plan to consider steps to be taken during the transition. It may address:

• any time off you may need for medical appointments or procedures, and/or possible side-effects of any medication;
• any support arrangements and adjustments during the transition;
• when and how to inform the academic department and/or students on the programme if appropriate;
• any emotional support to be put in place such as counselling or referrals to other relevant agencies.

We can also help if you need to update any of your personal details such as name, title or photo:

• Preferred name - we can update your 'known as' name without you going through any official processes. This will be the name that is used in your day-to-day university life and on IT systems such as emails and Microsoft Teams.
• Legal name - to update your legal name you will need to complete a deed poll, which can be enrolled or unenrolled. This will then be the name that is used on official records including your degree certificate.

This information can be updated on your Keele ID and reprinted for you free of charge.

If you would like to speak to Student Experience and Support, please get in touch.

LGBTQ+ history month, which is celebrated in the UK in the month of February, is an important part of Keele’s annual calendar. The month is an opportunity to provide role models, build community and represent a civil rights statement about the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community.

Keele University is an open and integrated community where we strive to be a place where learning, living and working is a positive experience for all. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans students are a vibrant and active community at Keele and are supported by the University's Equality and Diversity strategy. We want to help celebrate and educate. This year at Keele, the University aims to work with a number of societies, departments and local organisations to both generate new and interesting content as well as utilising existing content to help better connect with our LGBTQ+ community and share their voice.

Working with the Students’ Union, KPA, Student support, LGBT Staff Network and LGBTQ+ Society throughout the month of February, we will aim to help educate, celebrate and signpost to the importance of LGBTQ+ Month, including the history, culture and achievements of the community in Keele, locally, nationally and internationally for a more inclusive and accepting society.

Find out more at https://www.keele.ac.uk/equalitydiversity/getinvolved/events/lgbtqhistorymonth/