As I’m sure many of you are aware, UCAS is a UK-based organisation whose main role is to operate the application process for British universities. Used by over 700,000 students a year, students are reliant upon UCAS in order to reach further education. However, the organisation’s constant enforcement of the gender binary is both reductive and harmful towards those using the website. 

Recently I started my UCAS application, and when faced with the option of choosing their gender I could only select one of two options, male or female, despite the fact that for many applicants this is simply not the case.

Many people do not define themselves on a male/female spectrum - they are non-binary and it’s vital that this option exists too.

I was really shocked to find UCAS does not have another gender option - so many companies do these days. Applying for university is a big moment for young people, and they should feel like they can be represented and respected as who they are from the very start of that process.

The failure to recognise non-binary people when registering through UCAS must be stopped in order for students to succeed and for their identities to be fully acknowledged. 

I’m calling on UCAS to acknowledge that the gender binary is damaging to non-binary people all over the country. I’m asking them to immediately recognise it as a valid gender identity, by including it as an option for students when selecting their gender on the UCAS website. 

UCAS has said they are working on this - but clearly it is taking way too long. Next year’s cohort of students are now starting to apply for university, and this issue still hasn’t been fixed. So it’s up to us to demand UCAS do what they have promised! Please sign my petitions so that all non-binary people feel safe and recognised when using UCAS.