Freie Universität Berlin

If you have legally changed your first name or last name – for example due to marriage, adoption, divorce, under the Self-Determination Act (SBGG), or through a court order – then you can submit a request to change your name via the self-service portal. 

Enter your changes into the "Change of Name" self-service request form and upload an official document confirming your (new) name (e.g., marriage certificate, identification document, court order) under the "Attachments" tab. Click on “Submit.”

The same procedure applies if you notice that the name Freie Universität Berlin has on record for you does not match the information on your official identification documents, for example, if it contains a spelling error.

In the free text field of the request, you can indicate whether you would also like to change the gender entry.

As soon as the change is approved, your new name will be used on all university documents (including your Campuscard and degree certificates) as well as on all electronic systems and in the university’s internal communication. You will be automatically sent a new QR code for your Campuscard via the my.FU Portal as soon as the change has gone through. Please note that your old Campuscard will no longer be valid.

You can then adjust your email address via the my.FU Portal or set up another one. Here you can find further information on email addresses. In justified individual cases, it is also possible to receive a new FU-account with a different username. Please contact IT Support for this.

Trans, intersex, and non-binary students who have officially changed their name in accordance with the German Law on Civil Status (Personenstandsrecht) may have their degree certificates reissued by the examinations office with their new name. In this case degree certificates will not be stamped with “Zweitschrift” (reissued document). If you change your name for any other reason, for example, after getting married, then we cannot reissue degree certificates with your changed name. Please refer to Berlin Higher Education Act Section 34.9.

Several thousand people with different identities and backgrounds study and work at Freie Universität Berlin. Freie Universität Berlin offers TIN* students the opportunity to use a name of their choice on all internal university documents, including their Campus Card, as well as on all online platforms and in internal university communications.

All you need to do to change your name is submit a supplementary ID card from Deutsche Gesellschaft für Transidentität und Intersexualität (DGTI).

Here's how you can change your name:

Please submit a request for a name change in the self-service portal and enter your chosen name in the “First name” and/or “Last name” fields. In the “Attachments” tab, please upload your DGTI card (front and back) together with the declaration of consent. Please combine the documents into one file.

In the free-text field of the application, you can indicate whether you would like to change your gender designation along with your name. Afterwards please click on "Submit".

Once the change has been made, a new QR code for your Campus Card will automatically be made available to you in the my.FU portal. Please note that your old Campus Card will no longer be valid.

You can then also change your email address or set up a new one in the my.FU portal. Further information on email addresses can be found on the FUB-IT website. In justified individual cases, it is also possible to obtain a new FU account with a different username. Please contact IT Support for more information.

Note concerning the validity of your dgti supplemental identification card:

If your identity card/or passport and accordingly, your dgti card expire, please send us a copy of the new card immediately. You can simply send an email to info-service@fu-berlin.de.

For further information on the terms and conditions please take a look at the website of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Transidentität und Intersexualität e.V. (dgti).

„Der Ergänzungsausweis ist nur gültig in Kombination mit einem amtlichen Personaldokument und enthält deshalb beispielsweise die Nummer des Personalausweises. Da er somit an diese Nummer gekoppelt ist, fällt die Geltungsdauer mit der des amtlichen Dokuments zusammen, das heißt, wenn ein neuer Personalausweis benötigt wird, muss auch ein neuer Ergänzungsausweises beantragt werden.“

Further information for TIN* students and about gender identity can be found on the Diversity web portal.

In the self-service, you can enter a shortened form of your first name, one of several first names, or your everyday name as your “nickname.”

If you would only like to use a name on the online platforms of Freie Universität Berlin that differs from your legal first name, then please enter your preferred name in the “Display Name" field (German: “Rufname”). Please only enter one first name, no pronouns and not your last name. Otherwise, your last name will be displayed twice.

Your preferred name will then be displayed on the following platforms: Webex, Blackboard, Box.FU, my.FU portal, the Outlook Exchange email server. You cannot select individual online platforms. The display name will appear on all of the platforms listed above.

Please note that it may take up to 2 days for your display name to update on the platforms due to synchronization processes.

Once it has been processed, you can also adjust your email address on the my.FU Portal.

If you have successfully registered your chosen name (either via the self-service portal or perhaps even during enrollment by submitting a supplementary ID card) and would now like to request your university degree, then you can decide whether to use your chosen name or your legal name on your graduation documents.

If you would like to use your chosen name on your graduation documents, please submit this form together with your application request for the award of a degree to your examinations office. 

Please note the following:

• Your chosen name can only be used on your graduation documents if you have already requested a change of name via the self-service portal or during enrollment.
• If a version of the graduation documents already exists (either with your legal name or chosen name), you are required to submit the documents that have already been issued together with your request. It is not possible to have two versions of your degree program certificate with different names at the same time.
• You can change your mind (for example, because you expect there may be complications in applying for a scholarship, place on a study program, visa, etc.) only if you hand in any documents that have been issued with your chosen name to your departmental examinations office before any new documents with your legal name are issued.
• Freie Universität Berlin cannot be held liable for any claims or legal disadvantages that could potentially arise from issuing graduation documents that feature a chosen name that is not your legal name. 

If you have any questions please contact the Info Service Studium. You can find further information for trans, intersex, and non-binary students and on gender identity on our diversity web portal.

If you are a graduate: Please get in touch with the relevant examinations office.