Transition Support
Transition Support
Access guides on changing your name on records at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) to help you transition safely.
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To update your legal name on external records, like a driver’s license or Social Insurance Number, consult the resources from the 519 (external link) . They provide a free Trans ID Clinic for legal advice, along with monthly peer drop-in sessions to help you complete your paperwork in a supportive setting. HQ also hosts its own monthly Trans ID Clinic (external link) for further assistance.
We aim to make the process of changing your name on your TMU-related records as simple as possible. Depending on your needs, you have 2 options to update your name on your TMU records.
If you’re a newly admitted student, we recommend updating your chosen or preferred name at least 4 weeks before classes begin. This helps us make sure your information is correct in all university systems before the term starts.
Options:
- Updating Your Preferred Name: This option changes your name on your class roasters, Google Suite, and D2L Brightspace, but it won't update formal documents like degrees or transcripts. To ensure your chosen name appears on class rosters, please complete this process before the start of the academic term.
Changes take effect immediately. Please contact the ServiceHub with any issues or concerns.
- Updating Your Legal Name: If you've legally changed your name, you can update all TMU records (for example transcripts and degrees). Before starting this process, please ensure you've updated your preferred name using the steps above. You’ll be required to provide your legal-name-change certificate, or an updated piece of photo ID. Once you have your required documents, you’ll be directed to fill out a Personal Data Change Form.
If you haven't gone through a legal name change process, but need your TMU records to be updated with a new name, you can sign a (PDF file) Statutory Declaration. This will need to be notarized, which means it needs to be signed in front of someone with legal authority. TMSU (external link) , TMAPS (external link) and TMGSU (external link) offer free legal support for this. Please note, having your records, such as transcripts and degrees, in a different name than your legal name may create challenges when applying for jobs or further education in the future.
Updating Your Name – Other Considerations:
- Updating Your OneCard: Once you’ve updated your chosen or legal name in the TMU system, visit the OneCard office to get a new ID. When you change the name on an existing card, the standard replacement fee is reduced to $12.50.
- OSAP and Government Student Aid: If you receive OSAP or other government funding, your TMU student record must match the information received by the government. If you have concerns about how a name change might affect your aid, please contact Nina (En) Sulkin, Interim Manager, Student Financial Assistance at nina.sulkin@torontomu.ca.
If you’re a student who also works at TMU, you’ll need to update your staff information with Human Resources. For support during this process, please contact Workplace Wellbeing Services at wws@torontomu.ca or visit AskHR for more information.