Transgender quotas expand across Brazilian public universities

Transgender quota policies are expanding across Brazilian public universities, with at least 39 institutions implementing such measures. These developments have been driven largely by student movements and academic advocacy.

Key examples include Unicamp, which formally established quotas in 2025 following agreements made to end a 2023 strike, and Unesp, which announced its quota system in July after two months of student strikes. At Unifesp, the application process involves a self-declaration, a birth certificate, and documentation indicating a name change, alongside an evaluation by a committee.

These shifts follow a broader trend of expanding affirmative action within the Brazilian academic landscape.