Frequently Asked Questions

Signing up is simple! You only need three things:

• Your university email address (for verification)
• A username (can be anything you want)
• A password

That's it! You can immediately start using the forum and messaging features. The Meet feature is optional and requires additional profile information.

We currently support Koc University only. The list of supported universities will be extended over time.

If you’d like us to add your campus, please send an email to request@unichat.dev.

Yes! Your username can be changed anytime from your profile settings. This flexibility allows you to maintain your anonymity and privacy.

However, if you create a Meet profile, your real name and birthdate can only be set once for authenticity purposes.

When posting in the forum, you can choose between two modes:

• Username mode: Your chosen username is visible to others
• Anonymous mode: You appear as "anonymous" to everyone else

When you post anonymously, only you can see "anonymous (you)" - everyone else just sees "anonymous." These anonymous posts don't appear on your profile.

No, absolutely not. Your forum identity and Meet profile are completely separate:

• Forum: You're known by your username (e.g., "studybuddy2025")
• Meet: You have a profile with your real name and photos (e.g., "John, 20")

Other users cannot link these identities together. This separation allows you to freely discuss sensitive topics in forums while maintaining a separate social presence in Meet.

We collect minimal data and are transparent about it:

• University email: Only for verification (not shared or used for marketing)
• Basic account: Username and anonymous usage patterns
• Meet profile (optional): Name, photos, interests, and preferences you choose to share

We never sell your data or share it with third parties. See our Privacy Policy for complete details.

Yes! You can send a direct message to any user who has posted publicly in the forum. If you liked someone's post and want to start a conversation, you can do that without needing a Meet profile.

Forum DMs are private and secure, just like Meet messages.

No, it's completely optional! You can use UniChat for forum discussions and messaging with just your basic account (email, username, password).

The Meet feature is only for users who want to discover and connect with other students through photos and detailed profiles.

Required information:

• Real name (can only be set once)
• Birthdate (can only be set once)
• Gender and sexual orientation
• Major/field of study
• At least 2 photos

Optional information:

• Bio, interests, fun facts
• Height, religion, ethnicity
• Instagram/Spotify links
• Matching preferences (age range, gender)

To maintain authenticity and prevent fake profiles, your real name and birthdate can only be set once in your Meet profile.

This policy ensures that:

• Users present their authentic selves
• Age verification remains accurate
• The community stays trustworthy

Your username for forum discussions can still be changed anytime!

Our matching system shows you other verified students from your university based on:

• Shared interests and hobbies
• Similar academic fields
• Your matching preferences (age, gender)
• Activity and engagement levels

Swipe right to show interest, left to pass. If both people swipe right, you can start chatting!

Every user must verify their identity through their university email address:

• We send a verification code to their university email
• Only current students with active university emails can join
• Each email can only create one account

This ensures our community consists entirely of real, verified university students.

You can report content or behavior that violates our community guidelines:

• Harassment and Bullying
• Violence and Harm
• Sexual Content and Exploitation
• Spam and Misleading Information
• Privacy and Legal Violations

Every post and profile has a report button. We review all reports within 24-48 hours and take appropriate action.

Account suspensions are serious because each university email can only be used once:

• Temporary suspensions for minor violations
• Permanent suspension for serious violations (harassment, impersonation, etc.)
• Permanent suspensions mean you cannot create a new account

You can appeal any suspension by contacting appeals@unichat.dev within 30 days.

Absolutely not. Impersonation is our most serious violation:

• Pretending to be another student
• Using someone else's photos
• Creating fake personas
• Misrepresenting your identity

Impersonation results in immediate permanent suspension. Our community is built on trust and authentic connections.

Note: Using anonymous posting in forums is different - that's a privacy feature, not impersonation.

Currently, UniChat is available only as a mobile app for iOS and Android. We're focusing on creating the best mobile experience for university students.

A web version may be considered in the future based on user demand and feedback.

Yes! You have full control over your data:

• Delete individual posts anytime
• Delete your entire account from settings
• Export your data before deletion
• Request complete data removal

Note: Forum replies won’t disappear but will show as ‘Deleted user’ — so conversations still make sense to others.

We take security seriously:

• Encryption for all communications
• Secure servers and regular security audits
• Limited employee access to personal data
• Industry-standard data protection practices

Your university email is used only for verification and is never shared with other users or third parties.