diff --git a/changelog.d/7658.feature b/changelog.d/7658.feature
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fbf345988d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/7658.feature
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Add a configuration option for always using the "userinfo endpoint" for OpenID Connect. This fixes support for some identity providers, e.g. GitLab. Contributed by Benjamin Koch.
diff --git a/docs/openid.md b/docs/openid.md
index 70b37f858b..4873681999 100644
--- a/docs/openid.md
+++ b/docs/openid.md
@@ -238,13 +238,36 @@ Synapse config:
 
 ```yaml
 oidc_config:
-   enabled: true
-   issuer: "https://id.twitch.tv/oauth2/"
-   client_id: "your-client-id" # TO BE FILLED
-   client_secret: "your-client-secret" # TO BE FILLED
-   client_auth_method: "client_secret_post"
-   user_mapping_provider:
-     config:
-       localpart_template: '{{ user.preferred_username }}'
-       display_name_template: '{{ user.name }}'
+  enabled: true
+  issuer: "https://id.twitch.tv/oauth2/"
+  client_id: "your-client-id" # TO BE FILLED
+  client_secret: "your-client-secret" # TO BE FILLED
+  client_auth_method: "client_secret_post"
+  user_mapping_provider:
+    config:
+      localpart_template: "{{ user.preferred_username }}"
+      display_name_template: "{{ user.name }}"
+```
+
+### GitLab
+
+1. Create a [new application](https://gitlab.com/profile/applications).
+2. Add the `read_user` and `openid` scopes.
+3. Add this Callback URL: `[synapse public baseurl]/_synapse/oidc/callback`
+
+Synapse config:
+
+```yaml
+oidc_config:
+  enabled: true
+  issuer: "https://gitlab.com/"
+  client_id: "your-client-id" # TO BE FILLED
+  client_secret: "your-client-secret" # TO BE FILLED
+  client_auth_method: "client_secret_post"
+  scopes: ["openid", "read_user"]
+  user_profile_method: "userinfo_endpoint"
+  user_mapping_provider:
+    config:
+      localpart_template: '{{ user.nickname }}'
+      display_name_template: '{{ user.name }}'
 ```
diff --git a/docs/sample_config.yaml b/docs/sample_config.yaml
index 8a3206e845..b2c1d7a737 100644
--- a/docs/sample_config.yaml
+++ b/docs/sample_config.yaml
@@ -1714,6 +1714,14 @@ oidc_config:
   #
   #skip_verification: true
 
+  # Whether to fetch the user profile from the userinfo endpoint. Valid
+  # values are: "auto" or "userinfo_endpoint".
+  #
+  # Defaults to "auto", which fetches the userinfo endpoint if "openid" is included
+  # in `scopes`. Uncomment the following to always fetch the userinfo endpoint.
+  #
+  #user_profile_method: "userinfo_endpoint"
+
   # Uncomment to allow a user logging in via OIDC to match a pre-existing account instead
   # of failing. This could be used if switching from password logins to OIDC. Defaults to false.
   #
diff --git a/synapse/config/oidc_config.py b/synapse/config/oidc_config.py
index f924116819..7597fbc864 100644
--- a/synapse/config/oidc_config.py
+++ b/synapse/config/oidc_config.py
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ class OIDCConfig(Config):
         self.oidc_userinfo_endpoint = oidc_config.get("userinfo_endpoint")
         self.oidc_jwks_uri = oidc_config.get("jwks_uri")
         self.oidc_skip_verification = oidc_config.get("skip_verification", False)
+        self.oidc_user_profile_method = oidc_config.get("user_profile_method", "auto")
         self.oidc_allow_existing_users = oidc_config.get("allow_existing_users", False)
 
         ump_config = oidc_config.get("user_mapping_provider", {})
@@ -159,6 +160,14 @@ class OIDCConfig(Config):
           #
           #skip_verification: true
 
+          # Whether to fetch the user profile from the userinfo endpoint. Valid
+          # values are: "auto" or "userinfo_endpoint".
+          #
+          # Defaults to "auto", which fetches the userinfo endpoint if "openid" is included
+          # in `scopes`. Uncomment the following to always fetch the userinfo endpoint.
+          #
+          #user_profile_method: "userinfo_endpoint"
+
           # Uncomment to allow a user logging in via OIDC to match a pre-existing account instead
           # of failing. This could be used if switching from password logins to OIDC. Defaults to false.
           #
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/oidc_handler.py b/synapse/handlers/oidc_handler.py
index 19cd652675..05ac86e697 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/oidc_handler.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/oidc_handler.py
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ class OidcHandler:
         self.hs = hs
         self._callback_url = hs.config.oidc_callback_url  # type: str
         self._scopes = hs.config.oidc_scopes  # type: List[str]
+        self._user_profile_method = hs.config.oidc_user_profile_method  # type: str
         self._client_auth = ClientAuth(
             hs.config.oidc_client_id,
             hs.config.oidc_client_secret,
@@ -196,11 +197,11 @@ class OidcHandler:
                     % (m["response_types_supported"],)
                 )
 
-        # If the openid scope was not requested, we need a userinfo endpoint to fetch user infos
+        # Ensure there's a userinfo endpoint to fetch from if it is required.
         if self._uses_userinfo:
             if m.get("userinfo_endpoint") is None:
                 raise ValueError(
-                    'provider has no "userinfo_endpoint", even though it is required because the "openid" scope is not requested'
+                    'provider has no "userinfo_endpoint", even though it is required'
                 )
         else:
             # If we're not using userinfo, we need a valid jwks to validate the ID token
@@ -220,8 +221,10 @@ class OidcHandler:
         ``access_token`` with the ``userinfo_endpoint``.
         """
 
-        # Maybe that should be user-configurable and not inferred?
-        return "openid" not in self._scopes
+        return (
+            "openid" not in self._scopes
+            or self._user_profile_method == "userinfo_endpoint"
+        )
 
     async def load_metadata(self) -> OpenIDProviderMetadata:
         """Load and validate the provider metadata.
diff --git a/tests/handlers/test_oidc.py b/tests/handlers/test_oidc.py
index d5087e58be..b6f436c016 100644
--- a/tests/handlers/test_oidc.py
+++ b/tests/handlers/test_oidc.py
@@ -286,9 +286,15 @@ class OidcHandlerTestCase(HomeserverTestCase):
                 h._validate_metadata,
             )
 
-        # Tests for configs that the userinfo endpoint
+        # Tests for configs that require the userinfo endpoint
         self.assertFalse(h._uses_userinfo)
-        h._scopes = []  # do not request the openid scope
+        self.assertEqual(h._user_profile_method, "auto")
+        h._user_profile_method = "userinfo_endpoint"
+        self.assertTrue(h._uses_userinfo)
+
+        # Revert the profile method and do not request the "openid" scope.
+        h._user_profile_method = "auto"
+        h._scopes = []
         self.assertTrue(h._uses_userinfo)
         self.assertRaisesRegex(ValueError, "userinfo_endpoint", h._validate_metadata)