About Us
Established in 1995, The Barts and The London Students’ Association (BLSA) represents a student community built on over 903 years of healthcare heritage, with a history rich in alumni, entrepreneurs, changemakers and innovators. Today, BLSA is the student-led subdivision of Queen Mary Students’ Union (QMSU) representing the students of the Barts and The London Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, one of Queen Mary University of London’s three faculties.
Our heritage stretches across centuries of medicine, dentistry, healthcare, research and education, while our community today extends far beyond our historic clinical courses. BLSA represents more than 6,000 students studying across six institutes and a broad range of medical, dental, healthcare science, research and related disciplines.
Our BLSA community is made up of more than 6,000 students across six institutes. It is an incredibly diverse community of undergraduate and postgraduate students, clinicians, parents, carers, care leavers, LGBTQ+ students, students from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, third-culture students, mature students, employees, entrepreneurs and many more who together make up the Barts and The London Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.
Our six institutes offer a wide range of medical, dental and healthcare science-related courses, including vocational and non-vocational degrees, postgraduate taught and research programmes, diplomas and much more. They are the William Harvey Research Institute (WHRI), Wolfson Institute of Population Health (WIPH), Barts Cancer Institute (BCI), Blizard Institute, Institute of Dentistry (IoD), and Institute of Health Sciences Education (IHSE).
BLSA is led by students who are elected each year and supported by staff. The Association is led by the BLSA President, who is supported by a wide range of student representatives sitting on the BLSA Board. Together, the Board comprises more than 30 student representatives and volunteers.
Together, we represent, support and provide opportunities for our student body throughout their time at Barts and The London. We help build the bridge between students and the University: supporting academic engagement, extracurricular activities and student welfare, while connecting with and advocating for our community at institute, faculty and University-wide levels.
Every student enrolled within our Faculty is a member of BLSA and QMSU, giving you access to more than 150 student groups across our campuses and the benefits of both communities. This includes the opportunity to join both QM and BL student groups, as well as access to facilities and services including Qmotion Sport and Fitness Centre.
As BLSA is part of QMSU, the BLSA Board works closely with the wider Students’ Union. We continue to have the privilege of an independently functioning Board of student representatives dedicated solely to Barts and The London (BL) students, working closely with staff across all six of our institutes.
BLSA provides a unique student experience and community, with our own sports teams, societies and activities run by people in healthcare, for people in healthcare. Our community understands the demands that come with studying healthcare-related courses, with activities, opportunities and welfare initiatives shaped around demanding timetables, placements and tight deadlines.
Every day, our students show us why we are so incredibly proud of our long history here at Barts and The London. That pride remains at the heart of our student groups and our wider community. We hope it becomes part of your experience too, stays with you throughout your time here and continues for many years after you leave.
Alongside our distinct BL community and representation, being part of QMSU connects our students to the wider Queen Mary student community. QMSU is led by elected students, with six full-time Sabbatical Officers acting as Trustees of Queen Mary Students’ Union and forming its Executive Committee. They are supported by part-time voluntary Student Representatives who work to improve students’ lives across Queen Mary.
Your BLSA President, Maria, is also the Deputy President of QMSU this year and one of its six Sabbatical Officers.
Queen Mary Students’ Union is the voice of students across Queen Mary University of London. Based at the Students’ Union Hub on the Mile End Campus, it provides a wide range of activities, events, representation, support and opportunities for students across the University.
Visit qmsu.org for more information, or explore our QMSU page!
The Barts and the London Student Association
est 1995
Take a look around our website to find out more about who we are at Barts and The London, and make sure to follow us on @officialblsa for the latest updates on Instagram