Barts & The London - Student Life

Housing: Accommodation on all three campuses, plus halls at Mile End and at London University intercollegiate sites in Central London.

Eats: Meals from £3+ on campus, plus sandwiches, snacks, etc from BLSA cafe. Other good places include the Fountain Pub, 24-hour cafes near Charterhouse Square (always useful!) and Noodle King; prices variable.

Drink: SU bars (beers £1.10-£2) and many good pubs locally, including the Soma, London Hospital Tavern, Good Samaritan and Smithfield Tavern.

Nightlife: BLSA/QMSU discos/nightclub venues, student bands. Barbican Arts Centre nearby, as are Backyard and Jongleurs Comedy Clubs, Fabric and Turnmills nightclubs.

Locals: Friendly, down-to-earth Eastenders and a large Bengali population.

Financial help: Access funds and School Benevolence Committee; college helps find other funds. Essay prizes to be won for the more academic types.

Jobs: Bar work popular (esp in BLSA/QMSU bars), portering, agency nursing, drug and research trials. library attendants, medical secretarying (eg note summarising in GP surgeries).

Annual living costs: The minimum amount students say you need to live on each year (covering all living expenses but excluding tuition fees) is £5000 (in college accommodation), £8000 (in private accommodation).

Best features: Very friendly, great social life and rag week: world-renowned research and a very long history.

Worst features: Expensive to live in London. Informal name: Barts & The London, BL.

More info: Tours available from the Students' Association and on open days. Ring BLSA on 020 7377 7640, email president(at)bartslondon.com or see BLSA website at www.bartslondon.com

Past students: Frederick Treves (physician to John Merrick, the 'Elephant Man'), Professor Winston (BBC TV's 'The Human Body'), Dr Thomas Barnado (of the children's charity), William Harvey (discovered circulation of blood), John Abernethy, James Paget, Richard Gordon (Doctor in the House etc.), Graham Chapman (Monty Python), Percival Pott, Thomas Vicary, W G Grace, Graham Gardner.