Barts & The London - Student View

Part of Queen Mary University of London since 1995, following the merger of Britain's oldest medical school (The London in Whitechapel) and the oldest hospital (Barts at Charterhouse Square).

Students are members of Queen Mary Students' Union (QMSU) and BLSA (Barts & The London Students' Association). BLSA activity is centred on a new building at Whitechapel (housing a bar/nightclub, cafe, meeting rooms and offices) next to the Dental Institute (home of clinical dental education) and opposite the hospital, medical school and renovated halls of residence.

New medical school building at Whitechapel so teaching moving there from Mile End. Whitechapel is in the heart of the East End, and famous for its drinking establishments (including the Blind Beggar - ask your parents about the Krays); also a cinema, Whitechapel art gallery, range of eating places (minutes from Brick Lane), and even a (staff/student) swimming pool behind the hospital

Area is populated by a diverse range of first- and second-generation immigrant families from eg Bangladesh, Somalia and Turkey. Other medical campus at Charterhouse Square, two minutes' walk from Barts Hospital (international reputation and the regional centre of excellence for cardiac and cancer care). It is a tranquil haven of green in the heart of the City of London but near the buzzing area of Clerkenwell and close to Islington and popular clubs such as Turnmills and Fabric.

Student halls (also recently refurbished), notorious Barts Bar, a multigym and two squash courts. Barts & The London noted for being very friendly; freshers assigned to a'student parent' when they arrive; staff regularly attend student events.

BLSA runs popular student mag, MAD (Medics And Dentists!), active drama and drama societies (both perform regularly), its own racehorse, a lively asian society and many active sports clubs which play separately from (and sometimes against) QMSU teams, and many other clubs and societies eg boardriders, skydiving and ski trip.

Rag Week very successful: £140,000 raised recently for charity by shocking and entertaining the London public. Regular events include Freshers' Fortnight, Christmas Ball, theme nights, trips and Summer Ball, meaning that life is always busy.