FAQ's

BLSA Board Member Elections are run throughout the year so students can decide who represents them. Elected reps represent students, create change, lead the Students’ Union and BLSA and run campaigns, events and projects of their choice that help to improve students’ lives. There are 34 different voluntary roles in the BLSA Elections. Students who are elected in this election will take up their roles for the 2025-26 academic year, starting in August. With roles covering lots of different areas there is something for everyone!

The Elections are a great experience. Whether you’re successful in being elected or not you’ll develop new skills, have a great experience on your CV for placement applications and hopefully meet some new people along the way. We offer all candidates and elected reps helpful training and support throughout the journey.

If elected you’ll lead the BLSA, get the chance to run your own campaigns, events and projects and work with lots of other people in the Faculty, University and Students’ Union, including the senior management team, to create change at Queen Mary and Barts and The London. It really is a one of a kind opportunity!

It’s also your opportunity for you to make a difference to students’ lives by improving their university experience.

No, not at all! The most important thing is that you are passionate about being the voice for the students you represent. You don’t need any prior experience, but we can guarantee that the elections can give you lots of experience and help you learn new skills (even if you don’t win). All candidates are offered training on campaigning, and at the end of the elections period, you’ll have had an opportunity to develop your communications skills, organisational skills, time management and persuasion skills.

With 34 different voluntary roles there really is something for everyone!

Any student studying a course in the School of Medicine & Dentistry can run in the BLSA Board Elections, including postgraduate students, international students and those who are studying part-time. You will undertake the role around your studies.

Firstly, being a member of the BLSA Board really is a great experience. We hear from lots of past members that they wish they could do it all over again, or that the skills they gained from the role really helped them to get to where they are today.

Some other benefits;

Make a difference

By representing students you’ll make a difference to their experience and help to make Queen Mary and Barts and The London better for everyone!

Transferable employability skills

You'll be able to develop and gain new skills in the role, all roles will provide great examples of skills for your CV! You'll also build your confidence!

Improve your self-confidence

You'd be able to talk to dozens of students and become an expert on students views. You can have a chance at presenting your views and opinions and raising them in what can sometimes be a formal environment which is a great achievement.

Develop your networks and meet new people

You will meet new and interesting people and work with different people from our diverse community of students, student reps and staff. You'll also get to work with other students, officers like you and universities from up and down the country.

Some officers will also get the chance to work with leaders in the faculty, University and Students' Union, giving you experience of leadership, working with others, networking and a real insight into what it takes to run an organisation.

A long list of acheivements

When it’s all over you’ll get to look back at everything you achieved, the changes you made and the campaigns and projects you created. You’ll be able to use these as examples in future placement & job applications and interviews.

Access great benefits

Part-time officers on BLSA Board get to access a range of benefits, including training & development opportunities, 20% off in all Students' Union outlets and exclusive rewards.

Yes. You need to be studying during the 2025-26 academic year, but other than that anyone in the School of Medicine & Dentistry can run for one of the 26 part-time officer positions.

Successful candidates are expected to start in their roles from August 2025 (exact date TBC).

Everything that you’ve seen the BLSA and Students’ Union do this year and in the past has had an elected rep behind it. We can’t list everything the reps have achieved this year, but here are some examples:

• Lobbied the university to provide more financial support for students during the cost of living crisis
• Launched surveys on faith spaces, students who work and assessments in medicine
• Planned and deliver our liberation campaigns, including Black History Month, Cultural Unity Week Disability History Month and Islamic Heritage Month
• Collected data about curriculum changes in medicine and used this data to lobby for change
• See more highlights in our Exec Semester 1 highlights article
View our wins this year so far

We know some people need a little nudge, and that’s what Recommend a Friend is here for. Recommend a Friend allows you to encourage a friend to run in the elections. It’s completely anonymous, and it’s an excellent way to give someone a secret compliment.

Recommend a Friend doesn’t nominate your friend automatically though.

If you get recommended and you want to go for a role, you will still need to nominate yourself through the process outlined above.

If you’ve looked through all our online information and you’re still not sure about nominating yourself for a position we still have other ways we can help you.

Book in a 1-2-1 chat

The Elections Team is here to answer your questions and help you to figure out which role would be a perfect fit for you. You can book a session by completing a short online form on MS Bookings.

Talk to your friends & family

Talk to your friends, family and course mates about the opportunity and see what they think. You could also talk about your manifesto and campaign ideas with them and see what they think.

Contact us

You can also email us on su-elections@qmul.ac.uk or message us via our Students’ Union social media pages – links to these are at the bottom of the webpage.