Students' Union

As a Queen Mary student, you will automatically become a member of the Queen Mary Students’ Union (QMSU), one of the most active Students’ Unions in the country. The Union will help you make the most out of your free time while you are a student. Having recently undergone a multimillion pound refurbishment, QMSU is now better than ever!

QMSU is split into 3 sites: the main site in Mile End and the Students’ Association in Whitechapel and Charterhouse Square. We have listed some of the key services on offer at the Union but for more detailed information on the Union’s activities, please go to www.qmsu.org.

Information Point
The Information Point should be the first port of call for students and visitors. This is where you can hire sports equipment, join the gym or apply for a discount travel card. There are two information points, one in the Health and Fitness Centre and the other in the Student’s Union Offices on the ground floor of Feilden House.

Sports Facilities
University shouldn’t be just about spending long hours in the library! At Queen Mary, we take your physical well-being very seriously which is why the Union has some great sports facilities. A brand new state-of-the-art Health and Fitness Centre, which opens in early 2008, boasts a cardio vascular zone, dedicated stretching areas, free weights area, 2 studios, a ladies-only gym, a squash court and sports hall. The centre is staffed by fully qualified instructors who will be able to help you get into shape.

The Students’ Union also supports a huge range of sports clubs – everything from the traditional team sports like hockey, football, rugby to the more unusual, such as cheerleading, ultimate Frisbee, Kickboxing and Aikido. So there is no excuse for not getting into shape.

Queen Mary students can make use of a wide range of sports facilities – not just those on campus but also in the local area and further afield. Students interested in football, rugby or cricket use Queen Mary’s pitches in Chislehurst, while the Hockey and Netball clubs use the facilities at the local Mile End Stadium, and the College’s boat club trains at the London Regatta Centre.

All team sports compete in both the British University Sports Association (BUSA) and the University of London leagues and they do very well: the Men’s Cricket, Badminton and Rugby teams won their BUSA leagues this year, as did the Women’s Basketball team.

Please see www.qmsu.org/qmotion [new window] for more information.

Entertainment
As part of the redevelopment of the Union facilities, The Drapers’ Bar has undergone a £650,000 refurbishment programme making it one of the best student entertainment venues in the country. With new state of the art light and sound systems, Drapers’ plays host to a number of nights such as Mary’s Cheese and Hail Mary which are very popular with our students. Medical and dental students can also make use of entertainment facilities at Whitechapel and Charterhouse Square.

Clubs, societies and the community
The Students’ Union has over 100 different clubs and societies, so whether you are interested in football, politics, martial arts or mountaineering, you should be able to find something to suit your interests. Plus, if there isn’t a club or society for your favourite hobby, then you can always start up your own. Students also have the opportunity to develop their skills through student community action projects or volunteering opportunities run through an accredited volunteering programme called PROVIDE. You will make friends for life and it will look great on your CV. For more information on any of the societies, please contact Vice President Student Activities at vpactivities@qmsu.org

Student Support
The jump from school or college to university can sometimes prove a bit of a challenge.  To help with the transition, the Student Support Office, situated in the Blomeley Centre provides comprehensive information, support and guidance on academic issues.  There are also computer terminals with full internet access available for students to use.

The Cub
The Cub is Queen Mary’s very own glossy magazine and has been nominated in recent years as one of the best student publications in the country. If you want an excuse to stick your nose into what goes on at Queen Mary or you are thinking about a career in media or journalism, then getting involved in Cub provides a great opportunity to develop your writing, photography and marketing skills.

Student Representation
The Students’ Union is run by students for students. Student policies are decided during the General Meetings which are held on a monthly basis during term-time and all students are encouraged to attend.  Elected officers, five of whom work full-time (sabbatical officers) are appointed in cross-campus ballots every year during the second semester.  They represent the student body in College, within the University of London Union and beyond.

The union is recognised in the College’s Royal Charter as the students’ corporate body and student representatives sit on the Council and on most of the college’s committees. Students are also elected on a faculty basis to the Academic board and on a departmental basis to the faculty boards. Student representation is vital, giving you the chance to contribute to the College’s decision-making process and make a genuine difference to the way the College works.

University of London Union (ULU)
As a Queen Mary student, you will also be able to make use of all the facilities on offer at ULU, which is the largest organised Students’ Union in Europe. Representing over 120,000 students, it provides a range of services on an intercollegiate basis, including cultural, recreational and sporting activities. The seven-floor union building in Malet Street, Central London includes bars, restaurants, shops, banks, swimming pool and a live music venue.

National Union of Students (NUS)
The NUS campaigns nationally on student issues giving you a voice that can be heard by the Government, political parties and local authorities. It fights on issues such as top-up fees and safer housing for students as well as providing information and resources to Students’ unions and to individual members. As a Queen Mary student, you will have automatic membership of the NUS and this will entitle you to discounts at shops, theatres and cinemas in London.

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