BL Families

BL Families is one of the biggest traditions in the BL Freshers calendar and a way of life at Barts and The London Students' Association, part of your Students' Union.

Here is where you can sign-up for BL Families, our Welcome Week peer-mentoring scheme for students at Barts and The London! Current students – 'parents' – are matched with first year students to provide a friendly face and to help new students settle in to university life. Our students can often recite their family trees for up to three generations and describe the highs and lows that come with the typical family politics. 

Designed to be a scheme that helps first year students settle in and get access to the knowledge and experience of peers in more senior years (aka steal their notes), the scheme has run successfully for over twenty years. It's a great way to meet new people, make connections and get introduced to life at Barts and The London from day 1. Even if you won’t be on campus in September, you can still take part in the scheme.

By signing up to the scheme, you'll be invited to our first Welcome Week events: 

Saturday 12th September: BL Families Welcome Event

5pm-6pm: Welcome Talk, Perrin Lecture Theatre

6pm-6:15pm: "Families" paired up and meet together, Blizard Mews

6:15pm-9pm: Social Time where you get to know each other. As is tradition, many groups will head to the legendary Brick Lane for a curry. The Old Library will also be open for those who prefer to stay at the Garrod with a quiz / activity running from 6:15pm-7:15pm.

9pm: BLSA Freshers Opening Party, The Griff, Garrod Building. Buy a separate ticket for this event here

We hope to see you there!

Sign-ups for BL Families 2026 are now open.

New Students

New Students Apply Here

Returning Students

Returning Students Apply Here (Parents) 

Deadline for signups: 7 September 2026, 9am

Similar to previous years. One person from each parent pair fills out the form. They MUST complete the online training which has been updated this year.