The WMSC covers all matters of importance to medical students in Wales and acts on their behalf. We do this by informing, liaising and, where appropriate, collaborating with the Welsh Government, Cardiff and Swansea medical schools, local health boards and Health Education and Improvement Wales.
The committee also works closely with the BMA Welsh council and the UK MSC.
Our priorities
Mental health
Raise awareness of student mental health issues and assess the scope of the support offered by medical schools in Wales.
In 2020, we conducted a mental health survey of medical students in Wales to learn about mental health at university.
Widening participation
Promote access to medicine regardless of background and monitor differential attainment.
Accommodation standards
We lobbied for improvements in the standard of accommodation for students on placements and continue to monitor these standards.
Grassroots engagement
Improve communication with students in order to increase awareness of the BMA and encourage engagement with WMSC.
Assessments
Monitor the implementation of the MLA (Medical Licensing Assessment) and medical schools’ own assessment procedures.
Medical Student Finance
Lobby for improvements to the NHS bursary in Wales and sufficient and equitable travel expenses for those medical students on placement in Wales.
Our people
Chair: Fatemeh Tajdin
Deputy Chair: Sarah Osborn
Cardiff 1st Year
Austen Burnham
Cardiff 2nd year
Fatemeh Tajdin
Cardiff 3rd Year
Elen Evans
Cardiff 4th year
Rajib Ahmed
Cardiff 5th year
Oliver Silgram
Swansea 1st year
Carys Hughes
Swansea 2nd year
Sarah Osborn
Swansea 3rd year
Anusha Kantamani
Swansea 4th year
Megan Johnston
North Wales (Bangor) 1st year
Alexander Reeves
North Wales (Bangor) 2nd year
Alisha Lakha
North Wales (Bangor) 3rd year
Sahla Siji
North Wales (Bangor) 4th year
Arthur Jones
North Wales (Bangor) 5th year
Emily Forest
Intercalating: Kevin Boon Chun Lee
Immediate past chair: Erin Flaherty
MSC representatives 24/25
Cardiff: Kevin Boon Chun Lee
Swansea: Malaika Sujeesh
Bangor: Megan Billcliff
Take part in one of our free courses designed to give you the right skills to:
- break down equality and inclusion bias (CPD-accredited)
- value difference and inclusivity
- live our BMA behaviour principles.
Our meetings
We meet four times a year to discuss the latest issues affecting medical students in Wales. These meetings are open to WMSC members only.
Meeting dates:
- Wednesday 9 October 2024
- Wednesday 11 December 2024
- Wednesday 19 February 2025
- Wednesday 14 May 2025
All meetings take place from 6.30pm to 9pm either virtually or at:
BMA Cymru Wales
5th Floor
2 Caspian Point
Caspian Way
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff
CF10 4DQ
How to join
There are many advantages to becoming involved in our committees. You can actively influence BMA policy-making and negotiations, represent your colleagues' voices and develop your leadership skills.
Each committee has a few routes to becoming an elected member. In the case of WMSC, these are:
- Seats/term - every year, both medical schools in Wales elect a representative to UKMSC for a one-session term. These representatives have non-voting seats on the WMSC.
- Timeline - elections usually take place in March or April.
- Eligibility - all student BMA members are eligible to stand and vote in this election.
- Seats/term - every year, both medical schools in Wales elect two representatives, and an intercalating representative, from each year for a one-session term.
- Timeline - elections usually take place in May or June.
- Eligibility - all student BMA members in Wales are eligible to stand and vote in this election.
There is also a co-opted representative position for the Cardiff Medical school C21 course run at Bangor University.
The election section below is kept up to date with details about any running elections, so make sure you keep checking it throughout the year.
Elections
The Welsh medical student committee is made up of one representative from each academic year group at each medical school in Wales (Cardiff, Swansea and North Wales) and one intercalating representative.
There is no fifth year at Swansea as it is a graduate entry course and first years for each medical school will be advertised in September at the start of the academic year.
Direct elections for one year term 2025- 26
The WMSC is holding elections for the following seats:
one representative from each year at Cardiff, Swansea and Bangor medical schools.
- Cardiff - years 1-5.
- Swansea - years 1-4.
- Bangor - years 1-5.
Eligibility
To stand or vote in this election, you must:
- be a BMA full-time student member in Wales
- have a BMA online account.
Nominations and casting your vote
- Nominations open 9am on Wednesday 16 April and close at 12 noon on Wednesday 14 May 2025.
- Ballot opens from 9am on Thursday 15 May and closes at 12 noon on Thursday 12 June 2025.
Read our guide on how to use our online system for elections.
Results
Results will be announced from Friday 13 June 2025 on the election portal.
If you have any questions about these elections, please email us.
Get in touch
If you are interested in finding out more about the work of the WMSC, please contact us or call 029 2047 4696.
The BMA is working to meet the challenges that women face in the medical profession.
Stand for a BMA committee and be part of this change.