Fatma Batmaz

Working Class Network Member

Hey everyone!

My name is Fatma and I am a second-year Chemist running for Working Class Officer. Coming from a background where bursary support was a lifeline during difficult family times, I firmly believe Imperial should be a place where students thrive regardless of their financial starting point.

Currently, I receive the minimum maintenance loan—my only source of funding—and find that over half of it is swallowed by commuting costs alone. Navigating the cost-of-living crisis while balancing a demanding degree is a challenge I live every day, and it’s one I want to tackle for our community.

If elected, my priorities will be:

Bursary & Financial Advocacy: I will work with the Union to analyse the effectiveness of current bursaries and lobby Imperial to ensure support levels reflect the actual cost of living in London.
Commuter & Expense Support: I want to push for better funding for course-related expenses, specifically targeting travel costs and equipment ( textbooks, tablets, computers) which often act as "hidden" barriers to success.
Building a Visible Community: I will expand our outreach through stalls and social platforms like WhatsApp to ensure working-class students feel connected and aware of every hardship fund and accomplishment group available to them.
Career & Opportunity Bridging: I plan to promote research opportunities, paid internships, and working-class alumni mentorships so that financial pressure never means sacrificing future career success.

Let’s work toward a level playing field and make Imperial a truly accommodating environment for everyone!