As part of our 2025 Women & Girls in STEM campaign, we sat down with former Bradford College student, Fatima Nadeem, who is now studying Medicine at Imperial College London.
Fatima’s journey to studying Medicine was inspired by a specific moment in her life. When her grandmother suffered a fall and required multiple surgeries, Fatima was by her side to witness the challenges and care involved. She still recalls saying: “You just wait and watch, I’m going to become a doctor and help you walk again.”
Although her grandmother sadly passed away in 2020, the kindness and dedication of her medical team left a lasting impression on Fatima.
In 2021, Fatima and her family moved to the UK from Pakistan – a transition which brought both excitement and uncertainty. Starting again in a new country was challenging, but her determination to study medicine never wavered.
“I always knew I wanted to be a doctor”, she shared.
“When we arrived in Bradford, I realised I just needed to find the right path to get closer to my dream.”
Despite the hurdles of adapting to a new education system and culture, Fatima remained focused on her goal and ready to embrace the opportunities that lay ahead.
Finding Her Path at Bradford College
During the summer enrolment period of 2021, Fatima chose Bradford College as the place to further her education. Despite her previous qualifications not meeting certain requirements, she remained determined to pursue her goals. Enrolling onto Level 2 Applied Science and also tackling her GCSE English, she ultimately achieved outstanding grades.
Reflecting on this, she said: “The Applied Science course was a stepping stone to prepare me for the qualifications I needed to pursue medicine.
“When I moved here, I didn’t know much about how things worked. The College Admissions Team were incredibly helpful and it was an easy decision in the end. Bradford College felt like the right place for me to progress.”
Starting her A-levels at Bradford College in 2022, Fatima opted for Biology, Chemistry, and Maths.
“While at College, I found the academic support to be exceptional”, she continued.
“My tutors maintained an open-door policy, always eager to help with even the most basic questions. Maths wasn’t my favourite subject, but my tutor’s personable approach made me fall in love with it. I started approaching equations and problems from a different perspective, which became evident as I aced my Maths exams.”
As Fatima (pictured left) continued to work hard on her studies, she was simultaneously considering universities for her next step.
Into 2023 and her strong academic performance, including three A*s, secured her interviews with all four of her university applications – Imperial College London, University of Cambridge, University of York, and University of Exeter.
It was ultimately an offer from Imperial College London that she opted to accept, marking a momentous milestone in her path to a career in Medicine.
Studying Medicine at Imperial College London
Since starting at Imperial College in September 2024, Fatima has been able to actively engage in both academic studies and a range of extracurricular activities.
She has quickly discovered that while Imperial is known for its strong focus on STEM, it also offers so much more: “I’ve found so many learning opportunities beyond my coursework, engaging in several clubs and activities which have really enriched my university experience. Learning Arabic, in particular, has been a fun challenge and a great way to meet new people. It’s helping me grow in ways I didn’t expect.
“It’s still my first year, and there will be hurdles along the way, but I’m determined to keep moving forward. My ultimate goal is to make a difference in people’s lives through medicine. There’s, without a doubt, a lot of pressure that comes with studying a six-year course and sometimes I feel homesick, but then I remember the promise to my grandma.”
At Bradford College, we offer a variety of courses in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths to help students kickstart their careers or further their studies.
If you’re interested in reading more success stories like Fatima’s, visit our dedicated Girls and Women in STEM campaign page.
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