Asylum seeker set for Cambridge

Arman hopes to take up a place to study engineering

A 19-year-old Iranian asylum seeker has been offered a place at Cambridge University, three years after arriving in the UK unable to speak English.

Arman Sharif hopes to study engineering at the university's oldest college, Peterhouse, but is waiting to hear from the Home Office whether he will be allowed to stay in the country.

He's shown enormous determination

Roger Green, teacher

Arman is predicted straight As in his A-levels - maths, further maths, physics and AS-level electronics - which he sat this summer at City and Islington Sixth Form Centre in Edmonton, north London.

He scored a rare 100% in two maths modules and one physics module taken as part of his A-levels in January.

But Arman's hopes will be dashed if the Home Office rules he and his family must return to Iran.

At present the family lives in Haringey Council accommodation in Enfield.

'Very surprised'

"I had a good interview. I was quite happy, very surprised - I was not expecting the offer," Arman said.

If he can "regularise" his stay in the UK, he will be able to take up the place.

"I'll just wait - but probably my offer would be jeopardised," he said.

Arman hopes to become a medical engineer after he has completed his degree.

Exceptional student

Arman's ability quickly drew attention from his teachers, who say he is an exceptional student.

"When he started at the college two years ago he had very little English," his physics teacher and tutor, Roger Green, said.

"He did a language course for asylum seekers and within a very short space of time was able to write a 3,000 word physics project.

"One of my colleagues in the maths department - who is a senior examiner for one of the exam boards - said he was one of the best students he'd taught for many years.

"He's shown enormous determination," Mr Green said.

Heart operation

The dons at Peterhouse had been very encouraging, he added.

"They were very supportive of him and he speaks very highly of the way they made him feel relaxed at interview."

Arman first came to the UK for urgent surgery on his heart.

While he was recovering, his father returned to Iran, but ran into problems with the authorities and decided to return to England.