A student who fled war crimes is waging a “David and Goliath battle” against the University of Kent over her overseas tuition fees.

Azerbaijan-born Nigar Abdullayev insists that as she has indefinite leave to remain in the UK she should be charged a home rate tuition fee of £9,000, instead of the overseas rate of £15,000.

The 19-year-old is willing to take her case to the High Court and says a victory there would benefit other students trapped in the same situation.

Nigar, who lives in Tenterden Avenue on Canterbury’s Hales Place Estate, said: “The university seems to neglect that I have created a life here in the seven years I have been here.

“Nonetheless, the university insists that I be treated as an overseas student, which means paying much higher fees than domestic students.

!The university is refusing to change its decision, even though the Supreme Court has ruled that children and young people in my position should be regarded as resident here.

“It is a David and Goliath battle, but it’s left me demoralised and with a sense of injustice.”

Nigar’s family escaped the former central Soviet republic of Azerbaijan in 2009 amid escalating political tensions in the region.

They moved to Manchester, where Nigar went to school, earning an educational award from the city in 2012.

She started a course in drama and theatre at Kent last year and is now in her second year.

Nigar receives £9,000 from Student Finance - the government body which loans students their tuition fees - but UKC charges her the £15,000 overseas rate for her studies.

She says her family is struggling to support her.

“It’s very hard for my family – especially as my father is unwell and can’t work,” Nigar said.

“We moved here fleeing war crimes. My family and I were then granted the right to remain by the UK government in 2009 as victims of war crimes.

“All I want to do is get my degree. We want to take this case to the High Court in order for the judge to examine the university’s irrational and unlawful decision in great detail and impose fair fees and get a student loan which I will repay, just as all students do.

“I particularly want to be treated as a domestic student and I request a fair conclusion on my case.”

UKC insists it applies the correct rules to determining whether students are considered for home or overseas tuition fees.

“I particularly want to be treated as a domestic student and I request a fair conclusion on my case" - Nigar Abdullayev

Spokesman Martin Herrema said: “‘The university is not able to discuss the details of individual cases but does assess all student fee status issues according to guidelines provided by the UK Council for International Student Affairs as well as the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2011.

“The university is confident that at all times it determines fee status in accordance with current legislation.”

Nigar has so far raised around £850 on a web page set up to cover the legal fees of challenging the decision. She believes thousands of other students would benefit from a victory for her.

Visit www.crowdjustice.co.uk/case/educating-nigar to support Nigar or find out more.