Taliban survivor Malala wins a place at Oxford

MALALA Yousafzai, whose incredible story has inspired millions and resulted in a Nobel Peace Prize, has added to her achievements by securing a place to read philosophy, politics and economics (PPE) at Oxford University’s Lady Margaret Hall.

The 20-year-old was celebrating after collecting her A-level results at Edgbaston High School for Girls in Birmingham.

Miss Yousafzai, who narrowly avoided death in 2012 after being shot by the Pakistani Taliban for campaigning over girls’ rights to education, tweeted a screenshot of the confirmation yesterday.

She said: ‘So excited to go to Oxford! Well done to all A-level students – the hardest year. Best wishes for life ahead!’

Her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, wrote on Twitter: ‘My heart is full of gratitude. We are grateful to Allah and thank you to all those who support Malala for the grand cause of education.’

In March, Miss Yousafzai revealed she had received a university offer conditional on achieving three As at A-level but did not name the institution. She admitted attending an interview at Lady Margaret Hall, saying: ‘It was the hardest interview of my life. I just get scared when I think of the interview.’

Alan Rusbridger, the former Guardian newspaper editor and now principal of Lady Margaret Hall, tweeted a ‘welcome’ to Miss Yousafzai yesterday.

She will follow in the footsteps of several world leaders. Famous PPE alumni from Oxford University include Benazir Bhutto, a former premier of Pakistan who also studied at Lady Margaret Hall, Burma’s pro-democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi and former prime minister David Cameron.