A UKRAINIAN Oxford University graduate fighting for the right to stay in Britain, is "overjoyed" after winning her final appeal against deportation.

Eleonora Suhoviy, 24, who works as a personal assistant at the oncology department at the John Radcliffe Hospital, has lived in Britain for 11 years.

However, she fell foul of the Home Office because she arrived on her mother's six-month tourist visa and was never granted leave to stay beyond that.

In December, 2005, she appealed against a decision to deport her, but it was rejected.

Her barrister, Jonathan Goldberg, who has taken on her case without charging a fee, immediately lodged a further appeal on a point of law.

And on Tuesday she finally won the right to call the UK her home at an asylum and immigration appeal tribunal in central London.

Miss Suhoviy said she was "very relieved, extremely".

She added: "I am also very grateful for all the support from everyone, from the press and the general public."

Figures including Lord Carrington, Jeremy Paxman and even the Bishop of Oxford have written to the authorities in support of her case.

The Rt Rev Richard Harries said it would be "a violation of common sense and a travesty of justice" for her to be sent back.

Her barrister Jonathan Goldberg said: "This is an enormous relief for her. She has really been in limbo since 1999.

"This really means that the immediate threat that hung over her has been removed.

"It means that she will not be thrown out we hope at all now, but she is free to apply for leave to remain and for British citizenship."

Miss Suhoviy moved to Britain from the Ukraine aged 13, when her parents divorced.

She taught herself English, largely from reading the books of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

After studying at a comprehensive school in Lincolnshire, she won a place at Oxford studying modern languages and since graduating, still teaches Ukrainian at the university.

Media coverage of her achievements also drew the attention of an anonymous benefactor, who pledged to pay her £10,000 international student fees.

To this day she has no idea of her patron's identity.

Before the hearing, Miss Suhoviy told how losing the case would have a disastrous effect.

"It would be devastating because everything that I have achieved so far would be just shattered and I would have to start from the very beginning," she said.

She now hopes to realise her dreams of becoming a British citizen and joining the Royal Navy as an intelligence officer.

Miss Suhoviy said: "The support I have had has given me the strength to fight on."

She describes herself as a "true British patriot" and "a product of British society and its values".

Referring to Oxford, she adds: "It's my home. The Ukraine is completely alien to me now."

The student graduated with a 2:1 and has worked in the NHS ever since, helping out at cancer clinics while she saves money for a further postgraduate course at Oxford.

A pianist and dancer, she is also a founder of Oxford University's Ukraine Society.

An appeal by her mother, whose remarriage in Britain was ruled to be one of convenience, was rejected and she has been ordered to return to the Ukraine.