A female IT graduate is one in a million after being named BTEC student of the year.

Mehreen Rana, 18, from the North East Surrey College of Technology (Nescot) in Ewell, received the Pearson’s National BTEC Award on Thursday night.

She said: "I’m so happy, but it was such a surprise and I still can’t believe it."

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The Epsom resident, who has just completed a Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Network and System Support, is passionate about encouraging more women to join the IT sector.

She said: "At the moment IT is really dominated by men, and I think it would be good for girls and women to show what we can do.

"I think a lot of girls are put off from studying IT and considering it as a career because they don’t think it’s for them, but if we can change that I think it would benefit everyone."

Pearson, which owns BTEC awarding body Edexcel, received more than 700 nominations for this year’s awards. Almost one million people around the UK are studying for BTEC qualifications this year.

Ms Rana received certificates, trophies, an iPad and a week of work experience with a well-known IT company. Pearson will also give resources to Nescot. Ms Rana is on course to receive an overall Distinction* grade for her BTEC and will read Computer Science at King’s College London in September.

Rod Bristown, president of Pearson UK, said: "This year’s judges were impressed by the quality and number of nominations we received, but Mehreen really stood out as a truly exceptional student."

The judges were impressed by Ms Rana’s tenacity, drive and enthusiasm and her dedication to promoting IT to women.

The awards ceremony was hosted by Radio 1 DJ Matt Edmondson at Royal Horticultural Halls in central London.