A UNIVERSITY student who says she was treated like a celebrity during two years living and working in China is now targeting a Masters degree back in the UK.

Alexandra Craggs, from Croft, near Darlington, arrived in China knowing only a word or two of the complex language, but transformed herself into a near-fluent speaker.

She was just one of 50 people from the UK to qualify for a scholarship from the Chinese Government which paid her costs to stay and study.

Ms Craggs, who recently graduated with a first class degree in international relations from Birmingham University, said foreigners were still a novelty in many parts of the country and were treated like celebrities.

She said: “I went to see a marathon in Bejing and the runners were stopping and queuing to take selfies with me.

“People would really love to talk to you and be very interested in why you were in China.”

The 22-year-old, a former Polam Hall student, spent a year in Shanghai and a year in Xiamen and also completed a local Government internship in Guangzhou.

While in Guangzhou she experienced a series of incredible storms, although a typhoon which was predicted to hit the city did not.

“Everything was cancelled and closed down. I was also cycling one day and the next thing I know I was up to my knees in water,” she said.

Ms Craggs, a keen photographer who learnt calligraphy and Chinese chess during her stay, travelled extensively and was also visited by her parents Paul and Jane.

She is now considering Masters programme offers from Durham, York, Leeds and Newcastle universities.

She said: “China is somewhere completely different in terms of culture and language, which is what attracted me to going out there.

“Alongside my Masters I am hoping to get some work experience so I can work again in China in the future.”