TEENAGER Talut Ahmad is by any standards a star school pupil.

He has just been awarded eight end-of-term prizes, is on course for straight As in his Highers, and is described by his headteacher as a fantastic ambassador for his school.

For any other 17-year-old the next stop would be university. But not for Talut. His family are asylum seekers who face deportation any day.

And even if they're allowed to stay in the Glasgow community they've called home for six years, they cannot afford the £6500-a-year university fees they are forced to pay because of their asylum status.

The Castlemilk High School pupil, who picked up school prizes including the Head Teacher's Award for Excellence, the Plato IT prize and the Weir's computing gong, said: "Next year I want to apply to university, possibly Edinburgh. I would like to do aeronautical engineering or nuclear physics.

"But because I'm an asylum seeker, I'm treated as an international student. That means I would have to pay fees of around £6500 a year."

Talut, who lives in Croftfoot, is expected to get four straight As in his Highers and has set his sights on a science degree.

He wants to stay on for sixth year to do Advanced Higher Maths, Advanced Higher Chemistry and Advanced Higher Physics.

His family have already had one application for asylum rejected and are awaiting the outcome of a second.

Talut, who has an older sister Sara, 21, said today: "I'm proud. I promised my dad I would work my hardest and I have done so. But I thought our asylum case would have been decided by now."

Talut's dad Mahmood, 51, an accountant who is not allowed to work in Scotland, said: "Both my children are very high achievers.

"They both love Scotland and they have a great contribution to make here. But it is difficult for them."

Castlemilk High head teacher Brian McAlinden is full of praise for his star pupil.

He said: "Talut has an impressive list of skills and strengths and he is a fantastic ambassador for Castlemilk High.

"Talut has remained extremely motivated, studying for his Highers despite knowing that he and his family could be removed at any time."

Mahmood and his wife and family fled Pakistan's capital Lahore in December 2000 after being persecuted over their Muslim faith.

A spokesman for the Scottish Executive's education department confirmed that asylum seekers are currently treated in the same way as international students.

He added: "The secretary of state for education and lifelong learning, Fiona Hyslop, brought a paper to cabinet on this matter and will be making an announcement on progress soon."

He said he could not dispute the fees Mr Ahmad claimed he faced.