An aspiring mathematician who lives in London has thanked Taylor Swift for making her “dreams come true” after the singer donated £23,000 towards her university education.

Vitoria Mario, who has lived in Tottenham for four years after moving from Portugal, said she was ineligible for Government funding and her family could not afford to support her while she studied at the University of Warwick.

While she hasn’t spoken to the singer to thank her, she was shocked to find her GoFundMe page received a £23,373 donation by Swift “out of the blue”.

Ms Mario said: “She actually made my dreams come true.

“I feel like at some points I was worrying too much about the money, what I have to do, if I have to look for a job and now I can just do more maths, prepare myself for uni so I can just be really prepared when it comes.”

Alongside the donation, Swift wrote: “Vitoria, I came across your story online and am so inspired by your drive and dedication to turning your dreams into reality.

“I want to gift you the rest of your goal amount. Good luck with everything you do! Love, Taylor.”

Ms Mario said her family cannot afford to support her and she needs funds to help pay for her accommodation, a laptop, textbooks and general living costs.

She estimated she would need £24,000 for accommodation, £3,000 for equipment and £13,000 for general living costs including food, transport, gas and electricity.

She continued: “Though my story is not unique, my dream of becoming a mathematician is not only a chance at social mobility for my family and I, but to inspire people who have been in similar positions to aspire to be the best version of themselves and strive for their dreams despite gender/racial inequality, immigration issues and financial barriers.”

She added that she has always been “studious” and was unable to speak English when she moved to the UK in 2016.

She was awarded two A*s and an A in her A-levels.

Ms Mario said her father has died and her mother lives in Portugal, so she had limited support in the UK.

Her fundraising page said: “Moving away from her was a challenge but it was a sacrifice worth being made in my family’s eyes.”

Ms Mario, who lives with members of her family, has now reached her fundraising target following Swift’s donation.