DOMINIC Veveris is celebrating a scholarship offer from a Japanese university where he will study after he’s finished sixth form at St John’s School, Marlborough.

The 17-year-old has an unconditional offer from the International Christian University in Tokyo.

It includes an ICU Peace Bell Scholarship, awarded to around 40 students worldwide each year, which will cover a large amount of his fees and accommodation.

He said: “I have always had an interest in Japan but it’s been over the last three or four years that I’ve really wanted to go over there for an extended period of time.

“My mum was really excited. She got the package a few hours before me, so she was really nervous. She told all of my family in this country and in Germany. My friends and family are just as happy as I am.”

Dominic taught himself Japan-ese and is taking the International Baccalaureate (IB) at St John’s.

He will make a decision about the subjects he will take in Japan when he gets there, but he is thinking about majoring in history.

St John’s IB co-ordinator Gary Paterson said: “This is a particularly impressive achievement as Dominic has a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome.

“It has been a real pleasure to watch Dominic grow and mature over the last two years.

“The fact he has an unconditional offer shows the high regard held for the IB course internationally. St John’s staff and Dominic’s fellow IB students all wish him every success”.

As a parting gesture to his fellow IB students, Dominic presented them each with handmade and personalised bookmarks with a good luck message in Japanese.

He had a stall at the recent Marlborough Science Fair, held at St John’s, to raise school funds.