A science graduate is due to start her masters course at Oxford University next month after a successful online appeal for funds to continue her studies.

Emily-Rose Eastop, 26 of Cleveland Road in South Woodford, reached her target of £26,570 from 485 online donations.

She will start her masters degree in cognitive and evolutionary anthropology on October 13.

Ms Eastop graduated from Magdalen College Oxford in human sciences but despite applying for around 200 jobs, she wasn’t able to secure one.

Crowdfunding is an online fundraising appeal which relies on donations from a large amount of people to reach a target.

Contributors can donate any amount they want with £1 providing access to Ms Eastop’s blog and £500 secures a professionally bound and signed dissertation.

She said: “I certainly was not expecting to raise all the money, I am delighted to be starting the course next month.

 “I didn’t have a choice because it was the last remaining option to me after not being able to secure a grant.”

Since the Guardian’s last article in July when Ms Eastop was halfway to her target, her cause went viral across the internet.

She said: “Once it was picked up by the nationals it just snowballed and I secured about £8,000 in a week to reach my target, most from total strangers.

“But it was also pretty bad, in the comments section I received some horrible abuse and it was pretty difficult.

“I was called some really nasty names but in a way I think this encouraged people to donate in order to show the bullies that they were wrong.”