She had planned to study psychology in Italy, but after US sanctions forced the suspension of an English exam required in order to make her dream come true, Iranian student Nikki cried for days.
Nikki had been due to take the TOEFL English proficiency test, a key qualification required by many foreign universities, in Iran later this month.
Now, like many Iranian students dreaming of a future elsewhere, she is scrambling to find another way to take it, while absorbing the new exam fee and hefty travel costs.