Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK Conservative Party, is facing questions after a former Stanford admissions officer disputed her claim of being offered a place in a pre-med program at the university.

Badenoch has said she was admitted to a pre-med program at Stanford when she was 16, using the story to show her determination despite financial challenges

.In a 2017 interview, she told the Huffington Post that her plan to become a doctor ended when she moved to the UK from Nigeria.

She said she had “admission into medical school in the US, I got into Stanford pre-med, and I got into medical school in Nigeria, but I came here because it was cheaper.”

The claim has appeared in other media too. The Times reported that at age 16, her US SAT scores earned her a partial pre-med scholarship at Stanford, but her family could not afford it.

However, Stanford does not offer a pre-med degree. The university’s website explains that students preparing for medical careers can choose any major, as “pre-med” is not a separate program.

Jon Reider, who handled international admissions at Stanford during the time Badenoch says she applied, has cast doubt on her story.

He told The Guardian that he would remember admitting a Nigerian student on financial aid, but he confirmed that they did not.

Reider also said that offers were not made based on test scores alone, and a 16-year-old with only O-levels would not have been ready for admission. Only an extraordinary record could justify early acceptance.

He further explained that Stanford would not offer partial scholarships to international students. The university’s policy was to provide full financial aid if a student was admitted, since a partial award would not allow the student to attend.

The dispute comes at a sensitive time for Badenoch, as she faces pressure from within her party. Questions about the accuracy of her personal story could add more challenges to her leadership position.