A set of twins are preparing to graduate together after studying on the same course at the University of Derby.
Sisters Emma and Kelly Shooter both celebrate their 2:1 degrees on Friday as the university's 1,000th and 1,001st law graduates.
The pair both left school at 16 to became legal clerks in Derby and decided to work and study part time, Emma explained. "After we left school we both decided we wanted to do A-levels and then the university's law degree," she said. "We were going to do it full-time at first but at the last minute thought it would be better if we stayed in work and did it part-time.
"That way we would still be gaining work experience, as we studied. We would do our studying and revise together. One of our lecturers said our written answers in exams were almost identical, but written in our own styles."
Kelly added: "Our lectures were done after work, two nights a week, sometimes until 9.15pm. That could be hard, coming after a full day's work, but we had some good tutors."
The assistant head of the university's School of Law and Criminology, Tony O'Neill, said the twins were a "joy to teach".
"Throughout their four years at the university they demonstrated ability and exceptional commitment, and they really earned their degrees the hard way," he said. "It's great that together they should mark the end of our first 1,000 LL.B graduates and the beginning of the next 1,000. We wish them every success for the future."
