Identical twins graduate from University of Essex together

Identical twin sisters Grace and Olivia Grant are used to doing things together and now they have graduated on the same day – but in different subjects.

The sisters, former pupils of St Benedicts Catholic College in Colchester, followed their brother Harry to the University of Essex, as it meant they could stay together and continue living at home. 

Although they have now finished their degrees, the family’s long-standing relationship with Essex is set to continue, with both girls hoping to continue their studies here. 

But first, their family and friends are happy to only have the expense of attending one graduation ceremony, rather than two. As Grace studied law with politics and Olivia biomedical science, they would normally graduate on separate days, but the University has allowed them to graduate together on Wednesday 17 July. 

“My brother Harry was the first in the family to go to university, studying law at Essex. We chose to go there too, as we wanted to stay together and stay living at home. I had just started up my own cleaning business in the area, which I didn’t want to abandon, and Liv had worked her way up to supervisor at Colchester Zoo, so didn’t want to leave her job. Essex was the obvious choice,” said Grace. 

Grace is currently doing a summer internship at Suffolk County Council, but hopes to do a Masters in political science, while Olivia has been given a scholarship to do a PhD in biological science – both at Essex!