Natisha Atherton and Gareth Taylor wed in July 2015 after meeting as students at Lancaster, where Natisha was studying medicine and Gareth computer science.

Following graduation, Natisha aims to become a GP while Gareth – a former car mechanic - has been offered a fully funded PhD at Lancaster University's Security Lancaster, an EPSRC-GCHQ Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research.

Natisha said: “Lancaster has given me a great chance in life to become a doctor and I’ve really enjoyed my time here. It’s a great university and the medical school is more like a family because it’s small so you get lots of one to one time and care.”

She will now work as a junior doctor in Scunthorpe while her husband Gareth, who graduated last year, returns to Lancaster to begin his PhD after doing a year’s teacher training.

A dyslexic who left school with few qualifications, Gareth said;“Lancaster has been the best decision of my life. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that life would turn out so well- everything has just fallen into place."

He never thought of going to university following A levels, instead leaving school at 18 and working in a bar before joining RBS where he examined cars for insurance claims.

He spent six years with the company, while also working weekends restoring classic cars at a garage where he did everything from panel beating to paint spraying.

When he was made redundant from RBS, he worked full time at the garage while taking an Access to University course at his local FE college.

"Lancaster has a special place in my heart because it’s changed my life.”