First class honours for home-schooled Hampshire teenager who started degree aged 16

A teenager from Hampshire who started his degree at the age of 16 has completed a family hat-trick by graduating with first class honours.

Cathum Safi, 19, from Ashurst in the New Forest has finished his biomedical science degree at the University of Portsmouth, following in the footsteps of his older twin sisters who also both gained first class honours degrees in physics.

Hannah and Emmal were dubbed "Britain's brainiest twins" when they graduated from the same university in 2014.

All three siblings were home taught by their parents.

Mr Safi, who wants to be a doctor and whose main interests are neuroscience and immunology, said: "My goal has always been to study medicine.

His mother, Pam, said: "Cathum went to the same university as his sisters but was only 16 - the youngest ever to take on a biomedical science degree. His first class honours degree is quite an achievement considering his age."

During his degree, Mr Safi completed placements at the A&E department at Southampton General Hospital and the pathology department at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth.

His personal tutor and senior lecturer Dr Qian An said: "He has been a proactive and focused student who had a clear idea of where he wanted to go in his future career.

Hannah is now specialising in cardiology at St Bartholomew's Hospital, whilst her twin sister Emmal is a senior scientist at the National Physical Laboratory, working on planetary and environmental issues.