Identical twins who both recorded nine A*s in their GCSEs in 2008 have now both gained degrees in Chinese.
David and Jonathan Wildman, 23, who were born two minutes apart, went to Cambridge and Oxford universities respectively.
We first reported on the Douglas twins in 2006 when they gained their nine GCSEs, and then again in 2008 when they both passed A levels in French, German, English literature and AS level physics.
David achieved an upper second class degree, known as a 2:1, just one percent short of a first-class degree, while Jonathan got a first class honours degree.
David, currently back in the Isle of Man, said: ‘I was very satisfied with a 2:1, I worked hard for it and this was the best 2:1 I could have got.
‘I’m going to relax for a bit now, it’s been a long hard slog getting the degree over the four years.’
Asked about his plans for the future, he said: ‘I would like to do a masters and maybe go to another country.’
The twins first became interested in China and the language after a Ballakermeen school trip to the country.
‘There was a school exchange opportunity at Ballakermeen and it seemed too good to be true, so after I went on that I kind of became obsessed,’ said David.
Their time spent at separate universities was the first time the twins had been apart for a long period and David said: ‘That was one of the hardest things at first, being apart after around 19 years together, but it gave us the chance to develop individually and rediscover who we are.’
Before starting their degrees the twins spent six months in China teaching English.
‘At first it was a bit of a culture shock but it gave us a really good foundation for the degree, and of course we met and got to know a lot of Chinese people,’ said David.
The twins’ mother, Martine, was very proud of them saying: ‘It’s great, they did find it quite hard being separated at first but they’re very happy now they’ve got their results.’