Alex and Nicoleta have graduated and married on the same day

Exeter students marry and graduate on the same day

A young Romanian couple who met while studying together in Exeter have married and graduated from Medical School on the same day.

Both originally from Romania, Nicoleta Craucuic and Alex Tirb honoured the city that brought them together by signing the marriage register in Exeter today, July 17 – in the morning of their graduation this afternoon.

The couple met over 1,600 miles away from home, while studying Medical Imaging at the University of Exeter Medical School. They have now been together for over three years.

But it wasn’t all plain sailing for the pair, as Nicoleta recalls: “At the beginning it was quite challenging studying alongside each other on the same course. It definitely tested our relationship, as university can naturally be a very stressful environment. Having come out the other side though, it definitely shows us that we’re right for each other!”

Over a year into their relationship, Alex popped the question to Nicoleta in 2016, while on their first holiday together in Edinburgh. He said: “It’s incredible really, it turns out that fate has a sweet face here, having met my future wife on the same course. Three hard years later, we’re still together, still strong and looking forward to a bright future.”

On their plans for the future, the couple intend to maintain their close proximity to each another in their jobs. Nicoleta said: “We’re moving to Barnstaple and we’re both going to be working as Radiographers at North Devon District Hospital. We went on placement together there in our first year and we were really impressed. It’s a really exciting time because we’re going to be starting the next chapter of our lives together, as well as our careers!”

Alex said: “Today carries with it the memories of the special times spent at university. It commemorates an end of one chapter of our lives and the beginning of two others - our careers and a new life together as a married couple.”

Dr Karen Knapp, Associate Professor in Musculoskeletal Imaging, said: “We are thrilled to see Nicoleta and Alex graduating together and getting married having found each other while studying with us. North Devon District Hospital works closely with us to deliver our Medical Imaging programme, so we are pleased that Nicoleta and Alex will be remaining in the South West and will continue working alongside us to provide clinical education for future radiographers as well as utilising their radiography skills. We feel proud that they are graduates from Exeter.”

The pair will hold a wedding ceremony in Romania on September 1, surrounded by family and friends.

Date: 18 July 2018