If University of Otago software engineering student Smitha Keertipati (22) ever needed any advice about her studies she did not have to go far to seek help.
That was because her twin sister, Swetha Keertipati, was also studying the same subject, for a bachelor of applied science degree in software engineering.
Born in India, the sisters have spent most of their lives in Dunedin, attending Queen's High School and became New Zealand citizens in 2007.
And today they will graduate together at the same 1pm graduation ceremony, at the Dunedin Town Hall.
They will be among more than 300 people who will graduate at the ceremony, the first of two being held today, with qualifications in applied science and several other disciplines, including health sciences and commerce.
Smitha said she felt that graduating together was going to be ''really exciting''.
It had been good to have a sister going to university at the same time.
If her sister understood a software engineering concept better, she would help explain it, and vice versa.
Swetha also was delighted at the prospect of graduating with her sister.
''We've always done things together.
''It's a big achievement, graduating with our first degree, and it will be good to share this experience with her.''
Swetha said it had always been good to have a friend available to provide support during her studies.
The siblings said software engineering was an important, creative field that was rapidly changing.
Such work included creating computer code but extended far more widely, involved a mixture of skills, and required not only an overall vision but also painstaking attention to small details.
They studied at both the Otago computer science and information science departments, and as well as majoring in software engineering, they also have a ''minor'' in computer science.
Their sisterly collaboration will continue next year, when both plan to study for master of applied science degrees, also at Otago University.
