Riaz Docrat, 21, has just graduated after three years living at home while studying at the University of Leicester.

He is about to embark on a five-year medical degree and, despite his sister’s pleas for him to leave so that she can have his room, he intends to stay.

“It is more comfortable being at home,” says Riaz, who has just been awarded a first in medical biochemistry.

“I had my own living space and more than one place to study. Other students might not be able to study in their house because it is such a mess.”

He says he has learnt to fend for himself. “But I get my washing done at home. I am guilty there,” he confesses. “I didn’t miss out on anything, but the first year was the hardest in terms of getting to meet people and going out. You have to be quite an extrovert and not hide at home. I made friends quite quickly and I didn’t find it difficult to interact.

“I perhaps missed out on late nights in the first year when everyone dives into this world and wants to do everything at once. I held back a bit. It was a lot easier in the second and third year.”

Riaz saved on accommodation but took out a loan to help with books, food and going out.

But did he feel like a big kid with his parents monitoring his comings and goings? “My parents were quite flexible. I wasn’t limited to what time I was going to be back. It was the same as everyone else, go back whenever, get some sleep and try and get to that 9am lecture.”

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