A teenager who was inspired to become a doctor after seeing her brother being born has received a five-year scholarship.

First-year bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery student Zaynab Khan has been awarded the prestigious Livesey Scholarship from the University of Central Lancashire, which covers all her tuition fees for the duration of the five-year course.

She said: “I was overjoyed and thrilled to be awarded the scholarship. I was excited about the prospect of going to university and studying medicine but it was a huge relief too because it really was the difference between being able to follow my dream of studying to become a doctor and not.

“The financial implication of studying medicine is significant in terms of the level of debt at the end of a course like this.

“This was something that has always worried me and I thank God for the scholarship which has taken away a lot of those worries and concerns, so that I can really focus on my studies.”

She was nine-years-old when she went to hospital to see her mum give birth to her brother and it was this moment which planted the seed and made a big impression on a young Zaynab.

The former Tauheedul Islam Girls High School and Sixth Form pupil said: “I’ve always been interested in medicine and the health of young children and babies in particular ever since my brother was born.

“I’ve seen him grow since day one and I saw how there was a whole team of people – doctors, nurses, midwifes – checking on the baby and mother. I’ve always been interested in how a whole team of people are involved in the care of the baby and mother throughout a whole period and that’s how I got into medicine.”

Zaynab is the first in her immediate and wider family to go to university for a career in medicine and healthcare.

The Livesey Scholarship is offered to one MBBS student, who comes from a background that is under-represented at UCLan, and who has successfully completed the Pathways to Medicine Programme.