Catherine McCormick, a kitchen design and Aga sales consultant with Haldane-Fisher, has achieved a BSc in psychology. Husband, Michael, who works as a training instructor with Nacco, has earned a BSc, too, in his case for environment-related studies.

The couple have a son, Michael, who is 19 today (Friday). He had not started school when his mum began studying for her degree in 1992.

Explaining what this had involved Catherine (42) said, "Michael was a few years old and I was at home looking after him. I just decided to do something to occupy my mind, keep my brain ticking over and give me a sense of achievement when I'd completed it.

"It wasn't with a job or a career move in mind. Nothing like that. I just wanted to use my time at home doing something worthwhile which hopefully I'd enjoy. It was and I did."

Catherine left school when she was 16 with few qualifications. But having experienced the reality of the workplace she realised she had under-acheived. Determined to progress she decided to resume her studies - primarily in computer-related subjects - with a view to enhancing her CV and her job prospects.

She said, "I attended courses at Portadown Training Centre and passed a few exams. Then in 1992 I began an Open University course."

She studied for five years and then took considerable time out before returning to do her final year. In addition to submitting papers to be marked and sitting examinations, her subject entailed two summer residential sessions at Stirling University and the University of York.

"Stirling is absolutely beautiful and York is a gorgeous city, so both times I really enjoyed the experience," she enthused.

Asked if she felt it had all been worthwhile, she said, "Oh yes, no regrets. In fact, now that it's all over I'm missing it. No more deliveries of books and all the materials that went with them. No more papers to be sent in for marking or waiting to hear back as to how you'd done. That leaves a gap.

"All told I studied for six years, part of that time while I was at home looking after Michael and the rest when I'd returned to work. Of course, I took that huge break between my fifth and six years, so I could have done it faster.