WHILE students making the direct leap from college to university might bemoan the baked-bean diet and lack of funding for social activities, imagine studying for a degree with four children to care for and a home to run.

That's exactly what 44-year-old Kate Martin did when she made the brave decision to go back to studying at the University of Greenwich.

She explains: "My youngest daughter was starting nursery and I felt I'd reached a stage in my career when I needed to do something different."

Not having done as well as she had hoped at A-level, Kate left school with eight GCSEs and started a career in nursing. After a year-and-a-half, she discovered it was not for her and began working in an office.

She continues: "I then helped my husband Nick set up his fire protection installation company but he was constantly nagging me about the benefits of going to university.

"He was doing a business degree and wanted me to try studying, so I submitted a late application to the university in July and was accepted after writing a strong personal statement.

"Humanities is a good degree to choose if you are unsure of which direction you want to go in, and I later focused on more specific topics, going on to graduate in history and politics. I loved history at school and my husband teases me about my strong political views so I really enjoyed my degree."

Kate's children, aged six, 10, 14 and 16, are proud of their mother's achievements and she admits she would like them to follow in her footsteps and one day go to university.

As a mature student, Kate had more commitments than the average learner, but admits: "My friends and family really helped me with childcare. I camped out at the end of the dining room table with my studying for three years, so I think they are now glad to have it back!

"Now I've finished my degree, I'm looking forward to spending more time with my family, especially my children."

As if successfully maintaining a balance between studying and family life was not impressive enough, Kate, who lives in Orpington, has excelled in her chosen field, an achievement recognised both by the institution and nationally.

She achieved first class honours, has been nominated for the Francis Duke Memorial prize within the University of Greenwich and her dissertation has also been selected to represent the university for the national History Today prize.

The History Today prize is intended to reward high-quality work of undergraduates in dissertations which are now an integral part of most history courses. Kate will find out if her work has been shortlisted in October.

Kate's dissertation is not just significant to her education - one external examiner said it was the best they had ever read - but also to her personal life.

In it, she explores the circumstances surrounding her grandfather's death after the Second World War.

She explains: "My grandfather died after the plane he was travelling in ran out of fuel and crashed. It was important to me to find out more about the incident so my dissertation looks at the ways in which propaganda might have influenced such events during this period. It's been a very moving experience."

Kate's dissertation tutor Dr June Balshaw, also a former mature student, is full of praise for Kate: "She is, if not the best, one of my best students. Kate is incredibly well-organised and I think because she is a mature student she has been able to juggle the different aspects of her life.

"She is highly motivated and has the evident ability to look at something, do the research and make intellectual connections.

"I would encourage Kate to apply for a scholarship so she can continue the research she has started with her dissertation."

For now, Kate has decided to take a year out from studying, but will continue working on a project to promote the use of local archives, which she has been developing with Dr Balshaw.

She is also keen to recommend university to others in her situation: "Any parent can do it. It is very hard work but it is also rewarding and you learn so much about your capability.

"I think you enjoy it more as a mature student and it's never too late to learn. Even if you are 60 or 70, you can still learn something new."