Dozens of CLL students saw their hard work pay off as they graduated at the University’s annual ceremony on Wednesday 19 July.

Students from nine courses, ranging from Foundation to Masters level, collected their certificates in front of cheering friends, family and loved ones at the ceremony hosted in The Butterworth Hall in Warwick Arts Centre.

Among those graduating were six students, including a former factory worker, who were re-introduced to education by our first ever Gateway to HE course, from which successful completion allowed them to take up places on the BA (Hons) Social Studies degree.

Students graduated in the following subjects:

Postgraduate
MA Career Development and Coaching
MA Career Education and Guidance in HE
MA Social Work

Undergraduate
Part time degrees
BA (Hons) Early Years Professional Studies
The FdA and BA (Hons) in Person-Centred Counselling and Psychotherapy
BA (Hons) Social Studies
FdA in Sector-Endorsed Foundation Degree in Early Years.
 

Gateway tutor, Dr Steve Gascoigne, said: “It’s the happiest day of the year for me to see my students finish off at the end.

“And what’s extra special this year is that this is the first Gateway group, students who came to us and were not sure about university, didn’t really know what university was about, didn’t know how to write essays, didn’t know about the library, about academic practice, and now they’ve graduated from Warwick.”

Nicolie Murphy, who was a member of the first cohort of Gateway to HE students, graduated from her full-time social studies degree with a first class honours.

She said: ‘It was nerve wracking, exciting, and to be honest really sad because it’s been a whole four year journey.

“I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve had opportunities to make so many friends. It was a hard journey, it wasn’t easy, I had to learn everything from scratch, but I got there, and to get a first class degree from Warwick is just outstanding.’

2+2 graduate, Sue Adcock, also spoke to BBC Coventry and Warwickshire after the ceremony. You can listen to the interview here (at 2hrs and 15 mins).