Turbulent year for Salford student ends in distinction

Rebecca receives her degree from Chancellor Irene Khan

Selling her business, coping with Multiple Sclerosis, relocating, and a series of family bereavements did not deter University of Salford student - and now graduate - Rebecca Rushworth from following her dream.

Yesterday (20 July), Rebecca graduated with a distinction in her MSc Molecular Parasitology and Vector Biology which marked the end of a very difficult year.

In 2008, following the death of her brother she re-evaluated her life and decided to follow her dream of completing a masters. An application to Salford followed, where she was accepted despite having last studied 30 years previously.

On her acceptance Rebecca sold her shop and e-commerce business and moved from rural Lincolnshire to a house share in Manchester.

The University helped her by moving lectures to rooms with better access to her wheelchair, allowing her to tape lectures to help with the extreme fatigue brought on by her MS and also provided her with voice recognition software to help her take notes when she couldn't type.

However, during the course she had also to deal with the deaths of her husband and mother - her husband's just before her first essay in two decades was due to be submitted.

She said: "I worked very hard at it but I thought the University had made a mistake when I saw I'd got 90 percent! I even went to see my tutor to check it was right!

"I want to let other students know that despite adversity and disability they can succeed at university. Everyone I met from staff, to classmates to the people that I lived with were so accepting and supportive.

"Anyone with a disability shouldn't be discouraged from following their dreams."

If you're graduating this week please stay in touch through the services offered by our alumni team.