TWO graduates from very different backgrounds are celebrating overcoming the odds to be awarded with university honours.

Fellow graduates Kelly Maria and Blutsay Win both walked away with Business Management honours degrees from the University of Bolton today.

However, their journey to the ceremony began at the university's intensive access course which prepares people without traditional qualifications for study at university.

Kelly, aged 27 from Lostock, is a mum to a five-year-old girl and eight-year-old boy who completed the course while on maternity leave from a supermarket job and went on to become a undergraduate while juggling motherhood and work.

She said: "It was a massive decision to make, to become an adult learner in a student environment but I made it in the end.

"It's been hard to manage at times and felt like a long time coming but I did it!

"Being a mum and studying has been demanding - assignments were written once the children were in bed. I still can't believe I've got a First and the children think it's all something to do with Harry Potter just now, but for me it's amazing."

Blutsay is originally from Burma but came over to Bolton with her family as a refugee in 2007.

The 29-year-old, whose twin sister Bluthtoo also graduated with a technology degree from the university yesterday, is determined to carry on her education with the aim of one day returning to Asia to improve the education prospects in her home country and help fellow students achieve their dreams.

"I wanted a good future and knew I would have to study really hard. The access course was intense, working every day for three months and I was nearly fed up, but so pleased I have got to this level," she explained.

"I wanted this for four years and I'm so happy to have made it. I have already applied for a masters in international management here and have been given an unconditional offer.

"One day I will go back to Burma to develop education opportunities there, I have been inspired by my time here to do so."