Celebrating the achievements of the OU in Scotland’s youngest and oldest graduates

At this year’s Open University (OU) in Scotland graduation, 20-year-old Abigail Craig and 90-year-old Norah Bennie will both be taking to the stage to be awarded their degrees.

Born 70 years apart, Norah and Abigail are both celebrating being awarded their degrees at the OU in Scotland’s graduation ceremony at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on 24 October 2025.

For them both, studying with the OU gave much needed structure after a challenging few years and the opportunity to pursue their shared passion for history.

Degrees embarked on

Norah, aged 90, decided to study for a Bachelor of Science (Honours) Open degree following the death of her late husband, while Abigail, aged 20, left school as soon as she could to focus on her mental health and wellbeing.

Abigail shares: “In my final year at school, my attendance rate was only 55%. I was a below average student, but I knew that I was capable of doing better because I had done before the decline in my mental health.

At the OU, I have been able to work to a higher potential because I can do the work at my own pace and help was always there when I needed it."

Abigail Craig, 
OU graduate in History (Honours) 

“At the OU, I have been able to work to a higher potential because I can do the work at my own pace and help was always there when I needed it. 

“It can’t be overstated how much I have improved since leaving school. Not having to endure the overwhelming stress of the school environment – with its rowdy people, loud noises, dense crowds and strong smells – has been integral to the recovery process, and I have recovered.”

Before beginning their degrees, Norah and Abigail already knew firsthand about the OU in Scotland because of their families.

Both of Abigail’s parents gained degrees with the OU and encouraged her to apply, and Norah comments: “It runs in the family.”

Norah’s late husband graduated from the OU with a Bachelor of Arts in Education back in 1976, while her granddaughter began studying for an IT degree last year.  

Study experience

Comparing her study experience now, Norah says: “My husband had to record his course from the radio in the middle of the night on reel-to-reel tapes. He did all of his assignments on paper, usually at the last minute, and often drove to his tutor’s house to deliver them because it was too late to post them.

Online learning meant a steep learning curve on the use of computers but that has made life easier for me in many other ways too...the OU is accessible for everybody."

Norah Bennie, 
OU Open degree (Honours) graduate 

“Online learning meant that I had a steep learning curve on the use of computers but that has made life easier for me in many other ways too. What hasn’t changed is that the OU is accessible for everybody.”

Abigail chose to study for a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) History degree and coincidentally both she and Norah found their courses on revolutionary history fascinating, particularly their continued relevance to events happening in the world today.

“One of the things I found most interesting about my history degree was learning about how widespread discontent and frustration have been in the past and how the issues raised by revolutionaries and activists have historically been addressed,” Abigail observes. 

“I think this is especially interesting given the current political climate in the UK and elsewhere. It has changed the way I view what is happening around me in real time.”

Norah adds: “Having studied – and lived through – the history of Europe in the 20th century, I'd love to find out what happens over the next 50 years.”

Since gaining her degree, Abigail has enrolled to do a diploma in languages at the OU, and continues to volunteer for a social enterprise in Edinburgh, helping with the centre’s learning and literacy groups to support people achieve qualifications to improve their employability and teach those who were never taught to read or write an essential skill.

Proud graduates

Both Norah and Abigail are extremely proud to have achieved their degrees, with Abigail commenting that graduating feels “honestly surreal.”

Norah adds: “I’m delighted to be graduating and looking forward to a family celebration with two younger generations of graduates, feeling just like them.

“In some ways, there’s nothing special about me graduating at 90 – everybody graduating with me has made sacrifices and should be proud of what they’ve achieved.” 

22 October 2025