Mature student overcomes challenges to graduate from Queen Margaret University
A mother of four and mature student who underwent brain surgery to remove a tumour graduated earlier this month in Edinburgh as a Hearing Aid Audiologist.
Claire Bolger from Kilkenny discovered she had an acoustic neuroma (a benign tumour that develops on the balance and hearing or auditory nerves leading from the inner ear to the brain) following a hearing test while in her first year of study at Queen Margaret University (QMU) in Edinburgh.
Immediate surgery was required, and Claire was forced to take a year out from her academic pursuits. While the surgery was a success, Claire has been left with single-sided deafness.
In spite of these challenges, Claire persisted – studying from home in Ireland, visiting QMU’s campus in Musselburgh for a week at a time for one-to-one contact - and on Tuesday 9 July she graduated from the University with a Higher Diploma in Audiology. Not only that, but she was awarded the Starkey Hearing Technologies Student of the Year Award for her outstanding achievements and commitment to her learning.
“I’m really proud to be a mature student,” said Claire. “QMU is such a supportive place. I always found the staff really friendly and approachable, and I really enjoyed my time there.”
Claire plans to work in audiology in Ireland, but for now – as a mother of four – she’s looking forward to having the summer off!
Notes to Editor
For further media enquiries, please contact Karen Keith (Media Relations and Content Officer) at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, E: kkeith@qmu.ac.uk, T: 0131 474 0000.
