Like mother, like daughter – family dig deep to graduate together

A mother and daughter have enjoyed a family celebration with a difference – after both graduating together from the University of Bradford.

Elaine Shaw and her daughter, Anysia Padgett, have completed their studies in BA (Hons) Heritage and Archaeology and BSc Archaeology respectively.

The pair have spent much of their degree programmes learning side-by-side, sharing lectures, seminars and late-night study sessions together at home in Bradford.

Studying and living together

Anysia, 24, who achieved first-class honours, initially completed a one-year Foundation Year course at the University of Bradford. She stayed at the University to start a BSc Forensic Archaeology and Anthropology programme but left in November 2022 and took a year out.

But after taking part in an archaeological dig with Elaine in Somerset during summer 2023, she enrolled on her programme that she has now graduated from.

She said: “It’s quite unique to graduate with your mum and not something you hear about very often.

“Most people think it’s cool when I tell them I went to University with my mum.

“It’s been nice because we understand exactly what each other has been going through. We could discuss seminar reading together before classes and bounce ideas off one another. It was like having a study group wherever you went.

“There was a point when I didn’t want to come back to University, but my mum really encouraged me to finish my degree.

“When I returned, I was joining a new class and didn’t know many people, so having her there gave me confidence. I’m glad I came back and completed it because I think I would have regretted not finishing.”

Elaine’s story

Elaine, 63, who went through Clearing and started her four-year degree in 2022, previously worked as a primary school teaching assistant and legal secretary, says studying alongside her daughter provided valuable support during some of the most demanding periods of the degree.

With her children grown up and after partner, Paul, was made redundant during the pandemic, she decided it was the right time to start her studies.

Elaine, who secured a 2:1 for her degree, said: “I’d always been interested in history and historic buildings.

“My children were older and I wanted to do something different for myself. I thought if I was going to do it, the time was now. You’re never too old to learn.”

Elaine, who now works full-time as a Cemetery Registrar at Undercliffe Cemetery, described graduating with Anysia as both a personal achievement and proud family moment.

She said: “It feels very special. We motivated each other through the difficult times. University study is intense and there were times when either of us might have felt like giving up but having that close support made a huge difference.”

Further family studying

The family has a further connection with the University of Bradford. Elaine’s son, Saul, 26, previously completed both an undergraduate degree in Film and TV Production and a master’s degree in Filmmaking at Bradford, while Elaine’s other daughter, Koren, 22, studied at another University.

What’s next?

Anysia hopes to build a career in the museum sector. During her studies she completed a dissertation project with Bradford Museums, worked with herbarium collections and continues to volunteer at Cliffe Castle Museum in Keighley.

She said: “I’d love to work with museum collections. I’m continuing to volunteer while I look for opportunities and gain experience.”

For both Elaine and Anysia, their joint graduation is the celebration of an unforgettable shared experience at University.

Anysia said: “We were close before, but spending so much time studying together has made us even closer. It’s something we’ll always be proud of.”