Tauranga woman Deidre Hauschild vowed to complete a degree by the time she was 65 - a goal she achieved when she completed her final paper in June.

The University of Waikato student made the promise to complete a Bachelor of Social Science, majoring in Psychology, in 2006 as her daughter set out for university.

Deirdre Hauschild has graduated with her degree.

She completed the final paper earlier this year and graduated on Monday at the University of Waikato's Hamilton ceremony. She had just turned 66.

'It was the most amazing day of my life and if I was five years younger I would continue studying.”

Before she started studying in 2007, Deirdre spent 17 years looking after her husband who had suffered a brain injury.

When his condition worsened and he required residential care, Deirdre embarked on her university pathway when she took her first paper in human development at the university's Tauranga campus. Her husband passed away in 2010.

Deirdre loves studying and rather than race straight into full-time study, she spent the following year getting herself ready for tertiary study by taking a university writing course as well as coming up to speed with computer technology.

'It was my first time at university and I was committed to doing it properly and not rush into things.

'There was a lot to learn but I found that I loved learning new skills and couldn't wait to get back into my lectures.”

In the last five years Deirdre gradually worked through her degree, maintaining an 'A” average, while continuing with her volunteer community work offering help and assistance to people through the church ‘drop-in' centre and with the Homeless Night Shelter Trust.

'Doing the degree has given me more knowledge and a lot more confidence to be able to help people through life's challenges. I loved every minute of it and firmly believe you are never too old to study.”

Despite stopping the study for now, Deirdre still can't help taking notes regardless of what book she is reading, saying there is still so much to learn.

She is about to commence a part-time position working with dementia patients at a local retirement village.