For some, the end of a working life brings the opportunity to stimulate the mind properly for the first time in years - and the chance to study for a qualification which may never appear on a CV.

Felicity Morse found out more from mature graduates of the Open University...

* When Derek Caudwell took early retirement, he little suspected he would be juggling caring for two small children with a second degree.

A desire to keep his mind active and a zeal for the history of science had led him to enroll at the Open University. He said: "People think it's strange starting a degree when you're in your mid-50s and you're not going to get another job."

His family and friends were supportive, but Mr Caudwell suspected many acquaintances believed it pointless to attempt the qualification for reasons other than improved job prospects.

Some even doubted if studying so late in life was likely to lead to much success.

Mr Caudwell, of Leamington, added: "I definitely wasn't going to use it for another job. I might follow it up but it would only be for personal study."

His enthusiasm for the subject turned out to be more than enough motivation to pursue a degree in humanities, though the demands of combining academia with family life was a struggle.

Having concentrated on his professional life for decades, when Mr Caudwell began his degree, his two children were ten months and two years old.

He said: "Revising in the summer for exams, when the kids were off school, was definitely one of the hardest things.

"But it's part of the package. I'm pleased with what I've achieved."

* Studying on long-haul flights to China was James Barr's secret to achieving his MBA at the Open University.

Working for Shanghai Automotive, in Leamington, and Lotus in Norwich involved lots of travelling abroad. But the gruelling schedule had its benefits - and Mr Barr, 59, said that the flights to and from China actually helped his study.

He said: "It was 12 hours without interruption!"

Despite this, career concerns did interfere with his academic work. Mr Barr, of Leek Wootton, accepted a job in the USA, and returned to the UK three years later but understood that he could not finish the final module of his MBA because he had been away for too long.

He had returned back to work in Leamington when he received a call from the Open University. Staff explained that he would be able to finish this module and complete his MBA.

He said: "Naturally I was surprised, but I decided to finish it. My wife and I like the way that the Open University is so flexible."

He felt his MBA in technology management and international enterprise was the natural continuation of the engineering degree he achieved in the 1980s.

It helped his work with Shanghai Automotive and so the company agreed to sponsor him through his final module.