'There is a money issue and a guilt issue'

Tina South is a second-year midwifery student. She left school after taking her A levels and worked in a path-ology laboratory. Her husband's job took him to Newcastle, and he encouraged her to enrol at Northumbria. She has a four-year-old daughter.

"There is a money issue and a guilt issue. I got into the university late - I rang up on A-level results day and moved to Newcastle a week before starting the course. I had to find accommodation for me and my daughter, Becky, who was just coming up for two-and-a-half years old, and I had to put her in a private nursery."

The university's support has helped Tina to stay on track. She has found its shadowing system - she was allocated a student mentor - particularly helpful, along with the network of tutors she can call on for help.