Qualifications count and it's never too late to go to university. That's a lesson being learned by sports stars who are discovering that it pays to look to the future and gain qualifications that will prove useful when their sporting careers are over.

The University of Wales College, Newport (UWCN) boasts leading names from the world of boxing and athletics who are wising up to the fact that it's cool to return to education and become a student again. What's more, they're finding learning is much more fun and rewarding the second time around.

Jamie Arthur, who punched his way to a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester last summer, is boxing clever when it comes to his future. He has embarked on a five-year part-time course to gain a degree in Sports Studies at UWCN. He hopes that the qualification will launch him on a new career as a coach when he eventually quits boxing.

"I want to be out of boxing by the time I'm thirty," he said, "and then go into teaching or coaching. When I was at school I didn't have the interest to learn. Coming back as a mature student, I'm sure I'll have the dedication necessary to gain my degree."

When Jamie beat five world-class opponents to triumph in Manchester it was the first time in over 40 years - since the legendary bantamweight champ Howard Winstone's victory in 1958 - that a Welsh boxer had won the gold medal in boxing at the Commonwealth Games.

Jamie started boxing 14 years ago, shortly after his family moved to Cwmbran from Scotland. Talking about why he took up "the noble art", Jamie said: "I was bullied at school because I was short, had ginger hair and spoke with a Scottish accent. After learning how to box, I taught the bullies a lesson and got my revenge.

"I'm grateful to them in a way because boxing's changed my life."

He went on to win nine Welsh schoolboy boxing championships - and it's not just boxing he excels at. As a pupil at Fairwater Comprehensive in Cwmbran, he played soccer for Wales in the USA in 1995.

Jamie gave up his job as a scaffolder when he gained a sponsorship deal that enabled him to train whilst studying for a useful career when he eventually retires from boxing.

Another sports star who's making the most of university life is athlete Doug Turner who has just completed a degree in Fine Art and Contemporary Media. His installation work, 'Subway', an imaginative and effective use of multiple video screens, was one of the highlights of this year's Degree Show staged by UWCN's School of Art, Media and Design.

Doug, 36, who was born in Newport, was 1998 European Silver Medallist in the 200 metres and also won the 4 x 4 bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur. Before turning professional, he played bass with the New Testament Church in Newport.

He said: "I've really enjoyed doing the course at UWCN. It's enabled me to express my creative side.

"I'm training hard at the moment to qualify for the world athletics championships, but in the meantime I want to go on creating art work like this."

You don't have to be a sports star to take advantage of the diverse range of courses on offer at UWCN. Students from all over the UK and more than 40 overseas countries study here, attracted by the high quality full-time and part-time courses, and the friendly and supportive atmosphere. The range of awards available includes Access and Foundation, HNDs, HNCs, as well Degrees and PhDs.

To find out more about the right course for you, contact the University Information Centre on 01633 432432 or email uic@newport.ac.uk.