NEWPORT woman has graduated from University of South Wales’ National Cyber Security Academy (NCSA) despite giving birth only two weeks before her dissertation was due.

Lisa Cornford didn’t let the birth of her son, Ethan, stop her getting her degree after returning to university aged 25.

The 30-year-old has now a USW Computer Forensics graduate.

She said: “I left school not really knowing what I wanted to do.

“I was always Interested In computing, but because I did not get the grades to go on to A-levels I thought I would never be able to go to university, which left me in limbo with what to do.

Ms Cornford did a foundation year in Information Communication Technology and went on to study Computer Forensics as a degree.

Returning to her final year, she found out she was pregnant but decided to keep studying.

“To be honest, I don’t know how I have done It, being pregnant and studying was hard going, mentally and physically, but I was determined to finish, and I did.

“I now I have a degree - no one can take that away from me – and have the opportunity to give my son and family a much better future.”

“I could have taken a year off and started year three this September, but I did not want to do that because I had come so far with a great group of people,” Ms Cornford said.

“It would not have been the same if I could not graduate with them and, I knew once the baby was here, It would have been hard to get myself back into the frame of mind to complete my final year.”

Ms Cornford gave birth and completed her dissertation all within a month.

“It was a massive relief to get the dissertation in, as I could then spend a good few days with my son and partner as a family before I had to get back to revising for my final year exams during April and May,” Lisa said.