Octogenarian student to embark on ninth degree

Alec Stewart realising a dream to immerse himself in learning

Scotland’s oldest graduate is bidding to undertake his ninth degree – at the age of 87.

Alec Stewart from Dundee is no stranger to university and has completed an astounding seven degrees since returning to further and higher education, aged 65.

The pensioner, originally from Lochee, plans to apply for either an environmental science and technology or criminology course to add to his impressive series of qualifications from both Dundee universities.

A former Logie High School pupil, Alec always believed he had the intelligence required for university but did not begin his academic career until he retired from work.

Since 2001, the ex-serviceman has completed a number of courses including an MA (Hons) American and French studies, BSc town planning, BA tourism studies, BA European economy management, MA English literature, BSc sociology and an MA philosophy.

Last year he took on an MA general studies course.

“I would like to get another degree from Abertay because I enjoyed my previous time here, the staff were very helpful and I managed to get through a degree year,” he said.

“I took it a step at a time and because I don’t have any other commitments at my age I was able to do a lot of research for my degrees and I managed to get passes.

“I made a point that if I had failed overall at any time I would stop.”

When he was 14, Alec had wanted to attend Harris Academy but his parents could not afford the fee.

Instead he secured work at Dundee’s McTavish & McAinsh sawmill as a labourer to help put food on the table for his brother and sister.

After progressing on to building sites for better wages, Alec, who is married with three children, was called up to the RAF where he served as a radar operator for 10 years.

Intelligence seems to run in the family as his son Simon Stewart studied geology, while younger brothers Jonathan and Dominic graduated in medicine and law respectively.

Alec said: “After I retired I wanted to see what was possible and to go into higher education to do something I could enjoy.

“My three sons are graduates so I knew what it was about and felt I could cope.

“I’ve made a point in my late years of studying different subjects.

“I’m not looking for a job so I don’t need to look at every degree being a PhD or something like that.

“I say to myself ‘use your brain Alec and change your subject with each degree’. It means your brain is pretty full of a lot of stuff.”

“I find that once in a tutorial or seminar group the younger students get to know you and they are always asking questions.

“They always want to know who the old man is.”

Mr Stewart is hoping to get another degree from Abertay University.