• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Feature
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. US & Canada
  4. 76-year-old student graduates 50 years after he began his Ph.D.
US & Canada

76-year-old student graduates 50 years after he began his Ph.D.

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 17 Feb 17:36
  • 1 Shares

Time means nothing to 76-year-old Nick Axten who graduated five decades after starting his Ph.D.

  • 76-year-old student graduates 50 years after he began his Ph.D
    Nick Axten's younger self (L) and Nick Axten during graduation (R) (University of Bristol)

Newly-graduated "Doctor" Nick Axten said that before obtaining his doctoral dissertation, it took him a "long hard think." Unlike most candidates, it took Axten five decades before the 76-year-old student finally graduated with a Ph.D. in mathematical sociology at the University of Bristol. 

It all started in 1970, the year he received a full scholarship at the University of Pittsburgh. After five years, he returned to the UK with an unfinished Ph.D. “What I was trying to do in the early 70s was exceptionally difficult,” said Axten. “Some problems are so great it takes the best part of a lifetime to get your head around them.”

Seven years ago at Bristol, he restarted the process with the aim of finishing a Masters in the Arts, before carrying on to a Ph.D. in Philosophy, finishing in 2022 aged 75. A year later, he received his Doctorate in front of his wife and 11-year-old granddaughter. 

Axten's theory 

His research builds on the ideas that he worked on in the US five decades ago. It is a new theory to understand human behavior based on the values of individual people. Axten believes it could change the general view of behavioral psychology. 

He explained that “sociology and psychology were suddenly boom subjects. I went to study them because I wanted to understand people.”

“I have loved being a student again at Bristol University. All of the other philosophy graduate students were around 23 but they accepted me as one of their own.”

“Nick was an incredibly enthusiastic, energetic, and committed student during his time here,” said his University of Bristol supervisor, Professor Samir Okasha. “It’s fantastic to see him graduate half a century after he started his original Ph.D.”

Read next: Pro-Palestine Professor Sacked from Bristol University

  • Nick Axten
  • University of Bristol

Trending Now

All
A view of a car submerged in water and flood from the tornado in Mississippi, US on March 24, 2023. (AP)

Death toll from violent Mississippi tornado rises to 23

A child plays with his trains (Reuters)

Overwhelming majority of Americans fear for children's future: Poll

Most Read

US dollar may lose status as global reserve currency: Yellen

US dollar may lose status as global reserve currency: Yellen

  • US & Canada
  • 22 Mar
Rallies held in Washington DC to protest US militarism

Peace rallies held in Washington DC to protest US militarism

  • US & Canada
  • 18 Mar
Iran–Saudi Deal: Not a Diplomatic Normalisation, But An ‘Architecture’

Iran–Saudi Deal: Not a Diplomatic Normalisation, But An ‘Architecture’

  • Analysis
  • 19 Mar
Poland

Poland may end up 'joining' Ukraine war: Polish Ambassador to France

  • Europe
  • 20 Mar

Read this

All
In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows a crater after an explosion hit a building, in Deir Ezzor, Syria, March 8, 2023 (AP)
MENA

Iranian advisor reveals how US shelled Deir Ezzor, Syria

  • Today
Crewmen enter Bradley fighting vehicles at a US military base at an undisclosed location in Northeastern Syria, on November 11, 2019 (AP)
MENA

US occupation bases under fire in Syria for second day in a row

  • 24 Mar
Muslims offer prayer on the first Friday of Ramadan outside the Dome of Rock Mosque at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Al-Qud's Old City, Friday, March 24, 2023 (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
Palestine

Despite IOF restrictions, 100,000 Palestinians attend Al-Aqsa prayers

  • 24 Mar
TikTok ban in US; News worth $431bn for Alphabet, Meta and Snap
US & Canada

TikTok ban in US; News worth $431bn for Alphabet, Meta and Snap

  • 24 Mar
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS