Crossing Continents, Chasing Doctorates and Achieving Dreams

Babrah Orishaba from Truro and James McBlane from Penzance, have crossed continents to successfully complete their degrees at the University Centre Truro & Penwith.

The pair celebrated their success with the class of 2025 at the University Centre’s Results Day, peeling back their envelopes to find the world at their feet.

Single mum of two, Babrah (40), emigrated from Uganda before completing her BA (Hons) in Human Behavioural Studies.

Having successfully achieved her degree, the door is now open for Babrah to study a PhD and reach her dream of becoming a fully qualified Doctor in Clinical Psychology.

After emigrating to take up a role at the Uganda High Commission in London, Babrah visited Cornwall on holiday, where she fell in love with the county and discovered the University Centre Truro & Penwith.

With a passion for supporting people and a dream of a career change to Clinical Psychology, Babrah opted to study the University Centre’s Access to Higher Education course in Psychology and Social Work that would allow her to gain the qualifications to study at Degree-Level.

Babrah single-handedly relocated her young family again, successfully completing the Access course before progressing to the University Centre’s HND in Applied Psychology and later its BA (Hons) Human Behavioural Studies.

Babrah said: “Without the support of the University Centre Truro & Penwith staff, I wouldn’t have made it on my own, they are so supportive and keep encouraging you.

“I have made friends that have been my rock, supporting each other in every way, and some of them are single mums too, we encourage each other, have a coffee and say ‘you can do it’.

“I have a gift of helping and supporting people, so due to that gift I feel I have to study to be a Doctor in Psychology and help people who are struggling.”

Hailed as Cornwall’s very own Indianna Jones, James McBlane (51) joined Babrah and his fellow students at Results Day to collect his highest possible award of First-Class Honours in BSc (Hons) Archaeology, securing his place on the University of Malta’s Master of Arts in Global Maritime Archaeology, where he will begin studying for his PhD.

James harbors dreams of achieving his career in Marine Archaeology before returning to Cornwall to work in Cultural Heritage Management.

Throughout his studies James was true to his mantra: “Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone”. Taking part in deep dive training in Gran Canaria, Santa Polo and Malta before exploring the remote Caribbean Island of Bonaire where he was commissioned to digitally map the seabed alongside his studies.

James’s Dissertation project took him to Egypt, leading a team that explored a submerged WWII shipwreck, independently managing all aspects of the expedition.

The University Centre Truro & Penwith’s condensed timetables provided James with the flexibility to travel and he appreciated the opportunity to study in heritage-rich Cornwall.

James said: “It’s amazing to have somewhere in Cornwall that can accommodate future learning and keep talent in Cornwall. For me, the heritage is already here, I just need the qualifications, and I get to stay in the heritage that I’m learning about”.

Hundreds of University Centre students joined Babrah and James to pick up their degrees and are now waiting in anticipation for their Graduation ceremony at Truro Cathedral in October.

Students achieved excellence across the board with an incredible 83% of all Level 6 BA, BSc and LLB (Hons) students achieving top First and 2:1 Honours.

The brand-new LLB (Hons) Law degree also saw every single student successfully achieve their qualification.

Applications remain open to study at the University Centre Truro & Penwith in September 2025. Thanks to the devolution of the Adult Skills Fund and close collaboration with Cornwall Council, adults living in Cornwall with an annual income under £26,009 can study an Access to Higher Education Diploma for free as part of the Free Courses for Jobs initiative, subject to eligibility. Make your future our focus at www.truro-penwith.ac.uk/uni.