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Jen Inglis was a surfer on the Coca Cola world circuit. And when she took off her wetsuit, she used to write poetry.

"So when I finally got around to doing tertiary study, I knew that I wanted to study English and creative writing," said Ms Inglis, one of the first three graduates from UWA 's new Mature-age Access Program (MAP).

The 47-year-old, along with 31-year-old Nathan Kammann and Tendai Gumbo (23) proudly took to the stage of Winthrop Hall during last month's graduation ceremonies.

As they studied full-time, they were the first of the initial MAP cohort to graduate. The program welcomes prospective students over the age of 20 who do not have a school leaving qualification. They are offered a provisional enrolment until they pass four units and meet English language competency - and mathematics competency when required.

Ms Inglis finished her Arts Degree with 17 high distinctions and seven distinctions.

"It's not bad for somebody who felt completely overwhelmed when I started," she said. "It was very hard at first, but UniSkills was fantastic at getting me into writing and critical thinking.

"But the best thing is that I've discovered a new direction for my life. I chose English as my major and geography as my minor because I thought coastal studies would fit with my love of surfing and the ocean.

"Now I'm totally hooked and I'm pursuing a career in geomorphology, something I didn't even know existed before I came to university.

"But I still love writing and have an idea for a novel in my head."

Ms Inglis now lives in Tasmania with her partner Ken Nolan, who supported her while she studied. The couple returned to Perth for her graduation, along with Ms Inglis's parents from northern New South Wales.

Nathan Kammann has always been passionate about the environment and had worked in forestry with a qualification from TAFE .

"I felt like a career change but I never finished high school so I didn't think I could go to uni until I saw the UWA ad in the paper for the MAP program," he said.

"It was a quick decision: just three weeks from the day I saw the ad, I had resigned from my job and started Environmental Science at UWA."

He supported himself with Austudy and by working during the summer and mid-year vacations. Now armed with a Bachelor of Science, Mr Kammann is hoping to get a job in environmental science with a mining company.

"I think a UWA degree will open more doors for opportunities and advancement for me," he said.

"When I walked into my first lecture I thought: ‘What have I got myself into?' But now, when I look back, I couldn't have asked for a better learning experience."

MAPS to Success Project Co-ordinators, Sarah Evamy and Liana Christensen said these pioneering graduates showed the benefits of the MAP program.

"The third member of this high achieving group, Tendai Gumbo, has graduated with a Bachelor of Science. Although she was unable to be contacted for this article, we acknowledge her success and wish her the best in future endeavours," Dr Christensen said.

There are now around 550 MAP students enrolled in Bachelor's degrees in Arts, Science, Commerce or Design.

Published in UWA News , 3 October 2011