South Africa, Oct. 6 -- Her undergraduate qualification was a diploma, and for years she searched for a way to complete a fourth year and turn it into a degree. Eventually, she found the Visual Communication Honours programme at the Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography.

The Academy assessed her academic record (yes, she had to dig out those 30-year-old results) and, fortunately, the communication work she had done throughout her career enabled her to submit a professional portfolio as part of her application.

And just like that, Mullinos was going back to school.

Back in the classroom

Mullinos arrived at orientation nervous and surrounded by students nearly 30 years younger than her. But when she walked into her class, she d...