I left school at 15 with no qualifications and sat my first GCSE aged 35… six years later, I’m a qualified doctor

A woman who left school at 15 with no qualifications and sat her first GCSE aged 35 has now graduated as a doctor only six years later.

Dr Becs Bradford, 41, from Coventry, has officially received her degree in Medicine from the University of Bristol, despite all the odds stacked against her. 

When she was young, tragedy struck the family as they moved from Coventry to France when her father fell from a ladder and became impaled on a branch, leaving him paralysed from the neck down. Becs was just 12 years old at the time.

They lost their family home and she ended up in care.

But despite her rocky start, Becs – who says she was constantly called ‘stupid’ and told she’d ‘amount to nothing’ – has since worked in France, Germany, Dubai and Australia, as cabin crew, a personal trainer and in sales.

However, she knew there was something else waiting for her – and when she realised she wanted to be a doctor, ‘everything just fell into place’. 

‘I don’t know if I’m just a little delusional but I really believe that if your heart’s in it, you can 100 percent do the crazy things you’ve always dreamed of,’ she said.

‘I got sick of people telling me I couldn’t do things because I was a care leaver.

‘I wanted to prove that people like me do deserve good things, that they can get jobs that are fulfilling and well paid.’

At 35, she bought GCSE revision books and self-studied to get her maths and science GCSEs. Within less than a decade, she has completed her studies while also working on the side.

Earning a place on an access to medicine course, she would drive a six-hour round trip to lessons – all while working three jobs.

Becs aced the course but was devastated when she was rejected from all the universities she applied for – until she received an offer from the University of Bristol.

Despite getting financial support from them, Becs still taught gym classes seven days a week and worked 12-hour assistant nursing shifts on the weekends.

Dr Bradford has officially received her degree in Medicine from the University of Bristol, despite all the odds stacked against her

Becs’ family had moved from Coventry to France when her father fell from a ladder and became impaled on a branch, leaving him paralysed from the neck down – when Becs was just 12 years old

Earning a place on an access to medicine course, she would drive a six-hour round trip to lessons – all while working three jobs

Despite getting financial support from the University, Becs still taught gym classes seven days a week and worked 12-hour assistant nursing shifts on the weekends

Now, Dr Bradford uses her life experiences to better understand patients and mentors people from ‘non-traditional backgrounds like me’ to get places at the University of Bristol

She would often get up at 4am to study – driven by her desire to help people. Becs recalled: ‘I just had an inner knowing that this is what I’m meant to do with my life’. 

Now, Dr Bradford uses her life experiences to better understand patients and mentors people from ‘non-traditional backgrounds like me’ to get places at the University of Bristol.

‘I want to be a role model for people like me,’ she revealed. ‘I want to show them that you are worthy and that it doesn’t matter where you come from, that it can be done.

‘People along the way will say it can’t, but you have to ignore them. It feels quite surreal to be graduating after all these years! It really does feel like a dream come true.

‘I’m proud of myself for never giving up along the way and I hope my journey can inspire others to follow their hearts in the same way. It doesn’t matter when you get there, never give up on yourself!’

Prof Tansy Jessop, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students at the University of Bristol, has said the University are immensely proud of their graduating student.

Prof Tansy Jessop said: ‘Becs has achieved so much, and so often against the odds.

‘Becs is not only inspirational, but her story shows the transformative power of education. Becs, your university is proud of you!’