When University of Otago religious studies graduand Len West handed in his honours thesis last year he swapped daily visits to the library for time in a hospital bed.
The 73-year-old Buddhist, who has battled metastasis bone cancer since 2008, said his diagnosis never got in the way of his study.
"I just worked so hard I finished up in hospital, but I loved what I was doing so I didn't pay much attention to my health.''
He returned to tertiary study in 2004 after working as an associate chartered accountant, and as the chief executive of Youth Hostel New Zealand for 15 years.
During his work he travelled to more than 35 countries and developed a particular affinity with Thailand and its religion, Buddhism.
Two-years into a bachelor of arts degree majoring in religious studies at the University of Canterbury, he was asked to become the manager of the Christchurch Mental Health Education and Resource Centre.
"The organisation needed a bit of a revamp at the time.
"Things mental have always intrigued me, so my main role was teaching people how to help others.''
In 2011 he decided to finish his degree, but departmental changes meant he could not complete it at Canterbury.
Otago was the logical choice because of the department's reputation and the fact his daughter and grandchildren had moved to the city, he said.
"It was great.
"Once I get my teeth into something, I'm there.''
He did not know if he was the oldest student on campus, but said he knew he stood out.
"I learnt to enjoy that, though.
"My granddaughter was studying law and we would meet in the University Link and get coffee sometimes.''
In 2013 his cancer became more aggressive, forcing him to take a year off study for regular radiation treatment.
However, he knew he would return to study, he said.
"When I started this I never gave a thought to my cancer.
"Lots of people in their 70s spend their lives watching TV or playing bowls, and if that is fun for them, that's fine.
"But I have always had an inquiring mind.''
His inquiring mind was put to the test in 2014 when he began his honours thesis exploring the relationship between Buddhism and psychology.
"I finished it in 2015.
"I knew that my health was getting shaky but I did it.''
Today he will graduate in a ceremony in the Dunedin Town Hall at 1pm in front of his family and former supervisor Dr Benjamin Schonthal.
He said his health was not strong enough to allow him to complete a master's degree in religious studies.
However, during a recent trip to the library he left with a stack of books by Stephen Hawking and Christopher Hitchens.
"I'm going to look at it from that perspective now, but that is all just a different view.
"I'll be on my deathbed and someone will ask 'what have you learnt?' and I'll say I don't know. I don't know who we are; it is an incredible mystery. But it is a lot of fun learning about that mystery.''
