News / University of Bristol
Student, 76, completes PhD after 50 years
A student who started a PhD in 1970 has finally graduated.
Nick Axten received a prestigious Fulbright scholarship for a PhD in mathematical sociology at the University of Pittsburgh. But after five years he returned to the UK with the PhD unfinished.
The 76-year-old from Wells said he needed “a long hard think” over the intervening half-century.
On Tuesday, the University of Bristol conferred Nick a Doctor of Philosophy in front of his wife Claire and 11-year-old granddaughter Freya.
“What I was trying to do in the early 70s was exceptionally difficult,” Nick said.
“Some problems are so great it takes the best part of a lifetime to get your head around them. They need a long hard think. This one has taken me 50 years.”
Nick Axten in his early 20s – photo: Nick Axten
During a varied career, Nick lived all over the UK and was creator and principal author of the school teaching programme Oxford Primary Science.
Nick came to the University Bristol in 2016 to do an MA in philosophy, aged 69. He then remained in Bristol to study for a PhD in philosophy, finishing in 2022 aged 75.
“I have loved being a student again at Bristol University,” Nick said.
“All of the other philosophy graduate students were around 23 but they accepted me as one of their own. They are clever people full of ideas and I loved talking with them, especially at the pub in the afternoon.
“Doing a PhD is a lot of hard work, but it’s been brilliant.”
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Nick’s research builds on the ideas he was working on in America five decades ago.
It is a new theory for understanding human behaviour based on the values each person holds, with Nick saying it has the potential to change our view of behavioural psychology.
His University of Bristol supervisor, professor Samir Okasha, said: “Nick was an incredibly enthusiastic, energetic and committed student during his time here.
“It’s fantastic to see him graduate half a century after he started his original PhD.”
Main photo: University of Bristol
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