Amy Bradley, a volunteer and foster carer from Rainhill, completed her studies in Theology and Religious Studies (TRS) at the University of Chester.
She said the achievement marked the closing of an ‘unfinished chapter’ in her life.
Mrs Bradley said: “It is something I have wanted for a long time.
“For the 20 years prior to starting my degree, I prioritised staying at home and raising my own children as well as being a foster carer for others.
“I loved that time, and wouldn’t change how I have prioritised my life, but returning to education was really nerve-wracking because of the length of time that had passed.”
She began university at 18 but circumstances at that time meant she didn’t finish her course.
With her children now older, she decided it was the right time to return to education.
Alongside her studies, Mrs Bradley also serves as chair of the board of directors at The Three Saints Academy Trust, a role she has held for a decade.
She said balancing her responsibilities required careful time management and planning.
Mrs Bradley said: “So I learned across the three years to plan ahead, manage my time very carefully, and make every minute count.
“For example, when I would take my son to his Saturday morning football match, I would take some university reading with me and do it in the car during the half-hour warm-up session.
“I carried a book everywhere I went and used my 45-minute commutes to listen to podcasts, making voice notes as I went when I didn’t have access to my laptop.”
Her dissertation, which explored feminist trauma theology and the Christian understanding of the cross, was described by her supervisor, Professor Hannah Bacon, as the best she had ever marked.
Prof Bacon said: “Amy presents a thoroughly creative and very powerful dissertation, covering this complex ground with care, maturity, and a forensic eye for detail that moves far beyond what is expected for undergraduate level study.
“It has the potential to be incredibly useful for Christian survivors of abuse wrangling with issues around the cross.”
Mrs Bradley credited her success to the support of university staff and her fellow students.
She said: “Their unwavering support and dedication to not just me but all the students on the course has made all the difference.”
She now plans to continue her studies with a master’s degree in the same field.