Older students sail through the challenge

It hasn't all been smooth sailing but Daniel and Amanda Moore are proud of each other's achievements. Photo / Greg Bowker

When MIT students Amanda and Daniel Moore started studying three years ago, they looked to their children for advice on how to fit in with their classmates so they wouldn't be the "annoying older students".

"We were listening to our kids and learning from them and they said, 'Don't sit at the front and ask questions'," said 48-year-old Mr Moore, who admits following through wasn't always as easy as it sounded.

"We tried to sit at the back and keep quiet but it was difficult and the urge to speak was sometimes overwhelming."

The couple are two of more than 600 students who will graduate with a degree or diploma from Manukau Institute of Technology this week.

When the English couple moved to New Zealand in 2005, they decided it was time for a new career after 20 years in the osteopath industry.

"He started the ball rolling," said Mrs Moore, 50. "The diploma was information design, and I thought, 'If he's going, I'm going too'."

They enjoyed it so much they decided to "pump it up to a three-year degree" in applied communications.

Living together and studying the same course generated a certain number of challenges for the couple, who initially shared an office at home.

"I moved out because he was too noisy," said Mrs Moore with a laugh. "I'd be in this mid-thought and he'd ask a question and I'd find it difficult to share my mind between two things - and he types really loud!"

Mr Moore said studying together had not been "without sparks" but he and his wife had persevered and couldn't have made it this far without each other.

"There was quite a bit of competition between us and I think that's what kept us going," he said.

"She drove me forward and that drove her forward and we kept pushing each other forward and it became a battle of wills."

There was also a certain amount of friendly rivalry along the way.

"Sometimes it was like a case of, 'I'm going to get a higher mark than you and we are not sharing this stuff'.

"We tried to arrange it so we didn't do the same classes at the same time but every now and then we had an overlap ... and in that case the horns were locked and it was full on."

Mr Moore has now been nominated by his tutors for the overall top degree award. Mrs Moore was also a favourite but only one student per course can be nominated.

Despite the jokes and rivalry about who's the smartest, Mrs Moore is very proud of her husband's nomination - an achievement he admits he couldn't have managed without her.

Now, as graduation approaches, the competitive streak that has spurred the couple on during their degree will continue in full force - albeit in a slightly different nature.

"I'll be clapping and whooping when he goes up," said Mrs Moore.

"I think it will be who can make the loudest noise for the 20 seconds of glory," Mr Moore replied.

Bachelor of communications studies lecturer Sandy Barnett said it was a pleasure teaching the couple.

"I noted a healthy competitive dynamic between them and we had some fun and challenging times. [Mrs Moore] was also in the running for the nomination. It was close, but Daniel came out on top."

The couple want to eventually start their own communications business but in the interim have undertaken a new course together in media design.