Student overcomes barriers to win place at Oxfordplace

But for Jane Lovett it is an especially remarkable feat because she is visually-impaired, and can only make out light and dark and some colours.

Months of hard work and dedication paid off when literature lover Jane, 37, was given a conditional offer to study English at Harris Manchester College, which caters for mature students.

The place depends on the mother-of-three, from Limes Avenue, Pinehurst, finishing an access course at New College. The course is the equivalent of A-levels for mature students who want to go to higher education.

Jane relies on guide-dog Prue to get around, and is also helped by learning assistant Liza Lishman.

Reading matter is transcribed into Braille for her, and she also uses audiotapes. Her favourite author is Thomas Hardy.

Essays are written either with the use of a Braille machine, or spoken into a tape recorder, which is written up by Liza.

Braille comes out much longer than conventional print Jane said the Lord of the Rings trilogy comes to 20 volumes.

Jane's husband Mark, 43, read her the letter offering the place.

She said: "I was just dumbfounded.

"The hardest thing has been getting everything scanned into Braille.

"Most of the classics are available in Braille, but the more obscure texts are not, and all the class handouts had to be scanned for me.

"I have to say the college has been brilliant."

Jane lost her sight aged two when she caught measles.

She attended a special school for the visually-impaired in Hertfordshire, but dropped out of A-levels because of ill health.

Eventually she hopes to teach English to visually-impaired students.

Judith Nisbet, who is in charge of admission at Harris Manchester, said: "We were really impressed with Jane's achievements, and are delighted to be able to offer her a place.

"We have no other visually-impaired students here at present, and will be making special arrangements to ensure her time here is pleasurable and successful."

Tamash Lal