Busy mother studying at home with child.
The answer to this question is twofold: you need great time management skills and an excellent work ethic.
And probably a sense of humour.
People from all walks of life take the plunge and study at university after not being in a school for a long time.
Here are three inspiring women from vastly different backgrounds who juggled work, kids, and study to do just that.
We think they could write a book about work life balance!
Kelly McDiarmid
ECU Nursing graduate and mum of four Kellie McDiarmid.
Miss McDiarmid was the first in her family to go to university. She never completed year 10. Didn't know what an exam was when she started university.
Yet she studied hard and graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Nursing) degree while being a solo mother to four children, the first of which she had at the age of 16.
Leah Armand
ECU Counter Terrorism Security & Intelligence graduate and busy mum Leah Armand.
Leah says her greatest challenge during her degree was juggling being a full-time student, a full-time mother with two kids, a FIFO wife, running the household and working part-time.
However, she graduated from ECU with a Bachelor of Counter Terrorism Security and Intelligence degree, and even obtained permanent employment in her dream job while studying.
Jacqui Gilchrist
ECU Law graduate and mother of four, Jacqueline Gilchrist.
Jacqui had always wanted to study Law, but life took her in a different direction. That included working in the media, owning businesses and having four children as a single parent.
She was anxious about returning to study and wondered how she would manage as a sole parent with four children. However Jacqui not only graduated Law but was admitted to the bar and became a practicing lawyer all in one year.
Think you can do it?
If you've read any or all of these stories, you'll understand anything is possible.
And balancing your life with study is made a little easier with online and part-time study options too. Starting to think you can?
