And yesterday he was "pretty ecstatic'' about the prospect of graduating in the Dunedin Town Hall this afternoon.
It was "a little bit surreal'' to be finishing at last after "a good few years'' of academic study.
"It's a natural end of the journey, or crossroads, I've been working towards.''
And when he walks across the town hall stage today he will be graduating with three degrees: a bachelor of science, majoring in biochemistry; a BSc (Hons.) in biochemistry; and a bachelor of applied science, majoring in molecular biotechnology.
Graduating with two degrees at a single graduation ceremony is quite common at Otago University but university officials say graduating with three degrees at the same time is much more unusual at Otago.
It happens about once a year.
A former John McGlashan College pupil, Mr Bayly had little idea what he wanted to study in future when he began the health science first year programme back in 2009.
But, over the years his study has strongly focused on biochemistry and increasingly on systems biology. His leg has been pulled a few times by friends about the length of his studies.
His mother, Peggy Waite, of Oamaru, was particularly pleased he was finally graduating.
She had always been supportive but had been "never 100% certain'' what he was studying at any particular stage, or when he would be finished.
And, over the past couple of years, she had been "pressing'' him to complete his studies.
But it has been a productive seven-year journey, which included, at one stage, a six-month break from his studies.
And he is grateful for the "depth of knowledge'' he has gained through his Otago studies, particularly because of his multidisciplinary approach, which included some neuroscience and botany.
He said he had learned more about "how the world works'', and how to think critically.
Over the years he has also found time to enjoy some of the university's wider world, taking part in tramping club and brewers association activities and serving as vice-president of Students for Environmental Action.
And he has appreciated the university's strong sense of community, unmatched by other New Zealand universities, and Dunedin's close town-gown relationship.
Next year is likely bring some more study - Mr Bayly is keen to undertake PhD research.
