Hola Stuart,

If there is a specific date you can't use "desde hace"; you need "desde":

This would be incorrect:

Desde hace 2010 que terminé mis estudios.

To express that you finished your studies in 2010 you would have to say:

1. Terminé mis estudios en 2010.

2. Yo no estudio desde 2010.

3. Yo no estudio desde hace 10 años.

With a verb in the preterite this construction doesn't work. It can work though with "hace":

"Hace 10 años que terminé mis estudios."

I hope this is clear.

Saludos,

Inma