Pictured above: Ed Taylor making good use of the Mansfield Library
St Paul’s College students have once again raised the bar for academic achievement, with Semester 1 results surpassing last year’s record-breaking performance. The undergraduate community continues to thrive, achieving a remarkable Semester Average Mark (SAM) of 75.5, reflecting a consistent upward trend over recent years. Notably, 55% of students earned Distinctions or High Distinctions, further underscoring the academic strength of the cohort. The 2025 Fresher cohort has made an impressive start, posting an even higher average SAM of 76.0.
Top 10 Undergraduate Achievers
The top-performing undergraduates represent a diverse range of disciplines, with a strong showing in STEM fields:
- Ben Varela (Year III) – Bachelor of Engineering (Biomedical) (Hons) / Bachelor of Science (Medical Science)
- Ed Taylor (Year IV) – Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) (Hons) / Bachelor of Arts (Economics)
- Grace Merrilees (Year II) – Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine
- Christine Smith (Year II) – Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronic) (Hons) / Bachelor of Science
- Austin Markwick (Year IV) – Bachelor of Engineering (Aeronautical with Space) (Hons) / Bachelor of Science
- Isander Mesimeris (Year IV) – Bachelor of Arts (History) (Hons)
- Anneka Steele (Year I) – Bachelor of Commerce / Bachelor of Advanced Studies
- Fraser McLaren (Year II) – Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) (Hons) / Bachelor of Project Management
- Kate Brenner (Year III) – Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronic) (Hons)
- Emily Ellis (Year I) – Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Advanced Studies
“The even split of men and women in the top ten reflects the gender balance in our undergraduate community,” said Academic Dean Lucy Williams. “The intellectual environment at St Paul’s—supported by our tutorial program, library, and regular seminars—keeps our focus on the core reason we’re here: university!”
The dominance of STEM degrees among the top performers highlights a growing trend, as students increasingly pursue these fields to meet the demands of a complex, technology-driven world. As Lucy says: “Another semester of exceptional results. It’s great to see students who are very involved in College and University life also ranked as top academic performers. And it’s worth mentioning that as usual, because of the way different disciplines assess, STEM degrees are overrepresented at the top end”
Postgraduate Success
The postgraduate community also achieved strong results. Thirteen research students and fifteen Doctor of Medicine students made satisfactory progress, while 50 coursework postgraduates achieved an average SAM of 73.5.
Top 10 Postgraduate Coursework Achievers
- Alessandro Boaria (Italy, Year II) – Master of Computer Science
- Izzy Perey (Canada, Year I) – Master of Marine Science and Management
- Emmanouil Vourvahakis (Australia, Year II) – Master of International Security
- Sergelen Turkhuu (Mongolia, Year I) – Master of Sustainability
- Nadeera Yakupitiyage (Sri Lanka, Year I) – Master of Agriculture and Environment
- Katherine Rosen (USA, Year II) – Master of Digital Communication and Culture
- Surain He (Canada, Year I) – Master of Occupational Therapy
- Justina Emoh (Nigeria, Year I) – Master of Sustainability
- Jesse Henry (Australia, Year II) – Bachelor of Applied Science (Radiography)
- Yohan Kanji (New Zealand, Year I) – Master of Complex Systems
Academic Support in Action
Throughout the semester tutorials were delivered across 10 coursework areas, including five dedicated GAMSAT preparation sessions, reinforcing the College’s commitment to academic excellence.
