Exeter Medics and Earth Scientists excel in University awards

This year has been one of extraordinary achievement for Exeter College students, with a remarkable collection of end‑of‑year prizes across Medicine, Earth Sciences, and beyond. 

In the medical sphere, three students won a prestigious Gibbs Prize, awarded to the student with the highest mark in their year group across the University. In Pre‑Clinical Medicine (second year), Mustafa Chowdhury secured the award; in third year Biomedical Sciences, Maurice Leung prevailed; and in fourth year Biomedical Sciences, Libby Cowan attained the accolade. Professor Kerry Walker, Official Fellow and Lecturer in Medical Science (Neuropathology/Neuroscience), commented: “To have three Gibbs Prize winners for these highly competitive Medical Sciences programmes in one college is truly exceptional. These achievements primarily reflect our students’ brilliance and dedication, but also Exeter’s supportive community wherein students can meet their full potential. We could not be more proud of their accomplishments.” 

Equally impressive is the success in Earth Sciences, with four Exeter students receiving departmental awards: 

• Amrithaa Velayutham won the Viridien Prize for Best Overall Second Year Performance. 

• Jakob Kneale won the Mineralogical Society Prize for Best Third Year Performance in Mineralogy. 

• Stanley Upton received both the Brewer‑Loughman Scholarship for Outstanding Fourth Year Project and the SLB Prize for Best Fourth Year Performance in Geology. 

• Natalie Turner won the MOAP Prize for an Outstanding Fourth Year Project on Climate. 

Professor Paula Koelemeijer, Tutorial Fellow in Earth Sciences, remarked: “We are delighted about the academic success of Exeter students in Earth Sciences this year. Our undergraduate students have come top of the year in both second and fourth year, with others receiving prizes for best fourth year research project, top performance in mineralogy and best fourth year project on climate. In addition, more than 60 per cent of Exeter undergraduates in Earth Sciences received a first class classification in their end of year exams. These achievements are testament to the academic excellence and hard work of our students.” 

We also extend our congratulations to Exeter students in Modern Languages, Physics, and Classics who won University prizes.  

Altogether, 42 Exeter finalists received a first in 2025, four more than in 2024 and eight more than in 2023. Fifty-two students received 2.1s and the remaining 12 secured a 2.2. Congratulations to them all on their hard work and achievements!