PAIS Graduation 2025

 Published on 4.8.25

Celebrating Academic Excellence: PAIS Hosts Graduation Reception for Class of 2025

The Department of Politics and International Studies (PAIS) at the University of Warwick held a vibrant graduation reception on Monday, July 21st, to honour the achievements of its graduating cohort. The event, held before the official degree ceremony at Butterworth Hall in Warwick Arts Centre, brought together students, faculty, families, and alumni in a celebration of academic success, resilience, and community.

The reception marked a significant milestone for undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students completing their studies in one of the UK’s top-ranked departments for politics and international studies. With PAIS recently ranked second in the Russell Group in the 2025 National Student Survey 1, the event was not only a farewell but also a testament to the department’s continued excellence in teaching and student satisfaction.

Held in the Slate building, the reception featured speeches from senior Professor Matthew Clayton, the Head of Department, and Professor Justin Greaves, Director of Student Experience.

Guests enjoyed refreshments and took advantage of a balloon display to capture joyful moments between classmates and mentors. Special awards were also presented to students who had demonstrated outstanding academic performance, leadership, and contributions to the PAIS community.

The winners of these awards included:

• Saoirse Osborne, awarded the Jim Bulpitt Prize for the best performance in the Degree of Politics.
• Sarah Bamberger, awarded the Wyn Grant Prize for the best performance in the Degree of Politics and International Studies and the Susan Hurley Prize awarded to the best performance the module in Issues in Political Theory (PO301).
• Omotola Carrena, awarded the Politics and Sociology Prize for the best performance in the Degree of Politics and Sociology.
• Myles Rogers, awarded theRoger Duclaud-Williams Prize for the best performance in PAIS and Modern Languages degree.
• Giulio Santiapichi, awarded the Philippa Sherrington Prize for the best performance in the module European Union Policy Making (PO358).

• Dmytro Kunchenko, awarded the Alexander Paul Prize, a single prize awarded to a student nominated by peers for making an outstanding contribution to PAIS and decided by a prize committee. The Prize is dedicated to the memory of Alex, who was a student in PAIS. He passed away in 2017 and a prize was offered by his family in his memory.

The reception was followed by the formal graduation ceremony earlier that afternoon, where PAIS students were awarded their degree certificates. The atmosphere was one of pride and reflection for everyone involved. See more pictures of the event below!