EX-QMC student Stephen Turrell has won the Oxford University Armorours and Brasiers Company/TATA Steel prize of £500 for achieving the best performance in first year practical coursework.

His name will now be added to the board of past winners in the Department of Materials Teaching Laboratory where his Materials Science Degree is based.

Stephen, pictured, said: “I studied all three of the core science subjects at QMC.

“There were frequent opportunities to develop our practical skills, and this was often enhanced by the freedom to design our own experiments, making use of the start of the art facilities.

“As part of my application to Oxford, I had to take the Physics Aptitude Test and be prepared for the sort of questions I could be asked in the interview.

“The physics department ran special support sessions and I believe the expert help and experience I had access to was indispensable in my preparation.”