St Andrews Bangkok alumni success: from IB valedictorian to Oxford University PhD candidate

At St Andrews International School Bangkok, our alumni continue to inspire us with their diverse journeys and remarkable achievements. This highlight features Kazu, Class of 2021, whose path to the University of Oxford reflects the academic excellence, resilience, curiosity, and passion nurtured at St Andrews. 

What year did you graduate from St Andrews, and which diploma programme did you complete?

I graduated in 2021 as valedictorian with 44 IB points and completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).

Where are you now, and what are you doing?  

I am currently based in Oxford, United Kingdom. After completing an Integrated Master’s degree (MEng) in Bioengineering at Imperial College London, I am now pursuing a DPhil (PhD) at the University of Oxford, focusing on cardiovascular disease and stem cell research.

What was your favourite subject or class at STA?  

Maths and Biology were my favourites. They shaped my academic interests and laid the foundation for my future in bioengineering and medical research.

Were you involved in any clubs, sports, or activities? How did they shape your experience?  

I was fortunate to be involved in many clubs and sports. I played on the varsity football team for all four years and was also a drummer in a band, performing at school events like International Day. 

These activities were an important part of my high school life, and I honestly would not have had the same experience without them. I always looked forward to weekday football sessions after school, and the competitive environment of playing against other schools and participating in tournaments pushed me to continually improve and challenge myself. 

They also shaped my social life by giving me more opportunities to spend time with friends, and many of these experiences helped me transition smoothly into university and beyond.

How did St Andrews Bangkok prepare you for university and your career?  

The IGCSE and IB programmes at St Andrews played a huge role in preparing me for university and what I am doing now. Being able to take subjects from different fields really helped me figure out what I was interested in and what I wanted to pursue. 

It also showed me how important interdisciplinary learning is. During my undergraduate degree, I often found myself using skills from IB subjects like Biology, Maths, and Economics, whether analysing data, thinking critically, or structuring arguments. Having that mix of subjects gave me a much broader way of looking at problems, which I still rely on when conducting research today. 

I also think the projects that are part of the IBDP, such as the Internal Assessments and the Extended Essay, were incredibly helpful. They were some of my first experiences of taking an idea, turning it into a real project, and following it through to analysis and evaluation. That process is very similar to what I do now in research, so, looking back, those experiences at STA gave me a really strong foundation.

Share a favourite memory from your time at STA.  

One of my favourite memories is organising a charity sports event during the Tanzania Expedition. It was incredibly valuable to create our own event from scratch, planning and coordinating the sports we love for a meaningful cause. Doing it alongside my friends made it even more special.

What’s something you wish you had known in high school? 

One thing I wish I had known in high school is how important it is to stay positive. There were times when not being able to do something or making a mistake felt like the end of the world, but going on to university made me realise how often these things happen to everyone. I wish I had focused more on learning from them and keeping a positive mindset.

What advice would you give current students to make the most of their time at STA?  

I think it can be very stressful to think about what you want to do in the future, especially when people feel pressured to already have their next five or ten years planned out. 

I believe it is more important to focus on what you enjoy and what you want to do right now, because over the rest of high school, university, and beyond, you gradually get to know yourself better. I also think it is important to balance academics with other activities. 

This not only helps prevent burnout, but also helps you develop important skills like time management.

Watch Kazu's interview: