Students received their awards at a ceremony hosted by Dr Edward Anstead, Deputy Head of the Department of Computer Science at the School.
On Thursday 2 April, the Department of Computer Science, School of Science & Technology at City St George’s, University of London hosted a ceremony to celebrate the achievements of seven of its postgraduate student who maintained an excellent standard during their master’s study during the academic year 2025/26.
The awards were presented by Dr Edward Anstead, Deputy Head of the Department of Computer Science at the School.
This year’s awardees
The Dean's Award Best Internship Student
Lily Chau, MSc Data Science
The Dean's Award Best Student (MSc Data Science)
Ashraf Mohd Rauf, MSc Data Science
The Dean's Award Best Student (MSc Human-Computer Interaction Design)
Apollo Karkanevatos, MSc HCID
The Dean's Award Best Student (MSc Artificial Intelligence, MSc Computer Games Technology, MSc Cyber Security, MSc Software Engineering with Cloud Computing)
Fareesah Hussein, MSc in Artificial Intelligence
The Dean's Award Outstanding Project (MSc Human-Computer Interaction Design)
Shannon Dsouza, MSc HCID
The Dean's Award Outstanding Project (MSc Data Science)
Pranay Subhash Palav, MSc Data Science
The Dean's Award Outstanding Project (MSc Artificial Intelligence, MSc Computer Games Technology, MSc Cyber Security, MSc Software Engineering, with Cloud Computing)
Zeynep Dagci, MSc in Software Engineering with Cloud Computing
Winner testimonials
Pranay Subhash Palav, MSc Data Science
"Studying the MSc Data Science course at City St George's, located in the heart of London and known for its diverse and vibrant environment, was truly an unforgettable experience.
"Beyond academics, one thing that personally stood out for me was the University's genuine focus on student wellbeing. The guidance and encouragement received from both my Course Officer and the Wellbeing team helped me stay aligned with my task during challenging moments throughout the year. Receiving this recognition feels like a meaningful milestone in my journey, and I move forward with gratitude and pride for everything this experience has given me."
Zeynep Dagci, MSc in Software Engineering with Cloud Computing
"After three years of professional experience as a software developer, I decided it was time to extend my expertise. I chose the MSc in Software Engineering with Cloud Computing at City St George’s because it offered exactly what I was looking for: a strong foundation in cloud computing alongside the broader software engineering principles that underpin how modern systems are built.
"What I appreciated most was the range. Alongside the technical modules, I also took courses to give me a broader understanding of both how ideas are turned into viable products and how software projects are planned and delivered in a professional setting.
"The programme gave me both theoretical grounding and plenty of hands-on project work to put it into practice. That combination shaped my dissertation, where I got to bring together cloud infrastructure, AI-driven features, and green computing strategies in one project. It was exactly the kind of challenge I had hoped the course would lead me to.
"I’m grateful to City St George’s for the education and support that made this possible, and I’d encourage anyone looking to advance their software engineering career to consider this programme."
Fareesah Hussein, MSc in Artificial Intelligence
"My time on the MSc Artificial Intelligence programme was a truly wonderful and rewarding experience. The course offered a great balance between theoretical foundations and practical applications, and I really appreciated how engaging and interactive the modules were. This allowed me to work on challenging and exciting projects in areas such as deep learning, computer vision, and multimodal AI, exploring topics I’m very passionate about.
"The lecturers were so supportive, warm, and always happy to take the time to discuss ideas or offer help whenever needed, which made the learning environment feel very welcoming. Their encouragement and guidance played a big role in my development, both academically and personally, and I feel very grateful to have been part of such an incredible academic community."
Lily Chau, MSc Software Engineering with Cloud Computing
“I’m honoured to receive The Dean's Award Best Internship Student during my MSc Software Engineering with Cloud Computing at City St George’s. My year at the University was incredibly fruitful. I explored a range of tech domains like Databases, Network Security and C++ Programming, built two full-stack serverless web applications, and tapped into the realm of ethical hacking.
"Balancing full-time study with my part-time and internship role as a Data Engineer at Octopus Energy was challenging, but surely rewarding. I’m very grateful to my team for their support, and I look forward to contributing to innovative work in data engineering and sustainable technology. Learning has no end to it.
"One of my favourite quotes is from the great Stoic Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, who, even at old age, sought knowledge: 'I’m off to see Sextus the philosopher, to learn that which I do not yet know.' With his spirit as my guide, I embrace this never-ending journey of self-improvement, with passion and purpose.”
"The lectures undoubtedly built a strong foundation, but the weekly lab sessions were particularly impactful for me, as its hands-on approach helped me build a regular habit of practising and experimenting with data, even outside the classroom."