Join us as we talk to alumna Jessica Sutton about her achievements at the top level in academics as St Peter’s first Rhodes Scholar.

Jessica attended St Peter’s from 2009 to 2014, when she was awarded the School Dux prize. Securing a Vice Chancellor's Excellence Scholarship, Jessica went to Victoria University of Wellington, studying a conjoint degree programme in law, French and Spanish. It was there she says she developed a passion for international law and human rights “with a focus on the law’s role in preventing and punishing gender-based violence”.

In Wellington, Jessica worked a range of interesting part-time jobs including at the New Zealand Law Commission, and also kept up her interest in the arts, performing in at least one theatre show a year. Jessica had won the Robb Cup for Outstanding Performance in Speech and Drama in her last year at school. In 2020 she graduated from Victoria with the University Medal as the first-ranked graduating student in her degrees.

Tell us about the journey to Oxford, the Rhodes Scholarship.

I really credit St Peter’s with supporting my early interest in achieving highly academically. My enthusiasm for learning continued through my undergraduate degree, and the Rhodes came onto my radar as a way to study a world-renowned degree at an incredible university and meet other young people dedicated to important causes.

The application process for the Rhodes is very intense, including a requirement for six references, a carefully crafted personal statement, and two rounds of interviews. I was shocked but absolutely thrilled to find out I had been successful in my application. I was also very lucky to gain a job clerking for a Judge at the High Court of New Zealand in the nine months between graduating from Victoria and starting at Oxford.

How is the Oxford experience?

I am currently in my second year at Oxford. Academically, I have found it to be intense, but an amazing learning environment. I graduated from the Bachelor of Civil Law Masters with Distinction last year, after three terms of fascinating seminars and tutorials. I am currently reading for the MPhil in Law research degree which allows me to work closely with a member of the law faculty to complete a 30,000-word thesis.

Probably the most enjoyable part of Oxford is being part of an Oxford college: it is your own academic community and ‘home’ within the city. I was very happy to be accepted to my first-choice college, with particular highlights for me being the college choir and theatre programmes. Oxford also has a work-hard play-hard reputation, and the social aspect is extremely important. Formal dinners at various colleges, black tie dinners, and white tie balls, are all unique and enjoyable parts of the Oxford experience.

What might a regular day or week be for you?

Life doing a research degree is very flexible. In an average week, I spend the majority of my work hours researching and writing my thesis, either at home or in one of the beautiful Bodleian libraries. I might meet with my supervisor at the gorgeous St John’s College and spend time discussing a draft chapter of my thesis. When I’m not researching, I can usually be found at one of my volunteering jobs, recently as a legal aid clinic worker for women facing deportation.

Outside of work, I try to attend events at the law faculty or wider university as often as possible, including book launches and seminars with high-profile speakers – a highlight was a recent seminar and garden party with human rights barrister Amal Clooney. A couple of evenings a week, I head into my college to rehearse as part of the college choir. We perform weekly services in the 400-year-old Chapel, and once a term we sing in London and other venues around England.

In the later evening, I might attend a formal in one of the colleges with friends, which are three-course meals with students either in black tie, or formal wear with our academic gowns. In Trinity Term (the current summer term), there is also a range of end of term celebrations, balls, and picnics to attend. In short, Oxford keeps me extremely busy!

Pictured at the Rhodes Scholars’ Ball at Rhodes House - with partner Patrick McTague. They met doing theatre in Wellington, and moved over to the UK together when Jessica got the scholarship.

When do you graduate and what’s next?

I submit my MPhil thesis in August 2023. I will then defend my thesis a month or so later in a Viva Examination (oral thesis defence). Once I have successfully passed that, I will have the delightful experience of a second Oxford graduation towards the end of this year.

In terms of next steps, I have been in the very privileged position of choosing between a doctorate offer at the University of Oxford, and an offer of a place at a prestigious barristers’ chambers in London. I have decided to take up the place in London, meaning I will be training to practice as a human rights barrister. I still see a doctorate in my future, but I am very excited to be getting practical experience first!