Abstract
Stress among university students is a significant global concern that can adversely affect academic performance. This study aimed to examine the specific relationship between perceived stress and academic achievement among students at Politeknik METrO Betong Sarawak (PMBS). A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed to collect data from 128 respondents. The study adapted the ten-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) to measure stress, and academic performance was measured by self-reported Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA). The findings suggest that for this high-achieving sample, perceived stress alone is not a direct predictor of academic outcomes. This highlights the complex nature of the stress-performance relationship and suggests that factors such as resilience and coping strategies may play a significant mediating role. The study concludes that while stress was not directly linked to grades, the moderate stress levels reported are a concern for well-being that warrants institutional attention.