Lakshmi Balakrishnan, an Indian student from Madurai, Tamil Nadu, has accused the University of Oxford of racial bias and forcibly removing her from a PhD programme in the English faculty. Balakrishnan, who enrolled at Oxford in 2018 to pursue her doctorate in Shakespearean studies, alleges that the university failed to honor its commitment and downgraded her to a master’s course against her will. According to reports, she has now initiated legal action against Oxford, citing that the institution had not acted “in good faith.”
Allegations of Breach of Contract
In her complaint, Balakrishnan claims that her research proposal on Shakespeare was approved during the application stage, forming the basis of her PhD admission. However, after spending four years in the programme, she was removed from the PhD track and shifted to a master’s level course without her consent.
“It is a breach of contract,” Balakrishnan told ANI, emphasizing that her research focus had remained unchanged throughout her time at Oxford. “The scope of my PhD thesis has stayed consistent from the application stage. Therefore, the university’s decision to remove me from the PhD track constitutes a fundamental breach of their agreement with me,” she stated.
Balakrishnan expressed profound disappointment, telling the BBC, “I feel betrayed by an institution I once held in high regard. Oxford has failed me.”
Rejection of PhD and Financial Strain
Oxford’s decision to downgrade her course followed two assessments where external evaluators determined that her research did not meet PhD standards. However, Balakrishnan, who had already invested nearly £100,000 in her PhD studies, rejected the idea of accepting another master’s degree, stating:
“I already have two master’s degrees from India. I did not come to Oxford or pay such a large amount to earn another one. I enrolled specifically to pursue a PhD.”
Appeals and Institutional Support
Despite multiple appeals, the university upheld the decision to downgrade her programme. “I believe the university is deliberately creating procedural hurdles to exhaust me into giving up,” she told the BBC, adding that her efforts to challenge the decision through internal processes had not yielded any results.
Interestingly, The Queen’s College, where she studied, expressed concerns over her treatment in a letter to the university. The college reportedly stated that although her research was criticized by two assessors, “it had potential and merited a PhD.” They highlighted that no “serious issues” were identified in her work, questioning the fairness of the evaluation.
Accusations of Racial Bias
Balakrishnan has further alleged that racial discrimination played a role in her mistreatment. Speaking to ANI, she said, “Race was certainly a motivating factor in how my professor targeted me.” She also pointed to a broader pattern of bias against Indian students at the institution, saying, “There is a deep bias and discrimination against Indian students at Oxford.”
Ongoing Investigation and Broader Implications
Balakrishnan’s case has drawn significant attention, raising questions about the transparency and accountability of academic institutions like Oxford in their treatment of international students. While Oxford has not officially commented on the racial bias allegations, it confirmed that the appeals process had been completed.
As the legal proceedings unfold, Balakrishnan’s case brings to light the challenges faced by international students in prestigious universities and emphasizes the financial and emotional toll such disputes can have.