Oxford finds Indian student's work on Shakespeare sub-standard

An Indian student enrolled at the UK's Oxford University has accused the prestigious institution of academic bullying, harassment, injustice and racial bias.

- Simple Vishwakarma

Lakshmi Balakrishnan joined Oxford University in October 2018 to pursue a PhD in Shakespeare. She made it clear in her application that her PhD would be focused on Shakespeare, and Oxford University accepted her application and provided an offer letter based on that application, allowing her to pursue her PhD in the English faculty.

However, today her goal seems nowhere in sight. A few intermediary procedures have made sure that she never completes her PhD, at least not in Shakespeare.

In her initial years at the University, Balakrishnan claimed she took an exam known as the Transfer of Status for the PhD. The purpose of this assessment, according to her, is to evaluate the "scope" and "validity" of the student's research. “In June 2019, two assessors formally approved the scope and validity of my PhD project," she said.

However, in November 2021, during an advanced internal assessment known as the Confirmation of Status, her two new assessors failed her, claiming that Shakespeare did not have sufficient 'scope' for doctoral research, she accused.

"The assessors who initially approved my project were not the same as those who evaluated me in November 2021; they were a different set of assessors," she alleged.