Oxford student denied Shakespeare PhD after $100,000 investment

Lakshmi Balakrishnan, an Indian PhD student, has experienced a troubling academic journey at the University of Oxford. After initially having her thesis idea for studying Shakespeare approved during her application and first year, she faced rejection during her fourth year from two assessors who deemed her research lacking in PhD-level scope. This sudden shift led to her forced transfer to a master's course, an outcome she claims was imposed without her consent. The move has caused significant distress for Balakrishnan, particularly since she has already invested nearly £100,000 in her studies at Oxford. Coming from a background of hardship and being the first in her family to study abroad, she has dedicated herself to her academic pursuits, including obtaining two master’s degrees in India. Despite her efforts to challenge the university's decision through an appeals process, including support from faculty members who recognized the merit of her research, her appeals were ultimately unsuccessful. The university maintained that all students must demonstrate a strong likelihood of successful completion to remain in their programs, citing fair and transparent procedures. The situation has raised concerns not only for Balakrishnan but also among the faculty at her college, who believed there may have been procedural errors during her appeal. The outcome has left Balakrishnan feeling betrayed by a prestigious institution, questioning the support systems in place for students and their academic journeys.