A Tamil Nadu student who spent over Rs 1 crore to get a PhD in English from Oxford University was "forcibly removed" and transferred to a masters course in her fourth year without her consent, BBC reported.
Lakshmi Balakrishnan , who already has two masters degree, was told by the assessors that her Shakespeare research wasn't a PhD level work, thus failing her in her fourth year.
"They forcibly removed me from the PhD program and moved me to a masters level course without my consent," she said.
“I already have two masters degrees from India and I paid £100,000 at Oxford to get my PhD, not another masters course,” she added.
Two professors specializing in Shakespeare noted that her research holds significant potential and deserves consideration for a PhD. However, the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) upheld the university's position on the matter.
"To achieve Confirmation of Status, progress must sufficiently demonstrate a strong likelihood of successful completion of a doctoral thesis. Unfortunately, not all students achieve this. Where a student disagrees with the outcome of an assessment they have the right to appeal under the university’s appeal procedure, which ensures fairness and transparency. There is a further internal route of appeal of that decision and a subsequent right to complain to the OIA," the Oxford University said in a statement.
Feeling betrayed by the institution, Balakrishnan said, "I feel a sense of betrayal and I feel like I have been let down by an institution that I held in high regard," he added.
She disputed the University's decision and decided to take a legal route which remained unsuccessful. "I believe that the university’s strategy is to force me to wade through endless appeals and complaints procedures in the hope that I will eventually give up and go," she said.
Lakshmi Balakrishnan , who already has two masters degree, was told by the assessors that her Shakespeare research wasn't a PhD level work, thus failing her in her fourth year.
"They forcibly removed me from the PhD program and moved me to a masters level course without my consent," she said.
“I already have two masters degrees from India and I paid £100,000 at Oxford to get my PhD, not another masters course,” she added.
Two professors specializing in Shakespeare noted that her research holds significant potential and deserves consideration for a PhD. However, the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) upheld the university's position on the matter.
"To achieve Confirmation of Status, progress must sufficiently demonstrate a strong likelihood of successful completion of a doctoral thesis. Unfortunately, not all students achieve this. Where a student disagrees with the outcome of an assessment they have the right to appeal under the university’s appeal procedure, which ensures fairness and transparency. There is a further internal route of appeal of that decision and a subsequent right to complain to the OIA," the Oxford University said in a statement.
Feeling betrayed by the institution, Balakrishnan said, "I feel a sense of betrayal and I feel like I have been let down by an institution that I held in high regard," he added.
She disputed the University's decision and decided to take a legal route which remained unsuccessful. "I believe that the university’s strategy is to force me to wade through endless appeals and complaints procedures in the hope that I will eventually give up and go," she said.
You may also like
David Kaff dead: This Is Spinal Tap icon dies aged 79 as friends pay tribute
Love Island stars announce shock engagement one year on from meeting on ITV2 show
The Couple Next Door viewers brand second season 'disappointment' after just one episode
Jeremy Clarkson shares private Christian Horner text after sack and picks next F1 team
Destiny 2 Edge of Fate release time, date, downtime and Desert Perpetual Raid details
