Oxford University dispute: Indian PhD student alleges UK uni forcibly downgraded her to a Master's course

In a rare dispute over academic progression, Lakshmi Balakrishnan, an Indian PhD student at the University of Oxford, has alleged that the university forcibly transferred her to a master’s course without her consent. The student, originally from Tamil Nadu, says she committed nearly £100,000 in expenses, holding two prior master’s degrees, only to find her dreams of completing a PhD stalled in her fourth year.

According to a BBC report, Balakrishnan claims that the University of Oxford’s English Faculty initially accepted her PhD thesis topic on Shakespeare, which remained approved through the application process and early academic assessments. However, during her fourth year, two assessors raised concerns, leading to the faculty’s decision to reject her research as suitable for doctoral level and subsequently transferring her to a master’s program.

Expressing her dismay, Balakrishnan said, “They forcibly removed me from the PhD program and moved me to a master’s level course without my consent,” describing her feelings as those of “betrayal” by an institution she once held in high regard. “I already have two master’s degrees from India and paid £100,000 at Oxford to get my PhD, not another master’s course,” she told the BBC.

Oxford University, in response, highlighted that all students are aware of the criteria that govern academic progress and potential outcomes. In a statement, they explained, “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.”

Balakrishnan’s appeal to reverse the decision went through the university's formal process but was ultimately unsuccessful. The Queen’s College, her affiliated college at Oxford, raised concerns with the university, pointing to what they deemed discrepancies in the assessment and appeals process. The college noted that despite failing two specific assessments, Ms. Balakrishnan’s term reports did not indicate serious issues with her work. Additionally, two professors in her field found her research had potential and met the standards of PhD-level work.

However, the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA), an independent body overseeing complaints in higher education, sided with the university. Oxford further reiterated that students have access to a structured appeals process to ensure “fairness and transparency,” with additional rights to appeal through internal channels and, ultimately, the OIA.

Balakrishnan, who comes from an underprivileged background and is the first in her family to study abroad, expressed concerns that the lengthy appeals process has become an arduous task. “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.

This case spotlights the rigorous academic standards of elite institutions like Oxford but raises questions about the fairness and transparency of university procedures for international students committed to achieving the highest level of academic qualifications.