Indian woman wins prestigious Oxford scholarship worth ₹2 crore

The woman has been awarded the Clarendon Scholarship by the University of Oxford to pursue a fully funded DPhil in Law

An Indian woman has won a prestigious scholarship worth nearly ₹2 crore to pursue a PhD at the University of Oxford.

The woman said the achievement came after months of rejection and was something she had almost not applied for. (Unsplash/Representative image)

According to a report by Bar and Bench, the woman has been awarded the Clarendon Scholarship by the University of Oxford to pursue a fully funded DPhil in Law. Notably, the Clarendon Scholarship, worth nearly ₹2 crore, is among the world’s most prestigious graduate scholarships. It is awarded based on exceptional academic achievement and research potential.

Citing public records, the outlet reported that she is the first Indian woman to receive the Clarendon Scholarship for a DPhil in Law. The only previous Indian recipients on record are Gautam Bhatia (2018), Niranjan Venkatesan (2014) and Shivprasad Swaminathan (2008).

According to Bar and Bench, the woman completed her BA LLB (Hons) from Symbiosis Law School, Pune. She later pursued an Advanced LLM. in International Children’s Rights at Leiden University in the Netherlands on the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS).

Speaking about her experience as a first-generation graduate, she said the journey was often isolating. “Being the first person in your family to navigate unfamiliar spaces, without a clear roadmap or guide, can be deeply isolating…It often feels as though others have access to knowledge and guidance that is entirely new to you, and things that feel unfamiliar or out of reach to you are everyday conversations for someone else,” she said.

She credited her professors at Leiden University for encouraging her to apply to Oxford. “They saw potential in me long before I did and that kind of belief can make a profound difference, particularly for first-generation students. I truly do not think I would have applied at Oxford if not for their support and encouragement,” she said.

Her message for first-generation graduates

Addressing other first-generation graduates, she urged them not to rule themselves out from opportunities that may seem out of reach. “We tend to self-reject ourselves before even trying to get into spaces like Oxford that feel distant or unfamiliar. Stick to the areas you feel passionate about, however niche they may seem, and give yourself the opportunity to be considered. I am glad I took the chance, so please don’t count yourself out,” she told Bar and Bench.