Our Bureau
Chennai
In an inspiring story of perseverance and self-belief, Indian student Vaishnavi Ramalingam has secured the prestigious Clarendon Scholarship at the University of Oxford, a fully funded award worth nearly ₹2 crore, after enduring eight months of repeated rejections. The scholarship will support her pursuit of a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Law at Oxford, one of the world’s leading universities.
A first-generation graduate, Ramalingam shared her emotional reaction on social media, revealing that she had almost decided against applying for the scholarship. In a widely circulated post, she described how every opportunity she pursued over several months ended in disappointment before receiving the life-changing offer she desired most.
According to reports, the Clarendon Scholarship is among Oxford’s most competitive graduate awards, granted on the basis of exceptional academic achievement and research potential. Public records indicate that Ramalingam is the first Indian woman to receive the scholarship for a DPhil in Law. Previous Indian recipients in the same field include legal scholars Gautam Bhatia, Niranjan Venkatesan and Shivprasad Swaminathan.
Ramalingam completed her BA LLB (Hons) from Symbiosis Law School, Pune, before earning an Advanced LLM in International Children’s Rights from Leiden University in the Netherlands under the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship.
Reflecting on her journey, she highlighted the challenges faced by first-generation graduates, who often navigate unfamiliar academic and professional spaces without guidance. She credited her professors at Leiden University for encouraging her to apply to Oxford and helping her recognise her own potential.
Her achievement has drawn widespread praise online, with many describing it as a powerful reminder that persistence can turn setbacks into extraordinary opportunities.
