Vaishnavi Ramalingam, a trailblazer as a first-generation graduate, has achieved a remarkable milestone by securing the esteemed Clarendon Scholarship from the University of Oxford. This accolade will support her pursuit of a fully-funded Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Law beginning in Autumn 2026. According to accessible records, Vaishnavi stands out as the first Indian woman to receive the Clarendon Scholarship for a DPhil in Law. Her achievement follows in the footsteps of previous Indian scholars Gautam Bhatia (2018) and Niranjan Venkatesan (2014).
The Clarendon Scholarship, valued at nearly ₹2 crore, is a coveted global honor, recognizing individuals based on extraordinary academic excellence and research promise. Vaishnavi’s academic journey began with her B.A.LL.B. (Hons) at Symbiosis Law School, Pune. She further honed her expertise through an Advanced LL.M. in International Children’s Rights at Leiden University, Netherlands, supported by the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS).
Reflecting on her experiences as a pioneering graduate in her family, Vaishnavi shared that the path was often isolating. She remarked, “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.”
Vaishnavi acknowledged the pivotal role played by her professors at Leiden University in her journey 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 expressed.
In offering advice to fellow first-generation graduates, she encouraged persistence and resilience. “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 advised.
Vaishnavi’s LL.M. dissertation explored the right of children to positive peer relationships, identifying a significant oversight in children’s rights law which often focuses on adults like parents, guardians, and teachers, neglecting the vital aspect of peer relationships. She argued that this gap in legal protection disproportionately affects marginalized children, including those with disabilities and those in the justice system or institutional care. Her thesis earned the KHMW Jan Brouwer Prize for Law in the Netherlands, a national honor recognizing the best law thesis awarded by the country’s oldest scientific society.
At Oxford, Vaishnavi aims to expand on her earlier research through her DPhil proposal, employing the framework of relational dignity. Her goal is to develop a child-specific account of relational dignity that integrates peer relationships and to convert this into a legal framework addressing the practical acknowledgment of this right.
