17 September 2019

Professor Subedi awarded a higher doctorate degree by the University of Oxford

Professor Surya P. Subedi, QC, OBE, has been awarded the degree of Doctor of Civil Law (DCL) by the University. The award was granted in recognition of his exceptionally insightful and distinctive publications that contain significant and original contributions to the study of international law.

Higher doctorates are earned awards of the University of Oxford whose fundamental purpose is to recognise excellence in academic scholarship. The Oxford DCL is awarded rarely and only in exceptional cases.

Professor Subedi obtained his DPhil in Law at Oxford in 1993, the first Nepali to obtain a DPhil from Oxford. His thesis was awarded the Dasturzada Pavry Memorial Prize for outstanding thesis of the year. He is currently Professor of International Law at the University of Leeds and a practising barrister at Three Stone Chambers, Lincoln’s Inn, London. From 2009 to 2015 he was the UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in Cambodia and from 2010 to 2015 served as a member of a high-level Advisory Group on Human Rights to the British Foreign Secretary. He was elected to the Institut de Droit International in 2011 and made a Membre Titulaire in 2015.

The judges of the higher doctorate award praised Professor Subedi

as a scholar of uncommon breadth of knowledge and depth of thinking. His work is substantial in scale. He is a legal philosopher whose work has had an undoubted impact on the theory of international law, whilst his knowledge of specialist areas of law has permitted him to make specific suggestions for reform.

They went on to add that “Professor Subedi’s academic achievements, combined with his substantial body of publications and engagement with governmental and intergovernmental organizations, demonstrate work of the highest quality sustained over time.”

Commenting on his award, Professor Subedi said that it was an immense honour and privilege to be awarded the highest degree at Oxford.