Thursday 16 July 2026

Dissertation Prize for Natasha Holcroft-Emmess

Dr Natasha Holcroft-Emmess (2009 Jurisprudence, BCL, DPhil) has been awarded the Oxford Nicolas Berggruen Prize for Best Doctoral Dissertation in Philosophy, Law and Politics.

The prize recognises an outstanding doctoral dissertation that is both academically excellent and transformative in theory or practice. Each year, one dissertation is nominated by each of the University’s Faculties of Philosophy and Law, and the Department of Politics and International Relations, before an interdisciplinary committee selects the overall winner.

Natasha received the award for her DPhil thesis, Human Rights in Conflicts and Crises: Derogation under Human Rights Treaties. Her research explores the circumstances in which states may lawfully suspend certain obligations under international human rights treaties during times of war or public emergency. The thesis argues that careful interpretation of the relevant legal provisions, derogation clauses, can strengthen transparency and accountability when governments adopt exceptional measures that restrict fundamental rights.

Natasha completed her DPhil at Keble in 2025, having previously studied for her BCL and BA in Jurisprudence at the College. A former College Lecturer in Law at Keble, she is now Stipendiary Lecturer in Law at Exeter College. Her dissertation was praised by examiners as an outstanding contribution to legal scholarship and has been recommended for publication.

The full announcement is available on the Faculty of Law website.