A high-flying student who alleges she was branded ''a bloody Arab'' by her PhD lecturer is suing Durham University for £200,000.

Dr Hadil Bakir claims she was verbally and physically abused by her supervisor while studying at the university's department of human molecular genetics.

The mother-of-one, originally from Iraq, said Dr Rumaisa Bashir subjected her to a campaign of harassment which led to her developing bulimia, a stomach ulcer and depression.

She is suing the university on the grounds that senior staff failed to protect her from the alleged bullying of Dr Bashir, a global expert in the adult onset of muscular dystrophy who has also worked at Newcastle University.

Dr Bakir, of Durham, said she had been unable to work due to her ill-health since completing her PhD in September 2006.

Durham University has denied the claims made during a hearing at Newcastle County Court.

The court heard problems began for the overseas student soon after she began her studies in October 2002.

She was dubbed a ''cry baby'' and ''international troublemaker'' after being told to ditch her original thesis title and take over the work previously done by another student, the court heard.

From that point on she suffered a campaign of abuse at the hands of Dr Bashir, who used foul language towards her and belittled her work, she claimed.

She said she was also physically abused by Dr Bashir, who is alleged to have shoved past her, trod on her toes, and banged a fridge door against her head.

A claim form lodged with the court said: ''During this period, Dr Bashir regularly used the phrase 'bloody Arabs'. Dr Bashir is of Pakistani origin. The claimant is from Iraq.''

When Dr Bakir went to visit family in Abu Dhabi in April 2004 and returned with a gift of toiletries for Dr Bashir, it is alleged her supervisor responded: ''You think with your money you can buy a PhD.

''Bloody Arabs think money can buy everything.''

Catherine Foster, for Durham University, told the court Dr Bakir had a personal grudge against Dr Bashir, who had critiqued her student's work.

She said: ''You have got it in for Dr Bashir to the point it is astonishing you are continuing with this claim.''

She added that the allegation Dr Bashir called the PhD student a ''bloody Arab'' was preposterous.

''She had no occasion to make racist comments or even imply racist comments.

''It is a preposterous suggestion to make.

''This claimant is simply not able to be dispassionate about her feelings towards Dr Bashir which clearly evolved over time to the point we are at now.

''It simply never happened at all.''

The hearing, before Judge Christopher Walton, continues.