Lavinia Woodward, 24, punched and stabbed her then-boyfriend during an alcohol-and-drug-fuelled row.

An Oxford University student who stabbed her boyfriend with a bread knife may not go to jail because it would damage her future career as a heart surgeon.

Lavinia Woodward, 24, punched her boyfriend, who she met on dating app Tinder, and then stabbed him in the leg during an alcohol-and-drug-fuelled row at England's Christ Church College on September 30, The Guardian reported.

Woodward then hurled a laptop, glass and jam jar at him.

LAVINIA WOODWARD/FACEBOOK Woodward is studying to be a heart surgeon at Oxford University.

At Oxford crown court on Tuesday (NZT) Judge Ian Pringle QC said he would take the "exceptional" step of defering Woodward's sentencing for four months.

The Guardian reported that Pringle hinted that Woodward will not be jailed because of her talent.

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LAVINIA WOODWARD/FACEBOOK Woodward was described as an extraordinary talent who has had articles published in medical journals.

"It seems to me that if this was a one-off, a complete one-off, to prevent this extraordinary able young lady from not following her long-held desire to enter the profession she wishes to would be a sentence which would be too severe," Pringle said.

"What you did will never, I know, leave you, but it was pretty awful, and normally it would attract a custodial sentence, whether it is immediate or suspended."

The court was told that Christ Church would allow her to return in October because she "is that bright" and has had articles published in medical journals.

Woodward's lawyer James Sturman QC said she'd had a very troubled life and was abused by a previous boyfriend.