An Australian National University law student who insisted on including comment on Australia's "inhumane" refugee policies in a proposed profile piece was told she would no longer appear in a marketing booklet for fear of upsetting the federal government.

Odette Shenfield, from Melbourne, was one of three students in the ANU College of Law to receive three awards, including the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department and Australian Government Solicitor Prize, at the college's 2017 prize ceremony.

Odette Shenfield, a highly-awarded law student, was removed from an ANU marketing catalogue because she wanted to make a statement on refugees. Credit:Jamila Toderas

The awards came on top of a University Medal and the prestigious Tillyard Prize, awarded in part for her refugee advocacy.

Initially reluctant to appear in marketing materials, the 24-year-old figured she could use the platform to encourage students who felt law may be too difficult to give it a go by sharing her struggles in completing her degree. Ms Shenfield also wanted to demonstrate her learnings - in her words, "the vital importance of speaking out on issues and of critical thinking".