Why in news?
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent visit to India underscored the growing international interest in India’s higher education sector. His 125-member delegation included 14 university vice-chancellors, highlighting education as a key area of cooperation.
The initiative stems from India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which allows top 100 global universities to set up campuses in India to promote the internationalisation of education.
In 2023, the University Grants Commission (UGC) issued detailed regulations for foreign universities to operate in India. Earlier, under the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) regulations of 2022, foreign universities were allowed to open campuses in Gujarat’s GIFT City.
So far, 17 foreign universities have received approval to establish campuses in India, including three already operational in Mumbai, the NCR (Gurgaon, Noida, Greater Noida), Chennai, and Bengaluru.
The move is part of India’s effort to raise global academic standards, retain students who go abroad for higher studies, and position India as an international education hub.
What’s in Today’s Article?
- Foreign Universities Setting Up Campuses in India
- Courses and Offerings by UK Universities in India
- Why UK Universities Are Expanding to India?
- What UK Campuses in India Mean for Indian Students?
Foreign Universities Setting Up Campuses in India
- Under the UGC’s 2023 regulations, foreign universities ranked within the top 500 globally can apply to establish campuses in India.
- A total of 17 foreign universities have announced plans to set up campuses across India, most from the United Kingdom, with QS World University Rankings 2026 positions ranging from 51 to 558.
- Many of these UK universities already operate international branch campuses in Malaysia, China, Qatar, and Greece, but for some, such as Bristol, the India campus will be their first abroad.
- Six Australian universities have announced India plans. Among them:
- Deakin University and University of Wollongong have already begun operations in GIFT City.
- Italy’s Istituto Europeo di Design, a renowned fashion school, will set up in Mumbai.
- From the United States, Illinois Tech will be the first to establish a campus in Mumbai, while globally, US universities lead with 84 overseas campuses, followed by UK institutions with 46.
Courses and Offerings by UK Universities in India
- Most UK universities setting up campuses in India will offer:
- Three-year undergraduate (UG) courses and one-year master’s (PG) programmes.
- Popular disciplines include Business Management, Computer Science, Accounting and Finance, Economics, Data Science, and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
- As per UGC regulations, these universities must ensure identical curriculum, academic quality, and assessment standards as their home campuses.
- They can hire faculty from both India and abroad.
- Campus Capacity and Expansion Plans
- University of Bristol (Mumbai): To start with 250 students in the first year, growing to 2,500. Faculty will be a mix of Indian and Bristol-based staff.
- University of Liverpool (Bengaluru): Capacity for 2,500 students by 2030.
- University of Southampton (Gurgaon): Began in 2025 with 140 students, aiming to grow to 5,500 in the coming years.
- Tuition fees are significantly lower than studying in the UK — roughly half the cost.
- The new UK campuses in India aim to offer world-class, globally recognised degrees at more affordable costs, making international-quality education accessible to Indian students without the burden of overseas expenses.
Why UK Universities Are Expanding to India?
- During UK PM Keir Starmer’s visit, a joint statement highlighted the “explosion in demand for higher education in India”, creating a major opportunity for UK universities seeking new funding streams.
- India’s growing youth population and the government’s push to internationalise education under the NEP 2020 have made it a prime destination for global universities.
- Financial Pressures in the UK
- UK universities are facing a deep financial crisis:
- Tuition fee freeze for domestic students (for several years) and rising inflation have squeezed budgets.
- Institutions became dependent on international students, who pay higher fees.
- But with falling international enrolments, revenue has declined sharply.
- Search for New Revenue Sources
- The UK higher education sector is in a volatile environment and must “find new sources of revenue” while maintaining quality.
- Establishing Indian campuses provides a sustainable model for income generation, job protection, and research expansion.
- Strategic Partnerships with India
- UK universities view India not just as a market but as a strategic partner for long-term collaboration.
- Partnerships with Indian institutions can help them:
- Diversify student bases.
- Strengthen global research collaborations.
- Support India’s rise as an international education hub.
What UK Campuses in India Mean for Indian Students?
- The UGC regulations enabling foreign campuses in India come amid a sharp drop in Indian students going overseas post-Covid due to stricter immigration policies in destination countries.
- The UK issued 1.39 lakh study visas to Indian students in 2022, but this dropped to 88,732 in 2024.
- The UK now restricts foreign students from bringing dependents and plans to reduce graduate visa duration from two years to 18 months.
- Similar immigration curbs in Canada and the US have led to fewer Indian students pursuing higher education there.
- Access to Global Education at Home
- With these restrictions, the arrival of foreign universities in India offers a viable alternative. Students can:
- Access the same curriculum, degree, and pedagogy as their parent campuses.
- Potentially study a semester or year abroad through exchange programs.
- Avoid the high cost of living and tuition overseas.
- However, experts caution that studying at an India campus won’t automatically guarantee international job opportunities or post-study work visas, which require physical presence abroad.
