Nine UK Universities Approved to Establish Campuses in India

Nine prestigious universities from the United Kingdom have received approvals to establish campuses in India, as announced by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

During a special briefing regarding the UK Prime Minister's official visit to India, Misri highlighted this significant development, stating, "There are nine leading UK universities that have now received approvals for opening their campuses in India."

He referred to this initiative as a "silent revolution" within the education sector under the National Education Policy (NEP). Notably, Southampton University recently became the first to launch a physical campus in India, successfully enrolling its first group of students.

Misri further elaborated on the substantial delegation accompanying Prime Minister Starmer on this visit, which included key figures such as the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and nine vice chancellors from the UK universities, all with plans to expand in India.

The approved universities include:

• Southampton University (Gurgaon)
• Queen's Belfast University (GIFT City)
• Coventry University (GIFT City)
• University of Surrey (GIFT City)
• University of Bristol (GIFT City)
• University of York (Mumbai)
• University of Liverpool (Bengaluru)
• University of Lancaster (Bengaluru)
• University of Aberdeen (Mumbai)

According to a statement from the UK government, this initiative is expected to generate a £50 million boost to the economy as British universities expand in India.

Currently, India has 40 million university students, but projections indicate a need for 70 million places by 2035. The UK aims to meet this demand, offering thousands of Indian students the opportunity to earn UK degrees domestically while also contributing millions to the economy.

In 2022, international education generated over £32 billion in export revenue for the UK, with nearly £1 billion attributed to international campuses, underscoring its potential as a growth market.

The UK government anticipates that it will develop the largest higher education presence in India, significantly enhancing the UK's global reputation.

During a meeting in Mumbai, Prime Minister Starmer and Prime Minister Modi celebrated this educational milestone, emphasizing the importance of British universities' teaching excellence and research commitment.

Starmer expressed his delight that more Indian students would have access to a world-class British education, further strengthening the ties between the two nations while benefiting the British economy.