Cambridge University expands India engagement with research hub, admissions routes

The University of Cambridge has announced a significant expansion of its engagement with India, unveiling a new research hub and broader admission pathways for high-performing undergraduate students.

The university said the newly launched Cambridge-India Centre for Advanced Studies will focus on research, innovation, and learning, strengthening collaboration between Cambridge and India’s fast-growing knowledge economy.

The center is expected to serve as the focal point for Cambridge’s activities in India and promote academic exchange, policy engagement, and social impact.

“The Cambridge-India CAS is an exciting opportunity to form collaborations with the best researchers and innovators in India and strengthen ties with such a rapidly growing knowledge economy,” said Cambridge Vice-Chancellor Deborah Prentice.

During a visit to Delhi this week, Prentice also announced that the CBSE Class 12 qualification will be accepted for admission to some undergraduate programs, subject to additional requirements. The move is expected to create new entry routes for Indian students seeking to study at the university.

The announcement follows the establishment of the Cambridge India Research Foundation, a company created to facilitate philanthropic support for Indian students at Cambridge.

The foundation will allow alumni, members of the public, and other stakeholders to contribute toward bursaries, tuition fees, living expenses, and joint research initiatives, with a focus on expanding scholarship opportunities for high-achieving Indian students.

“Education lies at the heart of UK-India Vision 2035, our shared commitment to nurturing the next generation of global talent. These initiatives are bringing the UK and India’s world-class research and education even closer together through innovative platforms and channels for collaboration, helping unlock the full potential of our revitalized partnership,” said Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India.

The Cambridge-India Centre for Advanced Studies has been structured as an umbrella platform for multiple programs, building on decades of collaboration between the university and Indian institutions.

The center will operate across multiple locations and partnerships in India rather than being tied to a single physical campus.

In parallel with its academic initiatives, Cambridge also announced plans for its men’s cricket team to tour India in March 2026 for pre-season matches, marking its first visit in 15 years. The university is also planning a visit by the women’s cricket team next year.

“Our best cricketers are looking forward to testing their skills against their Indian counterparts,” the vice-chancellor said.

The university highlighted its long association with Indian cricket, noting that Ranjitsinhji and Duleepsinghji both studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, and represented the university before achieving international success.

Cambridge is also planning a UK-India partners event at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London in May, to coincide with the annual Oxford-Cambridge Varsity cricket match.

The senior delegation visiting India this week will also travel to Mumbai and Bengaluru. It includes Professor Bhaskar Vira, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Environmental Sustainability, who is the first Pro-Vice-Chancellor from India in Cambridge’s 800-year history.

“It has been wonderful to see the enthusiasm of our colleagues in Cambridge and our partners in India for the Cambridge-India CAS. I’m looking forward to this next chapter in the relationship between Cambridge and India,” said Vira.

The university emphasized its long-standing ties with India, noting that prominent figures such as Jagadish Chandra Bose, Srinivasa Ramanujan, M S Swaminathan, and Jayant Narlikar studied at Cambridge.

Alumni also include Nobel laureates Subrahmanyam Chandrashekhar, Venki Ramakrishnan, and Amartya Sen, along with former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi, and Manmohan Singh.

Cambridge said it aims to build on these historic connections to develop new academic, research, and industry partnerships with India in the years ahead.