Five top UK universities to open campuses in India under new education pact

India’s higher education sector is set to witness a major transformation as top British universities begin establishing campuses in Indian cities, strengthening bilateral ties and expanding academic access.

The University of Southampton has already opened its doors in Gurugram, becoming the first foreign university to set up a campus in India under the UGC’s 2023 regulations.

Classes at its International Tech Park campus will begin this August with four BSc and two MSc programs, mirroring the curriculum and degrees offered in the UK.

Students will also have the option to spend up to a year abroad in the UK or Malaysia.

Southampton has received over 800 applications and admitted around 200 students for its first cohort. More than 75 faculty members are expected to be hired for the new campus.

Five British institutions have signed letters of intent to expand in India: University of Southampton, University of Liverpool, University of York, University of Aberdeen, and University of Bristol.

The University of Liverpool has secured UGC approval for a campus in Bengaluru, with enrollments likely to begin in the 2026–27 academic year.

Other universities are exploring campuses in Mumbai, focusing on science, technology, and management programs.

The expansion coincides with the signing of a landmark Free Trade Agreement between India and the UK, projected to boost bilateral trade by $34 billion annually.

During a recent visit to London, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the educational dimension of this partnership.

“In the field of education, too, we are writing a new chapter together. Six universities in the UK are opening their campuses in India. Just last week, the University of Southampton inaugurated its first campus in the city of Gurugram in India,” he said.

“Today marks a historic day in our relations. I am delighted that after the hard work of several years, today our two nations have signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement,” he added.

Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami, speaking at an education event in London, said the UK is “the first country to seize this opportunity” created by India’s recent regulatory changes.

He pointed to the National Education Policy 2020 and UGC reforms that now permit top international universities to establish fully independent campuses in India.

These new campuses are expected to reduce the financial and logistical burden of overseas education for Indian students while maintaining global standards.

Collaborations with firms like Deloitte and Investec are also expected to offer strong internship and job opportunities.