Major expansion of UK universities’ footprint in India

United Kingdom Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed that Lancaster University and the University of Surrey have been given approval to open new campuses in India as part of a planned major expansion of UK universities in India.

The UK government believes the two new campuses announced on 9 October during Sir Keir Starmer’s two-day trade mission to India have put the UK on course to be the country with the “biggest higher education footprint in India”.

The UK’s network of international campuses in India is growing – the University of Southampton opened a campus in Delhi earlier this year. The University of York, University of Aberdeen, University of Bristol, University of Liverpool, Queen’s University Belfast, and the University of Coventry will open campuses from as early as next year.

The UK is seeking to capitalise on the fast-rising demand for higher education in the subcontinent by giving thousands of students the chance to study for a UK degree from their home country.

Currently, there are 40 million students at university in India, but 70 million places are needed by 2035.

International education brought over £32 billion (US$42.54 billion) of export revenue to the UK in 2022, with nearly £1 billion of that coming from international campuses – showcasing its power as a growth market. According to a government statement, the UK is seeking to raise that amount to £50 billion (US$66 billion).

Starmer said: “Our great British universities are admired all over the world for their teaching excellence, high-quality research and commitment to innovation.

“I’m delighted that more Indian students will be able to benefit from a world-class British education in the near future – strengthening the ties between our two countries while pumping millions back into our economy and supporting jobs at home.”

UK Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson said: “British higher education is world-leading – and this expansion shows its global appeal.

“As we prepare to set out our International Education Strategy, these new campuses are a marker of our ambition: building long-term partnerships that deliver growth, innovation and opportunity for both countries.”

The University of Surrey branch campus at GIFT City, Gujarat, will be delivered in collaboration with transnational education group GUS Global Services (GGS). Dr Sharad Mehra, CEO of Global University Systems (GUS) Asia-Pacific, has described the initiative as an effort to expand world-class academic standards and global learning experiences available in India.

Professor Stephen A Jarvis, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Surrey, said the new branch campus is part of a new Universities in India Alliance.

“We’re proud to be part of a new wave of British university partnerships with India, using higher education as a powerful skills and research accelerator for UK and Indian economic and trade relationships.”

Mehra said the campus will offer Indian students the opportunity to access transformative education without leaving the country.

“The collaboration aligns with India's higher education goals, such as improving global competitiveness, offering world-class education locally, and contributing to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s emphasis on internationalisation.”

The University of Lancaster is establishing a campus in Bengaluru (also known as Bangalore), the capital of Karnataka state and centre of India’s tech industry.

A planned opening date for the University of Lancaster campus has not been confirmed yet, but initial programmes are likely to focus on business, management and computing, according to a press release on the university’s website.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor Global at the University of Lancaster, Professor Simon Guy, said: “We are boldly and purposefully outward looking, committed to building academic bridges across the world to make a positive impact.

“By opening a branch campus in the city of Bengaluru, a vibrant hub of technology, education, and enterprise, Lancaster University aims to partner with Indian businesses, industry, and local universities to collaboratively spark growth, generate opportunity, and ensure above all that Lancaster University students across the globe are empowered to succeed and to make a difference to India and the world.”

Deeper ties in science and innovation

The UK government believes the growing network of UK-India higher education partnerships lays the groundwork for deeper ties in science, technology, and innovation – nurturing the next generation of global talent and training the CEOs of the future.

Joint campuses, dual degrees, and collaborative research will mean UK and Indian universities can co-develop and commercialise cutting-edge technologies – from AI and semiconductors to biotechnology and quantum computing.

“Deeper engagement with India offers a sustainable funding stream for UK higher education institutions, bolstering their financial resilience,” the UK government said.

Other leading UK universities expanding their ties with India include Imperial College and the University of Liverpool.

More Bengaluru tie-ups

Imperial College London will join forces with Science Gallery Bengaluru – a pioneering hub for innovation and public engagement – to drive growth through discovery and scientific collaboration.

The tie-up will initially see dozens of scientists join a fellowship programme in an exchange of talent and knowledge, as well as the development of new research facilities.

The partnership will combine Imperial’s innovation and incubation expertise with the Science Gallery Bengaluru’s unique lab and convening space in Karnataka.

Professor Hugh Brady, president of Imperial College London, who was also part of the trade mission, said: “This exciting partnership is a launchpad for UK-India innovation and scientific collaboration. Imperial’s innovation and incubation expertise will create a unique lab and convening space with Science Gallery Bengaluru where cutting-edge solutions to global issues will be discovered, designed and delivered.”

He said through the increasing UK presence and academic cooperation with India: “We are deepening research and innovation collaboration between the two countries and building bridges that will empower the next generation of scientists, thinkers, leaders and changemakers.”

The University of Liverpool is also opening a branch campus in Bengaluru next year. Professor Tim Jones, Liverpool’s vice-chancellor, said: “We are proud to be playing our part in the Indian government’s visionary plans to significantly increase enrolment in higher education.”

The University of Liverpool will be building on its long-standing research and industrial partnerships in the region with companies such as Hindustan Unilever through collaboration with AstraZeneca Pharma India, Wipro, Axis Bank, Dream 11 and others.

“We look forward to educating the entrepreneurs and leaders of tomorrow, providing talented students with access to an exceptional learning experience and a range of fantastic opportunities to develop their skills and employability,” Jones said.

Other university leaders on the trip included Professor Charlie Jeffery, vice-chancellor of the University of York, which is setting up a campus in Mumbai.

He said the India-UK Vision 2035, endorsed by Starmer and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July, opens an exciting new chapter in a relationship defined by shared values, talent, and ambition.

“Our partnerships in India are already delivering real impact – from advances in health and food security to breakthroughs in climate resilience and green innovation.

“With the University of York Mumbai campus, we are building on this momentum, placing research and collaboration at the heart of our engagement and supporting India’s ambitions in sustainability, future technologies, and the creative industries.”

Transnational collaboration pledged

Under the India-UK Vision 2025, both countries pledge to create a path for sustained collaboration and innovation on trade growth and jobs; transnational higher education, including establishing campuses in each other’s countries; cutting-edge technology and research; accelerating clean energy and supporting climate action; and defence and security cooperation.

Among other university leaders and officials on the trip, Professor Siladitya Bhattacharya, vice-principal for global engagement at the University of Aberdeen, which has gained approval for a campus in Mumbai, said that as a country of over 1.4 billion people with half of them under the age of 25, India has long been a priority area for Aberdeen’s global engagement strategy focusing on educational partnerships, research collaborations and alumni networks.

Professor Sir Ian Greer, president and vice-chancellor of Queen’s University, Belfast, said its campus at GIFT City is being developed to focus on fintech, artificial intelligence, health, sustainability and smart cities and aligns closely with India’s national priorities and Queen’s “global strengths”.

“Queen’s campus will offer opportunity and potential for a diverse range of students whilst also delivering social value and economic impact to the region”.

Coventry University also has approval for a campus in GIFT City.

The University of Bristol, meanwhile, is establishing a Mumbai Enterprise Campus which will welcome its first students in the summer of 2026.

Professor Evelyn Welch, vice-chancellor and president of the university, said the Mumbai campus will offer a wide range of subjects drawing on the university’s “reputation as a leader in artificial intelligence, data science, and areas like computational biomolecular and biosystems design – accelerated by Isambard-AI, the UK’s most powerful supercomputer”.

“Mirroring the University’s new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus in Bristol, which opens in a year’s time, the Mumbai Enterprise Campus will bring together industry, academics, students and local community partners within a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem to deliver impact on a truly global scale,” she noted.