In a groundbreaking announcement, Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer revealed that nine British universities will establish campuses across India. This monumental step marks a significant advancement in bilateral academic collaboration, offering Indian students unprecedented access to world-class higher education right at home.
Speaking at a joint press event in Mumbai, UK PM Starmer emphasized the high demand for top-tier higher education. He expressed his excitement, stating that the expansion positions Britain as India’s leading international provider of higher education, aligning perfectly with their Vision 2035 goals.
UK Universities Expanding into India
While the complete list of all nine institutions is yet to be fully disclosed, five universities have been explicitly named with their planned locations:
- University of Southampton – Gurugram (already operational)
- University of Liverpool – Bangalore
- University of York – Mumbai
- University of Aberdeen – Mumbai
- University of Bristol – Mumbai (Enterprise Campus, slated to open in Summer 2026)
Additionally, the University of Lancaster and University of Surrey have received approval to set up new campuses in Bengaluru and Gujarat’s GIFT City, respectively. Queen’s University Belfast has already launched its campus in GIFT City, while Coventry University and Imperial College London are deepening their presence in India through various partnerships, research collaborations, and innovation hubs.
These new campuses will offer undergraduate and postgraduate programs identical to those provided in the UK, guaranteeing students the same global-standard curriculum and degrees. Furthermore, students will benefit from opportunities for international exposure through collaborations, joint research, and exchange programs with their parent UK institutions.
Boosting Opportunities for Indian Students and the Workforce
This strategic move by British universities is anticipated to create thousands of skilled jobs and significantly elevate the UK’s global standing in education. Prime Minister Starmer underscored that these initiatives not only ‘strengthen the ties between our two countries’ but also ‘pump millions back into our economy and support jobs at home.’
The plan also prioritizes deeper science and technology links. Joint campuses, research partnerships, and industry collaborations are designed to co-develop new technologies and tackle shared global challenges, while simultaneously expanding training pipelines for high-demand talent in both countries.
Expanding the Academic Footprint
According to an official press release from the UK Government, Britain’s foray into India’s higher education market could inject £50 million into the U.K. economy and ‘support thousands of high-skilled jobs’ across teaching, research, and administration. The release also highlights India’s current enrollment of approximately 40 million university students, with demand projected to soar to 70 million by 2035. UK institutions aim to help meet this demand by offering British-standard degrees on Indian soil. In 2022, international education already generated ‘over £32 billion’ in export revenue for the U.K., with nearly £1 billion coming from overseas branch campuses, clearly illustrating the significant commercial potential of this expansion in India.
Strategic Importance for India and the UK
The establishment of British campuses in India provides students with access to UK-quality degrees without the need for international travel, while simultaneously securing steady revenue and renewed global relevance for Britain’s universities. This isn’t merely about soft power; it’s about building tangible educational infrastructure, class by class and lab by lab.
The true potential lies in future initiatives: joint centers that seamlessly transition from research to real-world application, such as fintech sandboxes, health-tech pilot programs, climate solutions, and smarter urban systems, all capable of fostering new companies. However, success hinges on meticulous execution: transparent intellectual property rules, genuine industry internships, and measurable outcomes, moving beyond mere ceremonial agreements.
Integrating this vision into the broader India–UK Vision 2035 clarifies the strategic imperative: treat education as critical infrastructure. When executed effectively, it can weave together talent, research, and enterprise, expand access to quality education domestically, and project credibility globally. The ultimate test, as always, will be in the delivery—prioritizing meaningful classrooms that genuinely transform lives over grand ceremonies.