The University of Southampton is set to become the first British institution to begin establishing a branch campus in India, having received approval from the country’s regulators.

India’s University Grants Commission (UGC) awarded Southampton a licence on 29 August to start setting up an outpost in Delhi, which the university says will deliver “education, research and knowledge exchange and enterprise activity”.

A ceremony took place in New Delhi on the same day to mark the occasion, attended by Indian government ministers, including the education minister and the minister of external affairs, as well as the chairman of the UGC.

The new campus, which looks set to be established within the wider capital region, will offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across multiple subjects including computing, engineering, business, law, health and fashion and design. The university did not set out a timeline for its development.

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Speaking in New Delhi, Andrew Atherton, Southampton’s vice-president for international and engagement, said the university was already developing “strong research partnerships with leading Indian universities” with the aim of making the campus a “research and innovation hothouse”.

“We are also privileged, excited and humbled to be the first foreign university to receive approval in intent from the University Grants Commission to establish a foreign campus in India,” he said. “We recognise the commitment and expectation on the university to deliver on this approval by establishing a world-class university campus that is part of and adds to the offer and capability in India.”

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Although only limited plans have been made public, to gain approval the university was required to submit details of planned infrastructure, fee structure and academic programmes. To be eligible, foreign universities must be ranked among the world’s top 500 and agree to provide the same level of quality education as at their home campus.

Approved providers are free to set their own tuition fees, define their student selection criteria and appoint faculty.

Southampton’s announcement follows the opening of two Australian campuses in GIFT City in recent months. Within the special economic zone, foreign institutions are exempt from India’s tax laws and are permitted to repatriate their profits.

By setting up in Delhi, Southampton’s outpost will be subject to the often complex legal and tax regulations that apply to foreign organisations operating in India.

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The UK university reported record revenue in the 2022-23 financial year, racking up more than £700 million in revenue for the first time in its history.

This will be the first time in over a decade that the university has established a branch campus, having opened an outpost in Malaysia in 2012. The university is also exploring options in South Korea.

It comes as demand from Indian students for British higher education remains strong, overtaking Chinese students as the top source country for international students in 2022.

However, India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, recently reiterated his intent to develop an education system that better serves young people and keeps them in the country, as data shows that 1.3 million Indians were studying abroad in 2024. Allowing foreign campuses to open in India, as set out in the 2020 National Education Policy, is part of this drive.

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“In the 21st century, no university can be truly global without engaging with India,” said Mark Smith, Southampton’s president and vice-chancellor. “Through this new campus, the University of Southampton will help deliver a critical element of the government of India’s transformative agenda, playing our part in harnessing the potential, talent and capabilities of Indian youth.”

Other British universities are expected to announce similar plans in India imminently.

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helen.packer@timeshighereducation.com