India will soon host campuses of nine leading UK universities, a move set to transform higher education in the country. Announced during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit, the initiative aligns with India’s National Education Policy 2020 and aims to provide world-class education locally while strengthening India–UK academic relations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that nine top universities from the United Kingdom will establish campuses in India. The announcement came during the official visit of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who arrived in New Delhi with a delegation of education leaders, CEOs, and policy experts. Modi described the partnership as a reflection of the “new energy and confidence” shaping India–UK relations, particularly after the signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

World-Class Education Now Closer to Home

“It is a matter of great pride that nine top universities from the United Kingdom are going to establish campuses in India,” Modi said. The initiative is expected to make world-class education accessible to Indian students at a more affordable cost. The first campus, University of Southampton, has already opened in Gurugram, with the inaugural batch of students beginning classes. Officials said this launch will serve as a model for the other British campuses.

Confirmed universities include University of Liverpool in Bangalore, University of York in Mumbai, University of Aberdeen in Mumbai, and University of Bristol, also planned for Mumbai. Government sources added that the remaining institutions will be announced soon, with approvals in advanced stages.

Aligning With National Education Policy

Experts say the move aligns with India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which encourages foreign universities to set up international-standard campuses domestically. The initiative will allow Indian students to earn globally recognised degrees without leaving the country, reducing the financial and logistical burden of studying abroad. Faculty exchanges, joint research, and international internships are also expected to expand as part of these collaborations.

Strengthening Indo-British Academic Relations

For the UK, the partnership offers an opportunity to expand its academic reach in Asia’s fastest-growing education market. British universities have shown growing interest in India following post-Brexit policies encouraging cross-border collaborations. With more than 770,000 Indian students studying abroad in 2024, many of them in the UK, the new campuses aim to provide comparable quality education locally.

During his meeting with PM Starmer, Modi highlighted that the education delegation accompanying the British leader was “the largest and most influential ever” to visit India. Both sides discussed future collaborations in research, innovation, and vocational training. Analysts say this initiative marks India’s transition from a student-sending country to a global education hub, opening a new chapter in Indo-British academic diplomacy.