The University of Southampton (UoS), one of the top 100 universities globally, has been granted a licence by the Indian government to establish its first-ever campus in India. This marks a significant milestone, making UoS the first British university to receive such approval under the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations, which were introduced as part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
A Letter of Intent (LoI) was issued to the University by the Ministry of Education, allowing them to move forward with the establishment of their campus in Gurugram, Haryana. The new campus is expected to begin its academic programmes in July 2025, offering courses in various disciplines including business and management, computing, law, engineering, art and design, biosciences, and life sciences.
The initiative is seen as a major step towards enhancing India’s educational landscape by providing students with global exposure while maintaining education rooted in Indian values. The University of Southampton has had a presence in India for over 50 years and has built strong partnerships in the region. The new campus aims to expand these ties by fostering research collaborations, teaching partnerships, and student and staff mobility, all while contributing to India’s knowledge economy.
Dharmendra Pradhan, India’s Union Minister of Education, lauded the initiative as a step towards “internationalisation at home” as envisioned in NEP 2020. He emphasized that the establishment of foreign university campuses in India will create a vibrant ecosystem of research, knowledge exchange, and global collaboration.
The UGC chairman, Prof M Jagadesh Kumar, expressed confidence that the Indian campus of the University of Southampton will benefit students by extending educational opportunities in India and enhancing research and enterprise initiatives.
Mark E Smith, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton, stated that establishing a campus in India is crucial for the university to be truly global. He emphasized that the new campus will play a vital role in harnessing the potential and capabilities of India’s youth, contributing to the country’s transformative agenda.
The initiative has also been welcomed by British and Indian officials, including Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India, and Alison Barrett MBE, Director India at the British Council, who highlighted the importance of this collaboration in strengthening educational ties between the two nations.
