British Universities Set for India Expansion as Visa Policy Remains Unchanged

Two leading British universities are preparing to establish full campuses in India, in a move designed to increase international revenues without changing existing rules on student visas. The University of Lancaster and the University of Surrey have both secured official approval to open new sites in Bengaluru and Gujarat respectively. This initiative was confirmed during a high-level trade visit to Mumbai led by Sir Keir Starmer, signalling a significant push to capitalise on surging demand from India’s growing middle class.

Downing Street estimates the venture will contribute £50 million to the UK economy. The British government has been central in facilitating discussions between university vice-chancellors and Indian authorities, intent on expanding the higher education sector’s reach overseas. University of Surrey’s campus will be located in GIFT City, a newly developed financial and business district, while Lancaster University will anchor its new operation in Bengaluru—India’s established technology hub.

The policy announcement came as Prime Minister Starmer faced mounting pressure from India to relax visa requirements for students. However, he opted to maintain the terms set in July, ensuring that the agreement focused entirely on educational collaboration rather than migration. There are currently 40 million students enrolled at Indian universities, but government figures anticipate the need for 30 million additional places within the next decade, highlighting the scale of the opportunity for British institutions.

Earlier this year, the University of Southampton initiated a similar venture with a new campus in Delhi. Several other UK universities, including York, Aberdeen, Bristol, Liverpool, Queen’s Belfast, and Coventry, are also poised to follow suit, seeking to establish a substantial British presence within India’s £50 billion higher education market.

The UK’s expanded footprint will serve not only to generate income from student fees but also to open access to local research and technology funding. Joint campuses are intended to facilitate the co-development of cutting-edge technologies, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence and semiconductors, presenting significant long-term commercial prospects for British and Indian partners alike.

Sir Keir Starmer remarked, “Our great British universities are admired all over the world for their teaching excellence, high-quality research and commitment to innovation. I am delighted that more Indian students will be able to benefit from a world-class British education, strengthening ties between our countries and supporting jobs at home.”