Union Education Minister Hails Southampton Campus as India–UK Knowledge Bridge

Southampton's Gurugram Campus to Host 5,000 Students Annually by 2035

In a landmark development for international higher education, the University of Southampton, a QS Top 100 institution and founding member of the UK’s Russell Group, has inaugurated its first overseas campus at the International Tech Park in Gurugram. This marks the first fully operational foreign university campus established under the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) 2022 regulations, which permit top global universities to set up independent campuses in India.

The initiative has received financial and professional support from Oxford International Education Group and strategic backing from the India Business Group, reflecting a robust cross-border collaboration. The Gurugram campus is set to begin its academic session on 25 August 2025, with an inaugural cohort of approximately 150 students, selected from over 800 applications received from India and neighbouring countries, including the UAE, Nepal, Myanmar, and Southeast Asia.

Vice-President for International and Engagement, Andrew Atherton, noted that the early international interest had exceeded expectations, with around 40% of Indian applicants coming from the Delhi NCR region, and the remainder distributed across the country. He highlighted strong interest from southern coastal states and described the geographic diversity as a positive indicator of national reach. To support student life, the university has arranged accommodation within a gated community located 6 km from the campus, connected via a private shuttle service. Atherton stated that 60–70% of students are expected to reside in university housing during the initial years. The campus will offer four undergraduate programmes, BSc (Hons) in Business Management, Accounting & Finance, Computer Science, and Economics and two postgraduate programmes, MSc in Finance and MSc in International Management. The latter has received over 150 applications, attributed in part to Gurugram’s status as a hub for international business.

Atherton also revealed that the university is exploring healthcare-related programmes for future expansion and is evaluating whether Indian undergraduates may pursue postgraduate studies at Southampton’s UK campuses, potentially with a 10% alumni discount. Students will benefit from a global exchange programme, allowing academic mobility across Southampton’s campuses in India, the UK, and Malaysia, with semester-based opportunities based on performance. The Gurugram campus is supported by a diverse faculty, including experts in STEM and medical disciplines. Key appointments include Eloise Phillips as Academic Provost, Vishal Talwar as Chief Operating Officer, and Sagaya Amalathas as Director of Learning and Teaching. Many faculty members are Indian nationals with international academic experience, particularly in the UK and North America, which Atherton described as an ideal blend of global expertise and cultural understanding.

The university aims to scale up its annual intake to 5,000 students by 2035. To attract talent, it has introduced scholarships such as the Delhi Presidential Scholarship, Future Talent Scholarship, and Future Talent Bursary, offering full or partial tuition coverage. Despite these aids, tuition fees are expected to range between ₹12 to ₹19 lakh per year (approximately £10,400 to £16,400), which is about 50% lower than fees at its UK campuses. Atherton emphasised that Southampton remains the only top-100 university currently operating in India, and its fee structure reflects both its global standing and commitment to accessibility. He also noted that other UK institutions such as Liverpool, Surrey, York, and Aberdeen have received UGC approval to establish campuses in cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, and GIFT City, signalling the UK’s leadership in globalising education.

At the inauguration, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan described the campus as a “knowledge bridge” between India and the UK, aligning with the India–UK Roadmap 2030 and the goals of NEP 2020. He confirmed that 17 foreign universities are currently working on establishing campuses in India, with three already operational.
Amid broader concerns about the rapid entry of foreign institutions, especially as some UK universities face financial pressures, Atherton clarified that Southampton’s India campus is part of a long-term global strategy, not a short-term response. The university plans to open three branch campuses by 2030, with future locations under consideration in East Asia, Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa. The University of Southampton’s Gurugram campus sets a precedent for global academic collaboration, offering Indian students access to world-class education within their home country.

Editor’s Note:

The University of Southampton’s launch of its Gurugram campus is a major step forward in India’s international education landscape. As the first fully operational foreign university to set up a campus under the UGC’s 2022 regulations, it signals a new chapter in cross-border academic collaboration. Indian students now have the opportunity to study world-class programmes from a top-100 global university without leaving the country. This not only reduces the cost of education for families but also makes high-quality international learning more accessible to a wider group of students. More importantly, the Gurugram campus shows the strong and growing educational partnership between India and the UK, while also supporting the goals of India’s National Education Policy 2020. With international faculty, student exchange programmes, and globally recognised courses, the University of Southampton is setting a good example for how foreign universities can help improve higher education in India. As more such campuses open, Indian students will have better choices and more opportunities to study world-class courses without leaving the country.

Skoobuzz asserts that Southampton’s India campus is a promising step towards making top-quality global education more accessible to Indian students.