The University of Southampton will become the first UK university to open a campus in India, with operations set to begin in Gurugram in August 2025. Alison Barrett MBE, Country Director India at the British Council, made the announcement while emphasizing the UK’s commitment to welcoming Indian students. Over 173,000 Indian students are currently studying in the UK.
Speaking to media on Thursday after a media roundtable in New Delhi, Barrett highlighted the UK government’s dedication to attracting more international students. She noted that Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, reaffirmed that the “UK is open for international students.”
Expressing her enthusiasm, Barrett stated, “This is the best time to be supporting UK and India education because there are so many different, exciting, diverse partnerships happening. In August this year, we will open the doors to the first UK campus in India. The University of Southampton opens in Gurugram later this year.”
She also mentioned that other UK universities are planning to establish campuses in India, alongside an increasing number of postgraduate and master’s level courses being jointly developed by UK and Indian institutions.
Opportunities for Indian Students in the UK
Barrett reassured that Indian students are welcome in the UK, saying, “We have over 173,000 students studying in the UK now. Our government and our Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, have made it very clear that the UK is really open for international students. And we’re really looking forward to more students coming to study with us in future years.”
Discussing why Indian students prefer the UK for higher education, she highlighted the post-study work opportunities:
“The UK also offers a great opportunity for students to stay in the UK and take the opportunity with a study visa to work in the UK for two years for an undergraduate student or three years for a postgraduate student.”
She also praised the UK’s higher education system, adding, “The UK is one of the highest quality higher education systems in the world. We have four universities in the top 10 globally and hundreds more in the top 500. UK universities are some of the most international in the world, both in terms of faculty and students, but also the breadth and variety of subjects and courses that students can study.”
Scholarship Opportunities for Indian Students
Barrett highlighted various scholarship programs available for Indian students, including the Commonwealth and Chevening Scholarships. She also mentioned specific scholarships for women in STEM, creative artists, and language teachers.
“There are many, many different scholarships available for the UK. The British Council administers and manages some of those schemes,” she said. “For example, we have the Commonwealth Scholarships, which is now in its 65th year, and the Chevening Scholarships, which is offered by the UK government and supported by the British Council.”
Additionally, she pointed out that Newcastle University recently introduced two new scholarship schemes specifically for Indian students. “It’s also important that students check institutional websites, as many universities have scholarships for Indian students,” she added.
University of Southampton’s Gurugram Campus
According to an official statement, the University of Southampton’s new campus will be set up on a 60-acre land inside the Tech Park. The establishment is expected to be completed by April 2025, with the first batch of students commencing their studies in August 2025.