As part of its “South Asia expedition“, Acumen, which supports international universities from countries including the UK, US, Japan, Ireland, and Canada to expand their presence globally, took 18 universities – seven of them from the UK – to GIFT City, the emerging central business district on the outskirts of Ahmedabad.
The visit, which explored GIFT City “to understand the region’s economic and innovation narrative”, came as three UK universities, Coventry, Queen’s Belfast, and Surrey, announced plans to establish campuses there by 2026.
From interactive discussions on addressing recruitment challenges and strengthening enrolments for both current and future vertical campuses, to exploring innovative partnership models, the initiative sought to “create a channel of communication” between the universities and GIFT City officials for future collaborations, according to Acumen.
“The conversation with the officials was centred on understanding how UK universities view GIFT City, what kind of support they might need, and how to strengthen engagement. They were especially interested in figuring out how to attract the right student groups, how to increase enrolments, and how to ensure that the model appeals to both institutions and learners,” Sutripti Sengupta, senior recruitment adviser, supporting University of Lincoln, told The PIE News.
UK universities can contribute to the expanding vision of GIFT City by collaborating on research and development in fields such as digital finance, smart cities, and climate
Priyanka Gughe, City St. George’s, University of London
The universities, which met with GIFT City officials including IFSCA leaders Dipesh Shah, K. Rajaraman, and Akshat Ganeriwala, also toured the Australian institutions of Deakin University and the University of Wollongong – the only two international campuses established in the region so far.
Both Deakin and Wollongong’s India campuses, which launched their first programs in 2024 and now have around 60 students between them pursuing postgraduate studies in cyber security, business analytics, and financial technology, remain a work in progress as they look to expand their intake, programs, and industry networks in the coming years.
Though the Deakin visit proved eye-opening for UK universities in a positive way, any similar move by a UK institution in GIFT City would likely place greater emphasis on return on investment, an area where Deakin faced challenges, as reported by Careers360.
“The infrastructure at Deakin’s GIFT City campus is impressive – closely replicating the standards seen on international campuses. It reflects a strong commitment to quality and design,” stated Nosika Janbandhu, recruitment advisor, supporting University of Portsmouth.
“However, for UK universities, one of the key considerations when exploring engagement in GIFT City will be the return on investment (ROI) for students. In markets like Australia, where tuition fees are relatively high, the value proposition of a GIFT City campus becomes clearer. For UK institutions, where fees are comparatively lower, the equation is more nuanced.”
While both GIFT City and the University Grants Commission, India’s nodal body for higher education, have their own frameworks for attracting international universities, what makes GIFT lucrative is its comparatively flexible regulatory environment.
The Gujarat-based region has eased rules on 100% foreign currency repatriation and tax exemptions, and benefits from proximity to financial corporations; in contrast, international universities setting up elsewhere in India under UGC norms face stricter oversight on academic offerings, revenue, admissions, and other aspects.
Such regulatory ease could enable UK universities not only to deliver academic programs through branch campuses but also to explore a wider range of student-friendly opportunities.
“More than just a place to receive education, GIFT City is a vibrant ecosystem that combines sustainability, technology, and finance to give students firsthand exposure to sectors influencing the world economy,” stated Annette Vincent Sebastian, senior recruitment adviser – South Asia, supporting Aberystwyth University.
“This provides direct access to internships, research projects, and employment opportunities with top fintech, banking, consulting, and emerging technology companies for students attending UK university campuses in GIFT City.”
Moreover, according to Sengupta, with sustainability and green engineering embedded in UK curricula, graduates from potential India campuses would be “well equipped to drive GIFT City’s infrastructure and innovation”.
“UK universities can contribute to the expanding vision of GIFT City by collaborating on research and development in fields such as digital finance, smart cities, and climate,” stated Priyanka Gughe, senior recruitment adviser, supporting City St. George’s, University of London.
But establishing a presence in the under-construction GIFT City is not without challenges, as the region is still working to attract professionals and organisations to an area that remains only partially developed.
Though more international universities are expected to enter the CBD in the coming years, institutions like Wollongong previously had to delay their commencement in the region due to “severe monsoon weather and waterlogging” and challenges related to campus availability.
As UK universities weigh when and how to establish in GIFT, they are actively engaging with schools and counsellors across Gujarat, one of India’s leading sources of outbound students.
The Acumen visit also led the UK universities to visit schools such as Ahmedabad International, Zebar, Udgam, Adani International, GEMS Genesis, Riverside and Apple Global, where students now aim for programs beyond the traditional choices.
“Students are thinking beyond traditional career paths and exploring areas like filmmaking, sustainability, design, and space science,” stated Sengupta.
“We also noted that students from grades 9-11 are actively exploring summer school opportunities, indicating growing interest in pre-university exposure to international education,” added Janbandhu.
Last month, in association with the British Council, Acumen held a pre-departure session for hundreds of Indian students with 15 UK universities, at a time when the cohort remains the UK’s largest despite a sharp decline over the past year.
“Pre-departure briefings are an excellent way to prepare for what lies ahead, offering practical insights into studying and living in the UK,” stated Alison Barrett MBE, country director, British Council India.
“It was a pleasure to host Acumen’s Pre-Departure Briefing at our Delhi office. The enthusiasm among students preparing to study in the UK was truly inspiring.”
