Go forth: Who’s helping Western unis open their Indian campuses?

India is becoming the next transnational education (TNE) hotspot, with at least 18 universities having announced plans to open overseas branch campuses out there. Earlier this year, the University of Southampton became the first of this new tranche of UK universities campuses to open its doors, with several others close behind.

As the TNE boom continues, several universities have revealed the independent providers that are helping them set up their campuses in India. Meanwhile, other providers have expressed an interest in this space.

Here’s our list of who’s working with who.

Who’s opening a campus in India?

Nine UK universities have confirmed they are joining the TNE movement into India. They are:

1. The University of Southampton was the first UK university to be granted a licence in India, and opened the doors to its two-floor campus at the International Tech Park in Gurugram in August 2025.
2. The University of Liverpool revealed it would open a new campus in Alembic City, Bangalore at the end of 2025, with plans for the site to start taking students from 2026.
3. The University of York received a letter of intent (LoI) to open a campus on the outskirts of Navi Mumbai last year, expecting to take its first students by December 2026.
4. The University of Aberdeen received an LoI to open its Navi Mumbai campus in June 2025.
5. The University of Bristol in Mumbai, as reported by The PIE.
6. Coventry University in GIFT City, as previously reported by The PIE.
7. The University of Surrey is opening in GIFT City.
8. Lancaster University announced last year that it is opening a campus in Bengaluru.
9. Queen’s University Belfast announced a GIFT City campus in 2025.

Many other global universities are also expanding into India. The list (not definitive) includes:

1. Illinois Institute of Technology, USA in Mumbai as reported on The PIE.
2. University of Western Australia opening in Mumbai and also considering Tamil Nadu, as reported on The PIE.
3. University of Wollongong, Australia, was one of the first Australian unis to open in GIFT City.
4. As was Deakin University, which inaugurated its campus in GIFT City, Gujarat, in July 2024.
5. Western Sydney University is opening its international campus in mid-2026 in Greater Noida, 25 miles southeast of Delhi.
6. UNSW, Australia is opening in Bengaluru in August 2026.
7. La Trobe University, Australia, confirmed to The PIE its plans to open in India in July this year. It is also opting for tech hub Bangalore, also known as Bengaluru.
8. Victoria University, Australia also shared plans in the same article to offer higher education and vocational training via its block model at a Delhi hub.
9. IED in Italy has announced it is the only current Italian institution to receive the LOI (letter of intent) from the Indian government to set up with an expected venture in Mumbai.

Who are these universities working with?

Oxford International Education Group (OIEG) – Southampton has confirmed it worked with OIEG in setting up its campus in Gurugram, which opened earlier this year. OIEG provided the financial backing and the professional services needed to set up the campus

India Business Group – Another provider assisting Southampton on the ground, India Business Group is providing the university with strategic support.

Emeritus and Daskalos – The University of York has confirmed it is working with the edtech platform Emeritus to set up its Mumbai campus. It has a sister business Daskalos/Eruditus – a joint venture with Atul Khosla, the founder and vice-chancellor of Shoolini University, as confirmed by Khosla in a LinkedIn post. Khosla has said Emeritus and Daskalos’s partners include “three Russell Group Universities, one of the oldest universities of the world, a top tier US university and a leading Australian university”. Also known via its brand Eruditus, the company is working with IIT in the USA too for its Mumbai campus.

Khosla has also confirmed on LinkedIn that Daskalos and Emeritus are working with the University of Liverpool on its Bengaluru campus, as well as the University of Bristol on its Mumbai campus. Meanwhile, it appears that the University of Aberdeen may be another institution working with the duo, with a job posting advertising an Emeritus job at the university.

Study World Group – The education infrastructure company Study World is working with Coventry on its GIFT City campus, according to local news reports. The company’s group chief operating officer Kate Gerrard is quoted as saying: “Study World has over two decades of experience in delivering a wide range of educational services in partnership with leading international universities around the world. This association with Coventry University in India will be highly beneficial for students in India and the wider region.”

Amity Education Group – This fast growing private education group, with an India HQ and 16 overseas campuses, is in discussions with prospective partners. It currently works with Harrow School on its Bangalore campus, as discussed in an interview with The PIE and Group VC Dr Gurinder Singh.

GUS Global Services – The University of Surrey has confirmed it it is working with GUS Global Services, with GUS leading on strategic support services such as Indian student enrolment support, advice on the local market and campus and operational management.

T&A Consulting – Queen’s University Belfast has confirmed via the comments below this story that they are working with T&A Consulting to deliver operations in GIFT City after 11 years of partnership in recruitment.

Lancaster University has not publicly commented yet on which provider they may be working with in the official announcement. However, Lancaster University has a track record of working with Navitas – it operates its Leipzig Germany campus with the company, which it announced in 2019.

Which other providers are well placed to advise and execute?

GEDU Global Education – the UK-headquartered company has already invested in several campuses in GIFT City, making it a prime provider to step in and help institutions set up overseas branches in India.

UniQuad – an arm of Australia’s ECA, which has previously partnered with UK universities to run overseas campuses and other TNE projects, UniQuad is a new division with a specific goal of introducing university partners to India’s evolving educational landscape, meaning it’s well placed to help in this area.

UKIBC – The UK-India Business Council is in conversations with a number of universities about in-country operations, leaning on its long-term legacy in the country and a strong partnership with Deloitte in India.

Acumen (Sannam S4 Group) – the strategy, advisory and in-country rep provider Acumen already works with a large number of universities on recruitment and strategy in-country and is supporting clients on ongoing plans. Acumen has said it is currently working with one university on a salary benchmarking study to look at how international institutions can remain competitive in the region, as well as working with others on program design.

OneStep Global – a market entry firm specialised in higher education and with a number of global university clients already, OneStep Global is another company in a prime position to support.

British Council India – while the British Council isn’t a private provider, it is a key strategic enabler for institutions looking to set up in India. It can help with policy dialogue and advocacy, support through the UK Universities in India Alliance, as well as providing market intelligence, helping institutions decide which partners are right for them.

MH Global Group – This UK-based company has deep roots in setting up campus operations in Bangladesh and with a business network in India, it is also advising partners of opportunities in India.

Career Mosaic – Ahmedabad-based company Career Mosaic works with a lot of universities, particularly in the US, to support in-country representatives, recruitment plans and strategy.

Catalina Global – While not a full TNE partner in India yet, Catalina Global has extensive experience in China, Kazakhstan, Singapore, as well as emerging projects in India.

*This article was updated on 29 December to confirm QUB is working with T&A Consulting.