The awarding of a licence from the University Grants Commission now paves the way for planning to progress for the University of Southampton Delhi NCR campus.
“In the 21st century, no university can be truly global without engaging with India,” said Mark E. Smith, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Southampton.
“Our intention is to establish a campus that delivers social value and economic impact to India and the university by bringing together Southampton’s world class activities in education, research, and knowledge exchange and enterprise, with all the talent of the rising global superpower that is India.”
Smith said that through the new campus, the university will help to deliver a “critical element” of the Indian government’s “transformative agenda”, and that the university will work to play its part in harnessing the “potential, talent and capabilities of Indian youth”.
The upcoming campus will be located in Gurugram, near New Delhi, and is expected to start academic programs in July 2025, focusing on courses in business and management, computing, law, engineering, art and design, biosciences and life sciences, according to a statement by UGC chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar.
Through the campus, the university hopes to build on its existing links to India by amplifying research collaboration and impact, extending teaching partnerships, creating two-way student and staff mobility, and working to ensure local civic and community engagement.
The university has been collaborating with various higher education institutes in India since the 1970s in research, as well as establishing an India Centre at the university in 2022.
“University of Southampton Delhi NCR will be the first comprehensive international campus in India,” said Andrew Atherton, vice-president international and engagement.
“It will foster academic collaboration and bring an international dimension to the Indian higher education system, opening up opportunities to study for a top 100 degree in-country.”
On August 29, speaking at a ceremony in New Delhi, Atherton emphasised that the quality and talent found in Indian students and institutions played a significant role in the decision to set up in India, along with the deep historical ties.
“Our strategy is to be a global university, a gateway to the world and an inclusive institution, with people at the heart of our mission,” said Atherton.
“A primary means of doing this is to develop long-term presences to enable our gateway mission and our push for inclusivity,” continued Atherton speaking to ministers and colleagues at a ceremony to receive the letter of intent to approve the setting up and operation of the campus.
Our campus in India will enable us to offer the same Southampton degree as we provide in the UK in Greater Delhi
Andrew Atherton, University of Southampton
“Our campus in India will enable us to offer the same Southampton degree as we provide in the UK in Greater Delhi, where we will establish the campus, in a world-class environment that provides an outstanding student experience.”
Atherton assured those in the room that students in India will be as much part of the student community as any University of Southampton student, regardless of location.
“This is a hugely exciting initiative for India, and our university, and we thank the University Grants Commission of India, the Ministry of Education, the British High Commission, the Indian High Commission, and the British Council, for their confidence in our application” he added.
Experts previously warned of the complex regulatory environment that comes with setting up branch campuses in India, following the Indian government’s announcement that it is seeking to internationalise its higher education system.
Two Australian institutions – Wollongong and Deakin – have already set up campuses in India’s GIFT City, India’s special economic zone, where institutions are free from the regulations that govern the rest of the country.
A mix of faculty is planned for the campus, with a multi-national composition made up of academic and professional services staff from many countries, including the UK and India, according to a statement by UGC.
Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India, said the new campus is to be a “centre of world-class education and innovation”.
“It will also give more British students the chance to have the incredible experience of living and studying in India… This exciting collaboration will foster educational excellence and further strengthen the unique living bridge that connects our two countries.”
Alison Barrett MBE, director India, British Council, described Southampton’s decision to establish a campus in India as “a testament to the thriving education partnership between India and the UK.
“This landmark development marks our shared commitment to the internationalisation of education, research and innovation as set out in the National Education Policy 2020. It reinforces our belief that education is a powerful catalyst for building bridges and cross-cultural understanding between nations and shaping a brighter future for young people.”
