He was part of a 126-member UK delegation to India led by UK Prime Minister Starmer, which included entrepreneurs, cultural leaders, and university VCs, to celebrate the landmark trade deal between the two countries.
“The presence of all nine UK universities with a Letter of Intent (LoI) or Letter of Acceptance (LoA) is a major achievement for the UK HE sector, surpassing approvals from all other countries,” said Atherton, in a chat with The PIE News.
“UK universities have embraced the new regulations and India has embraced UK universities. All nine universities met with Prime Minsters Modi and Starmer during their joint press [conference], which celebrated the campuses and highlighted their contribution to the growth and development of higher education in India.”
Though Starmer has insisted that visa routes for Indian workers and students are not part of the broader trade deal, expanding overseas offerings for students to study in India was a key aim of the trip.
Major UK universities, including Coventry, Queen’s University Belfast, Surrey, Bristol, York, Aberdeen, Lancaster, and Liverpool, are set to launch campuses by 2026 across GIFT City, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Southampton is the only functional campus so far, opening in August with 120 students in its inaugural cohort.
The presence of all nine UK universities with a LoI or LoA is a major achievement for the UK HE sector, surpassing approvals from all other countries
Andrew Atherton, University of Southampton
India’s growing demand for higher education, projected at 70 million places by 2035, presents opportunities for UK institutions, particularly as cautious immigration policies shape study abroad choices among Indian students.
Both countries are also set to deepen education ties through the Vision 2035 framework, with an annual ministerial dialogue to review qualification recognition and promote knowledge-sharing via platforms like the UK’s Education World Forum and India’s National Education Policy (NEP).
The University Grants Commission (UGC), India’s higher education regulator, introduced relaxed rules in 2023 for foreign universities to open branch campuses in India. While initial interest was slow, many institutions are now actively exploring opportunities, according to Atherton.
“When the NEP first talked about international campuses in India there was some debate and activism about whether international universities would apply,” said Atherton.
“With nine from the UK and three from Australia and one from the US, the policy has proven its ability to engorge international universities to set up campuses in India.”
