In a first for India, the University of Southampton—a UK-based QS Top 100 institution — has officially opened its campus in Gurugram, Haryana, becoming the first foreign university to set up a campus in India under the UGC’s 2023 regulations.
The campus was inaugurated by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, alongside Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and top dignitaries from the UK and India, marking a major milestone for India’s higher education sector and five years of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
“This is a landmark in India’s efforts to internationalise education,” Pradhan said, urging more top institutions to follow suit.
The Gurugram campus will offer UK-aligned BSc and MSc programmes in disciplines including Computer Science, Economics, Finance, and Management starting 2025. Students will have the option to spend up to a year at Southampton’s UK or Malaysia campuses.
Key highlights:
- First foreign university to begin operations under UGC’s new branch campus regulations
- Over 75 full-time faculty to be hired to UK standards
- First batch includes students from India, UAE, and Nepal
- Official LoI granted on 29 August 2024, launched in under a year
Dr. Vineet Joshi, UGC Chairman, called the move a “milestone moment” in the India–UK education partnership. Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner, and Lord Patel, Chancellor of the University, reaffirmed the UK’s support for deeper academic collaboration.
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The campus aims to serve as a model for foreign universities eyeing entry into India’s evolving education ecosystem.
