Britain’s prestigious Southampton University has got approval to open its campus in India. According to UGC rules, Southampton is the first university to start a foreign campus in the country. Under the National Education Policy 2020, the central government has given permission to start the campus. Southampton University is ranked 81st in the global ranking QS World University Rankings 2024 and 97th in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2024. According to reports, the first campus of the UK university can open in Gurugram, NCR.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) announced regulations for setting up and operating campuses of foreign higher education institutions in India in 2023. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar handed over the letter of intent (LOI) to university representatives at an event here. The University of Southampton said in a statement that its Delhi-NCR campus will promote education, research and knowledge exchange and enterprise activities in the country. According to officials, the University of Southampton had submitted a proposal to open a branch campus, which has been approved by the UGC Standing Committee to issue a letter of intent as per the rules. The committee consists of renowned academicians from India and abroad.
Which courses will be offered
The University of Southampton has submitted a ten-year projected course plan for its upcoming campus in India. The courses to be offered will be in subjects focused on business and management, computing, law, engineering, art and design, biological sciences and life sciences.”
– In the first year there will be courses like B.Sc. Computer Science, B.Sc. Business Management, B.Sc. Accounting and Finance, B.Sc. Economics, M.Sc. International Management, M.Sc. Finance.
– In the second year the university will add B.Sc Software Engineering, B.Sc Creative Computing, M.Sc Economics courses.
– LLB Law and B.Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) courses will be added in the third year. Similarly, new courses will be added every year.
Degrees will be same as Indian universities
UGC chairman Jagadeesh Kumar said, “The degrees offered by the India campus of the University of Southampton will be the same as that of the host university. The programmes offered at the branch campus of the University of Southampton in India will have the same academic and quality standards.” He added, “Academic programmes at the Indian campus of the University of Southampton are expected to start in July 2025.
Deakin University and University of Wollongong already have campuses in GIFT City
Australia’s Deakin University and University of Wollongong have already set up their campuses in GIFT City, Gujarat. However, the University of Southampton will be the first foreign university to set up a campus in India under UGC norms. The University of Southampton is a founding member of the leading Russell Group of Universities in the UK.
University vice-president Andrew Atherton said they will produce world-class graduates with expertise and skills. “The University of Southampton Delhi-NCR (campus) will be the first comprehensive international campus in India. It will promote academic collaboration and bring an international dimension to the Indian higher education system, opening up opportunities to study for the top 100 degrees in the country,” Atherton said.
