Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday inaugurated the India campus of the University of Southampton in Gurugram
This marks the first foreign university to establish a campus in India under the University Grants Commission’s new regulations,
Describing the event as a “momentous milestone” in the internationalisation of education under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Pradhan said the development also deepens the education pillar of the India–UK strategic partnership, as outlined in the India–UK Roadmap 2030.
“Southampton University’s campus in Gurugram will create new synergies, foster a new culture of curiosity and excellence, and present an added choice to students to access world-class education at a more affordable cost and nearer to home and family,” he said.
Pradhan also urged the university to introduce STEM programmes and contribute to India’s vision of becoming a global innovation hub.
The launch event was attended by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Lord Patel OBE, Chancellor of the University and a member of the UK House of Lord, British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron, and UGC Chairman Dr. Vineet Joshi.
Pradhan commended the university for establishing the state-of-the-art campus within a year of receiving the Letter of Intent.
Highlighting the growing educational ties between India and the UK, Pradhan referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s description of this relationship as a “living bridge” that connects the two nations.
UGC Chairman Dr. Vineet Joshi called the Gurugram campus a proud milestone and a model for future international collaborations under NEP 2020. He said it reaffirms India’s emerging role as a global hub for education.
The new campus will offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes aligned with UK academic standards. Fields of study include Computer Science, Business Management, Economics, Accounting and Finance. Students will also have the flexibility to pursue parts of their education in the UK or Malaysia.
Academic programmes at the campus are scheduled to begin in 2025, with the inaugural cohort comprising students from India, the UAE, and Nepal. Undergraduate offerings include BSc degrees in Computer Science, Economics, Accounting & Finance, and Business Management, while postgraduate options include MSc degrees in Finance and International Management.
The university said over 75 faculty members from leading global institutions will join the Gurugram campus, ensuring international academic quality. Its global alumni network of over 290,000 graduates, including more than 1,700 from India, is also expected to play a key role in mentoring students and facilitating industry engagement.