First global varsity campus under new UGC rules opens doors in Gurgaon

Time of India

16-07-2025

Gurgaon/New Delhi: University of Southampton on Wednesday unveiled its offshore campus in the city, becoming the first foreign university to set up base in India under the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations 2023 that opened the country's doors to top overseas institutions.
Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and chief minister Nayab Singh Saini jointly inaugurated the campus, which is in a section of the International Tech Park in Sector 59, and called it a "landmark step" in India's higher education journey.
Officials said the university will start with four undergraduate courses (BSc in business management, accounting and finance, computer science, and economics) and two postgraduate (MSc in finance international management) courses this August.
More programmes will be added over time. The degrees, including in timeline and format, will be similar to that of the UK campus, and the programmes will adhere to the same academic standards and quality, the officials said.
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"Classes for the first cohort of around 170 students will start in August. Students will have the option of spending up to a year at Southampton's campuses in the UK or Malaysia too," an official said.
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Called Southampton Delhi, the Gurgaon campus has already attracted students from across the country as well as from countries like the UAE and Nepal for its inaugural cohort. The university will hire over 75 full-time faculty members, many of whom have worked in institutions across the UK, US, Germany, Japan, Singapore and Australia.
Though the fee structure was not declared on Wednesday, it is likely to be lower than fees for the same course at the UK campus.
In Southampton, tuition fees can range between £18,000 and £33,000 — approximately Rs 21 lakh-Rs 38.5 lakh in current conversion rates.
The application process is mainly online, and candidates have to submit a personal statement, letter of recommendation and passing certificates from Class 12 or college, depending on the course. Final selections will be made after an interview.
Officials said it is not mandatory for candidates to submit results of English language proficiency tests like TOEFL and IELTS, which cost upwards of Rs 10,000 and are often mandatory when applying to colleges abroad.
With a global alumni base of 2.9 lakh graduates, including 1,700 Indians, Southampton plans to involve its alumni as mentors and industry ambassadors for its Gurgaon operations.
Its proposal to set up a full-fledged campus in India was the first by a foreign varsity to be approved by UGC last year. The norms, notified by UGC in 2023, permitted foreign universities ranked among the world's top 500 to set up branch campuses in India, decide their admission process, fee structure, and repatriate funds to their host campuses.
The move aligned with the National Education Policy, 2020, which introduced the idea of bringing global universities to India.
"This is a historic milestone towards making India a global knowledge destination. It strengthens the education pillar of India-UK ties under the 2030 roadmap," Pradhan said. Lauding the university for setting up the campus within a year of receiving UGC's letter of intent, he urged its leadership to introduce STEM programmes and position the Gurgaon campus as a hub for global solutions.
"Education is at the core of India's development story.
By hosting leading global institutions here, we are reviving our intellectual heritage from Nalanda and Takshashila to Pushpagiri and now Gurgaon," Pradhan added. He invited other international universities to explore similar collaborations to "co-create ecosystems of innovation, research, and education".
Students enrolled in the Gurgaon campus will have the option of spending up to a year at Southampton's campuses in the UK or Malaysia.
Courses starting in 2025 include BSc programmes in computer science, economics, accounting & finance, and business management, as well as MSc degrees in finance and international management.
Pradhan said the central govt has allowed 17 foreign universities to establish their campuses in India.
Higher education secretary Vineet Joshi said UGC's new regulatory framework has streamlined and simplified the process for foreign universities to set up bases in India.
"Southampton's presence here will deliver world-class education and help nurture talent in critical areas like digital innovation and global leadership," he said.
UK's high commissioner to India Lindy Cameron said the launch of Southampton's campus in the city was proof of advancing ties between the two countries in the education sector. "This will make international-standard education more accessible and reduce the need for students to go abroad," she said.
CM Saini said the campus will help take India's higher education standards to new heights. "This campus will prove to be a milestone in making Haryana a global hub of education. The state is becoming the first choice for foreign investors due to excellent infrastructure… It's a golden chapter in India's education landscape," the CM said.