The University of Southampton, a top-100 UK institution and founding member of the Russell Group, has officially opened its first overseas campus in Gurugram, India, marking a significant step in India's higher education globalisation under the University Grants Commission (UGC) 2023 regulations.
Located at International Tech Park, Sector 59, the Gurugram campus is the first fully operational foreign university campus in India permitted under the UGC’s revised framework. The launch ceremony was attended by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who jointly presided over the inauguration.
Calling the occasion a “momentous milestone,” Pradhan highlighted its importance in advancing the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and strengthening the India–UK Roadmap 2030. He urged the university to evolve into a hub for STEM education and global problem-solving.
Academic Programs and Vision
The Gurugram campus will initially offer BSc programs in Computer Science, Economics, Accounting & Finance, and Business Management in addition to MSc degrees in Finance and International Management. These programs will continue to be on par with the UK campus in terms of academic organization, curriculum, and quality. Students will also have the opportunity to spend up to a year at the university’s UK or Malaysia campuses.
The university received a Letter of Intent from the UGC in August 2024, and officially unveiled the India program in September 2024. In August 2025, the first academic session will begin, with approximately 170 students from Nepal, India, and the United Arab Emirates.
Faculty, Internationalization, and Impact
The institution plans to hire 75 full-time faculty members, many of whom hold international qualifications and experience from countries including the UK, US, Japan, Germany, Singapore, and Australia. These educators will also complete Southampton’s Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice to ensure teaching quality.
Haryana CM Saini hailed the project as key to the state’s aspiration of becoming a global education and innovation hub, aligning with India’s Viksit Bharat by 2047 vision. UK High Commissioner Lindy Cameron called the initiative a testament to the evolving India–UK education partnership, helping bring world-class education closer to Indian students.
With India having approved 17 foreign institutions under the UGC’s new norms, this landmark launch by Southampton sets the precedent for a globally connected, NEP-aligned higher education future.
