The first foreign campus in India will be of Britain’s Southampton University, know full details including fees, courses

According to UGC Regulations 2023, the first foreign campus in India will be of Southampton University of Britain. The central government has handed over the letter of intent in this regard to the representatives of the university. Studies will start in July 2025 at the University of Southampton Delhi-NCR. Courses in many streams including business management, computing, law, engineering will be taught here. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that this is a very important initiative towards realizing the goal of ‘internationalization of education’ in the National Education Policy 2020. India is a world brother and is fulfilling its global obligations. Pradhan said that world-class renowned higher education institutions are tying up with Indian institutions. In the coming time, more foreign universities will have campuses in India.

Establishing campuses of foreign universities in India and Indian educational institutions abroad is not only aimed at expanding educational opportunities but also at creating an ecosystem of research, knowledge exchange and global collaboration. Congratulating the management of Southampton University, the Education Minister has also invited other top institutions of the world to come to India.

when will the campus start

The letter was handed over to the officials of Southampton University in the presence of Union External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. he/she said that there is a huge partnership between India and Britain in the field of education. Studies will start in this university from July 2025. UGC Chairman Prof. M. Jagadeesh Kumar said that Southampton University can start its admission process six months before starting the new session in the campus. The degrees given in the India campus of Southampton University will be the same as that of the host university. That is, the value that the students studying in this university in Britain will get, the same benefit will be given to the students studying in the campus in India.

The courses to be started at the Southampton University campus in India will have the same academic and quality parameters. Prof. Kumar said that the partnership between the Indian and UK universities will enhance research collaboration between students in both institutions. Along with this, joint research projects can also be started.

Campus can be started in Gurugram

Officials say that Southampton University had submitted a proposal to start a branch campus in Gurugram. Which was approved by the UGC’s standing committee to issue LOI as per the rules. However, if this university wants, it can apply to start its campus at other places in the country as well. It is being told that at least 10 to 15 foreign universities have expressed their desire to start their campus in India and a decision can be taken soon in this regard.

Studies have started in the Indian campuses of Australia’s Deakin University and University of Wollongong from 2024-25. But these campuses have been built in Gujarat International Finance Tech-City (GIFT City) in Gandhinagar, which are not covered under UGC regulations.

Will there be a difference in fees?

Indian students who go to Britain to study at Southampton University have to spend a lot there. Along with the fees for studies, the hostel fees are also very expensive. But Indian students studying in the campus of this university in India will get concession in fees. Also, their living expenses will be less. Sources say that Southampton University will give concession in fees to Indian students so that more and more Indian students can get the opportunity.

What courses will there be

Southampton University has submitted a ten-year projected course plan for its campus to be built in India. In the first year, there will be courses like BSc Computer Science, BSc Business Management, BSc Accounting and Finance, BSc Economics, MSc International Management, MSc Finance. In the second year, the university will add BSc Software Engineering, BSc Creative Computing, MSc Economics courses. In the third year, LLB Law and B. Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) courses will be added. In this way, new courses will be added every year.

What will be the admission process

Southampton University will have its own admission process. The university can conduct an entrance test if it wants, it can give weightage to 12th marks and can adopt the formula of both test and marks. But students will be told six months in advance how admissions will be done.