The University of Southampton, one of the UK's prestigious institutions, is set to open its first offshore campus in India, targeting enrolment of over 5,000 students within the next eight years.
The move marks a significant step in expanding international educational offerings in India, as the university plans to launch 30 courses at its campus in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR).
Andrew Atherton, Vice President for International and Engagement at Southampton University, shared details of the ambitious plans in an exclusive interview. He confirmed that the operations at the new campus are expected to begin in August 2025.
The University of Southampton will be the first foreign university to establish an Indian campus under the University Grants Commission (UGC) norms. This comes after the Indian government issued a Letter of Intent to the institution earlier this week.
While Australia's Deakin University and the University of Wollongong have already set up campuses in Gujarat’s GIFT City, Southampton's new venture is seen as a groundbreaking development in Indian higher education.
Course offerings
The university plans to start small, with just six courses in the first year. Four undergraduate programmes will focus on computing with specialisation in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data science, as well as business with an emphasis on entrepreneurship. Two postgraduate programmes will be offered in computing and technology.
“The aim is to grow up to 5,500 students in the first eight to ten years. We will start with six courses in the first year and then introduce between two and four new programmes each year. This will bring the total to over 30 different programmes, including 20 undergraduate and 12 postgraduate taught programmes,” said Atherton.
He further explained that while the campus will primarily cater to undergraduate students due to higher demand in India, the university also plans to offer a variety of postgraduate courses.
Course fees
The Indian campus of Southampton University will offer its courses at approximately 60 per cent of the tuition fees charged at the UK campus. Despite the reduced cost, the admission criteria will remain on par with the university's UK standards.
Atherton noted, "The fees will be more India-specific and not as high as those in Southampton. We believe there is a substantial segment of Indian families and students who are keen on an international degree but prefer a price point that works within India."
He added that although the fees would be more affordable, they would still be considered premium by Indian standards.
Southampton University aims to build a diverse faculty for its Indian campus. The university is encouraging its existing staff in the UK to consider secondment to the India campus as part of their career development.
“We will recruit internationally, advertising all faculty positions on our UK and international websites for academic appointments. For fairness and equality, we will also advertise in India. We want a mix of local and international appointments to bring both global expertise and local understanding,” Atherton said.
While the primary student body is expected to be Indian, the university also aims to attract international students to its India campus. Atherton believes that some international students, especially from nearby countries, may opt for the Indian campus due to its geographical proximity and the appeal of a Southampton degree.
“There are countries within a two- to three-hour flight from India with strong Indian or local populations interested in a Southampton degree. This could make the India campus a regional hub,” he explained.
Southampton University is entering the Indian education sector at a time when there is a significant expansion in the higher education sector. However, the increase in the number of available seats is still not catching up with the growing demand among Indian students.
Atherton commented, “The scale of demand and quality of students in India is enormous. Although there is some expansion in the higher education sector, the growth in demand for additional seats is much higher. We see the domestic Indian market growing rapidly, and for the first five years, we expect most students to be Indian.”
Atherton and his team at Southampton University are keenly aware of the challenges and opportunities that come with setting up the first offshore campus by a UK university in India. Their plans are ambitious but calculated, aimed at tapping into one of the world’s fastest-growing education markets.
He concluded, “This initiative is more than just about numbers; it’s about setting a new standard for international education in India. We are not just bringing our programmes to India, but we are bringing our philosophy of education, research, and innovation to a region that’s ripe for growth.”
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