UGC approves Birkbeck’s plan to set up a global campus in Bengaluru

In a significant step towards advancing India’s global education ambitions, Birkbeck, University of London, has received a Letter of Intent (LoI) from the University Grants Commission (UGC), Government of India, to establish its global campus in Bengaluru.

The development aligns closely with the vision of the Government of India to position India as a global hub for higher education by 2030, as outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and reflects the growing momentum in India–UK academic collaboration championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The launch event was attended by distinguished leaders from Government, academia, and international organisations, including Vineet Joshi, Chairperson, UGC and Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education; Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India; Sally Wheeler, Vice-Chancellor, Birkbeck, University of London; Alison Barrett, Country Director India, British Council; and KM Prafulachandra Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Education, GoI, along with senior officials from the Government, UK Embassy, British Council, and academic leadership from Birkbeck University of London. 

With the establishment of its Bengaluru campus, Birkbeck will offer Indian students access to globally recognised University of London degrees at nearly 60 per cent lower cost, while maintaining the same academic standards, research-led teaching, and industry-integrated curriculum as its UK counterpart.

This initiative directly supports India’s goal of increasing its Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education to 50 per cent by 2030 and expanding access to high-quality international education domestically.

Highlighting the significance of this initiative, Joshi said the handing over of the Letter of Intent marks a gateway to global learning for Indian students.

Emphasising the policy framework, he added, “At the heart of the NEP 2020 is the internationalisation of education. “Through progressive UGC regulations, we are enabling high-quality global institutions to establish a meaningful presence in India. The students will now be able to access world-class international education at significantly lower costs, nearly 60 per cent less compared to studying abroad. This is critical to ensuring equity and expanding opportunities,” he added.

Professor Sally Wheeler, Vice-Chancellor, Birkbeck, University of London, said, “We are proud to be part of India’s education journey. This campus represents our commitment to making high-quality, transformative education more accessible to students in India.”