UK Universities Eye Expansion in India’s GIFT City
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UK universities are exploring opportunities in Gujarat’s GIFT City as India positions the emerging financial hub as a destination for international higher education.
Following the University of Southampton’s launch of India’s first UK campus in Delhi under national government rules, institutions including Coventry, Queen’s University Belfast and Surrey have now announced plans to establish in GIFT City by 2026.
The initiative gained momentum after Acumen, which supports global expansion of universities, organised a South Asia-focused delegation. Eighteen institutions – seven from the UK – visited the district on the outskirts of Ahmedabad to assess its academic and economic potential.
Officials from GIFT City, including leaders from the International Financial Services Centres Authority, met the delegation to discuss support frameworks, recruitment challenges and innovative partnership models. UK representatives also toured the Australian campuses of Deakin University and Wollongong, both of which began teaching in 2024 and currently have small student cohorts in areas such as business analytics and cyber security.
For UK universities, one of the main considerations will be return on investment for students. While GIFT City offers flexible regulations – including tax exemptions, foreign currency repatriation and proximity to financial corporations – tuition fees remain a key differentiator between the UK and countries like Australia.
Recruitment advisers note that GIFT City’s appeal lies in combining education with access to internships, research and employment opportunities in fintech, banking and consulting. With sustainability and technology central to both the region’s development and UK curricula, collaboration on digital finance, smart cities and climate research is seen as a natural fit.
Still under construction, GIFT City faces challenges such as attracting professionals and overcoming infrastructural hurdles. Previous entrants, including Wollongong, delayed their launch due to weather-related issues and campus readiness.
Despite this, UK universities remain optimistic, engaging with Gujarat schools to capture interest among outbound students. As India continues to be the UK’s largest source of international students, GIFT City could represent a new chapter in deepening educational ties between the two countries.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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