With the establishment of its Bengaluru campus, Birkbeck will offer Indian students access to globally recognised University of London degrees at nearly 60% lower cost, while maintaining the same academic standards, research-led teaching, and industry-integrated curriculum as its UK counterpart.
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.
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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 K. M. 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.
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With the establishment of its Bengaluru campus, Birkbeck will offer Indian students access to globally recognised University of London degrees at nearly 60% 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% by 2030 and expanding access to high-quality international education domestically.
Highlighting the significance this initiative, Vineet Joshi, Chairperson, UGC and Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India said, “The handing over of the Letter of Intent marks a gateway to global learning for Indian students. It reflects the confidence that leading international institutions have in India’s rapidly evolving higher education ecosystem.”
Emphasising the policy framework, he added, “At the heart of the National Education Policy 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% less compared to studying abroad. This is critical to ensuring equity and expanding opportunities.”
He further highlighted the broader national ambition, emphasizing that, “India is positioning itself as a global destination for education through fast, fair and future-ready regulatory frameworks. The entry of institutions like Birkbeck is a strong step in that direction. The initiative also reflects the deepening strategic partnership between India and the United Kingdom in education and research, an area that has been a key focus of bilateral engagements under Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to strengthen global academic collaborations.”
He added that, “Birkbeck University’s decision to establish a campus in India shows the confidence that the leading global institutions, especially from the United Kingdom, have placed in India’s rapidly evolving higher education landscape. As these programs, are aligned very closely with our vision of Viksit Bharat. The letter of intent represents a broader ambition, which has been shaped in our National Education Policy 2020. At the heart of the National Education Policy is the internationalization of education.”
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.”
Founded in 1823, Birkbeck, University of London is globally recognized for its flexible, career-focused education model.
Its Bengaluru campus will bring this legacy to India integrating academic excellence with employability and industry engagement.
The entry of leading global institutions like Birkbeck, University of London reflects India’s broader ambition to become a preferred destination for international education by 2030 creating opportunities for students, strengthening research collaboration, and building a globally competitive knowledge economy.
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