UK’s Birkbeck, University of London has received a Letter of Intent (LoI) from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to establish its global campus in Bengaluru. This is part of India’s attempt to internationalise higher education in India.In November 2023, the UGC introduced new regulations to facilitate foreign universities establishing campuses in India. At the India Edu-Diplomatic Conclave in March, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said over 19 international universities were poised to set up their campuses in India. In 2025, 12 overseas institutions were granted LoIs to set up campuses in India.With the establishment of its Bengaluru campus, Birkbeck will offer Indian students the 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.Vineet Joshi, Chairperson, UGC and Secretary, Department of Higher Education, 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. At the heart of the National Education Policy 2020 is the internationalisation of education.”Joshi added, “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 emphasised 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 Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to strengthen global academic collaborations,” Joshi said.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.”Three foreign universities campus which are operational in India are Deakin University and the University of Wollongong (Australia) in GIFT City, Gujarat, and the University of Southampton (UK) in Gurugram.