Internationalising Higher Education in India

Seventeen foreign universities, primarily from the UK and Australia, have received approval to set up campuses in India under the UGC’s 2023 regulations. This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and comes amid growing demand for quality higher education within India.

How India is Advancing Global Partnerships in Higher Education

NEP 2020 Vision

NEP 2020 is guided by the principles of Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability, and Accountability. It envisions India as a global education hub by allowing the top 100 global universities to operate in India. This policy promotes international collaboration, student and faculty mobility, and academic credit transfer, aiming to elevate the Indian education ecosystem to global standards.

UGC Regulations 2023

To implement NEP 2020’s vision, the UGC (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations 2023 were enacted. These regulations allow top-ranked Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs) to establish campuses in India.

Key points include:

• Eligible universities must be ranked within the top 500 QS World University Rankings.

• Campuses must maintain the same academic standards, curricula, and degree equivalence as their parent institutions abroad.

• Foreign universities are granted operational autonomy, including flexibility in faculty recruitment (Indian and foreign), and are not bound by Indian university fee caps.

Factors Driving Foreign Universities to India

1. Rising Demand for Quality Higher Education: Over half of India’s population is under 30, with a Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) below 30%, presenting a large untapped market. Rising incomes, English proficiency, and interest in global education make India attractive.

2. Supportive Policy Environment: NEP 2020 encourages internationalisation of education, while UGC 2023 provides a clear regulatory framework.

3. Declining Indian Students Abroad: Stricter immigration policies in countries like the UK, US, and Canada have reduced the number of Indian students going overseas.

4. Revenue Diversification: Foreign universities face stagnant domestic enrolments and declining public funding; India offers a strategic market for financial sustainability.

5. Strategic Global Partnerships: Indian campuses foster research collaboration, student exchange, and talent pipelines, exemplified by initiatives such as the UK–India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI).

Implications of Internationalising Higher Education in India

1. Global Competitiveness: Foreign universities introduce global curricula, teaching standards, and quality assurance, elevating the Indian academic ecosystem.

2. Curbing Brain Drain: Highly skilled students may stay in India, reducing the annual outflow of billions of dollars spent on overseas education.

3. Systemic Improvement: Presence of foreign institutions encourages Indian universities to innovate, enhance quality, and adopt best governance practices.

4. Alignment with National Goals: Courses in AI, Data Science, and Finance will develop a workforce aligned with Make in India and Digital India initiatives.

5. Affordable International Degrees: Studying at a foreign university in India is significantly cheaper than overseas—for example, Southampton University’s 2026 undergraduate fees (Rs 13.86–23.10 lakh) are roughly half the cost of studying on-campus in the UK.

Key Challenges and Solutions

Conclusion

India’s framework for foreign universities, driven by NEP 2020 and UGC 2023, aims to transform higher education by improving quality, curbing brain drain, and enhancing global competitiveness. The success of this initiative depends on balancing foreign autonomy with national interest, ensuring affordability, and creating sustainable, mutually beneficial partnerships for long-term impact.