India is accelerating its push to become a global higher education hub, with foreign universities set to offer degrees in the country at nearly 60% lower cost, Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education and Chairperson of the University Grants Commission (UGC), said.
Speaking at an event marking the issuance of a Letter of Intent (LoI) to Birkbeck University of London for its proposed Bengaluru campus, Joshi positioned the move as part of a broader policy shift driven by the National Education Policy 2020.
“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,” Joshi said.
‘Internationalisation at core of NEP’
Joshi emphasised that internationalisation is central to NEP 2020, with the government rolling out enabling regulations to attract top global institutions.
“At the heart of the National Education Policy is the internationalisation of education. Through progressive UGC regulations, we are enabling high-quality global institutions to establish a meaningful presence in India,” he said.
He added that the newly introduced regulatory framework, including a single-window application system, is designed to make the process faster and more transparent.
‘60% lower cost critical for equity’
Highlighting the affordability advantage, Joshi said foreign campuses in India will significantly reduce the cost burden on students.
“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 noted.
India Positioning as Global Education Hub
According to Joshi, India is positioning itself as a global destination through “fast, fair and future-ready” regulatory frameworks, with rising interest from international institutions.
“The entry of global institutions reflects the confidence they have in India’s higher education landscape. This is a strong step towards making India a global destination for education,” he said.
He also highlighted growing India–UK collaboration in higher education and research, noting that such partnerships are expanding through structured programmes and bilateral engagement.
Foreign campuses gain momentum
The UGC’s push has already begun translating into approvals and proposals, with multiple foreign universities entering or exploring entry into India under the new regulations.
The proposed Bengaluru campus by Birkbeck will offer industry-focused programmes in areas such as business and analytics, aligned with India’s skill and employability priorities, while maintaining global academic standards.
The initiative is expected to support India’s target of achieving a 50% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education by 2030 and reduce outbound student migration by making international education accessible within the country.
