Font size:
Print
University of Surrey to Open India Campus
Context:
The University of Surrey, ranked among the top 300 higher education institutions globally, is set to establish its India campus in Gujarat’s GIFT (Gujarat International Finance Tec) City by 2026-27.
Key Announcements
- The India campus will initially offer programs in Artificial Intelligence, Finance, and Cyber Security.
- Students will have opportunities for semester exchanges at the UK campus.
- The faculty will be a mix of Indian and UK-based teachers.
Statement from Vice Chancellor Gaoqing Max Lu
- Surrey ranks #1 in the UK for AI programs, making its offerings highly relevant to India’s growing technological needs.
- The decision to open in India was taken after a delegation visited GIFT City and had productive discussions.
- Global University Systems (GUS) will assist with regulatory approvals and operational support.
Foreign Universities in India
- The University of Surrey is the seventh foreign university and fourth from the UK to announce a campus in India under relaxed regulations.
- Other UK universities planning or having established campuses in India include:
- University of Southampton (Rank 80 globally)
- Queen’s University Belfast (Rank 202)
- Coventry University (Rank 571)
- Deakin University (Rank 197) – Already operational in GIFT City
- University of Wollongong (Rank 162) – Already operational in GIFT City
- Western Sydney University (Rank 375)
Tuition and Curriculum
- Tuition fees at the India campus will be different from the UK.
- Financial aid and scholarships will be available for students.
- The curriculum will be practice-based, focusing on work placements and industry exposure.
- Surrey ranks 11th in student experience in the UK and 12th globally for work placements (QS World Employability Rankings 2020).
Surrey’s Global Presence
- This will not be Surrey’s first international venture, as it already has the Surrey International Institute in partnership with Dongbei University of Finance and Economics (DUFE) in China.
Government Support and Regulations
- As per Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s 2022-23 Budget speech, foreign universities in GIFT City can offer courses in Financial Management, FinTech, and STEM disciplines.
- They will be free from domestic regulations, except those set by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), to attract high-end human resources for financial and technological sectors.
This initiative marks another step in India’s growing collaboration with globally renowned universities, providing students with international-standard education and industry exposure.
