New Delhi: As a part of the huge effort made towards the internationalisation of higher education in India, the University of London’s Birkbeck College has been issued a Letter of Intent (LoI) from the University Grants Commission (UGC) for setting up its global campus at Bengaluru.
This development is considered as an important move in view of the plan set forth in the National Education Policy 2020 to make India a global educational destination by 2030. This also shows the increasing interest in collaboration between India and UK in the field of education.
The announcement was made in the presence of key leaders from government and academia, including Vineet Joshi, Lindy Cameron, and Sally Wheeler, among others.
With the Bengaluru campus, Birkbeck plans to offer Indian students access to globally recognised University of London degrees at nearly 60% lower cost compared to studying abroad. Despite the reduced cost, the university has said it will maintain the same academic standards, research-led teaching, and industry-focused curriculum as its UK campus.
Boost to access and enrolment
The initiative is expected to contribute to India’s goal of increasing its Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education to 50% by 2030, while also expanding access to quality international education within the country.
Speaking on the development, Vineet Joshi said the LoI marks a gateway to global learning for Indian students and reflects the confidence that leading international institutions have in India’s rapidly evolving education ecosystem.
He emphasised that the National Education Policy 2020 places strong focus on the internationalisation of education, and that progressive UGC regulations are enabling reputed global institutions to establish a presence in India.
India-UK academic collaboration gains momentum
Joshi also highlighted that India is positioning itself as a global destination for education through fast and future-ready regulatory frameworks. The entry of institutions like Birkbeck, he noted, is a step forward in strengthening the India–UK partnership in education and research.
Echoing similar sentiments, Sally Wheeler said the university is proud to be part of India’s education journey. She added that the Bengaluru campus reflects Birkbeck’s commitment to making high-quality and transformative education more accessible to students in India.
