Gurugram: By November 2024, Arnav’s inbox was bursting with acceptance letters from foreign universities. From Arizona State University to King’s College London, he had 14 offers. But he ultimately ended up at Southampton University—in Gurugram.
“I dreamed of going abroad to pursue my higher education since Grade 11. With a band 8 in IELTS, above-average SAT scores, and scholarships already in hand, my parents finally agreed to send me,” he said.
But Arnav’s dream of studying at a university abroad was shattered by US President Donald Trump’s clampdown on immigration and visa policies. The UK’s shaky economy and politics didn’t help, either.
Now, instead of lush green hills or grand art installations that characterise institutes abroad, he finds himself in a two-floor building with barely 300 students and no real university exposure.
The University of Southampton Delhi became the third operational foreign university in India, joining Deakin University South Asia and the University of Wollongong in GIFT City, Surat. The Southampton campus, inaugurated by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini in July 2025, is located on the ground and first floors of the International Tech Park, Sector 59, Gurugram.
Southampton Delhi is one of nine UK universities that have received approvals under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited India in October 2025.
Addressing a press briefing after the visit, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri called it a “silent revolution”.
So far, about 30 such institutions, including from the US, the UK, and Australia, have either established campuses or are in the process of setting up one, with many having received Letters of Intent (LoIs).
The process feels completely different from what I was used to in the Indian education system. Classes are far more engaging and interactive, and the lectures don’t stay confined to what’s written in textbooks.
—Vishvam Patel, alumnus of Deakin University South Asia
These foreign universities are entering India at a time when the country’s higher education market is currently valued at Rs 6.2 lakh crore, as per Niti Aayog’s 2025 report. Of the roughly 4.3 crore students in the system, less than 1 per cent make it into India’s premier institutions, such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), and National Institutes of Technology (NITs). It is this huge pool of unmet demand that overseas institutions are hoping to target.
“This year especially, with the situation in the Middle East and other uncertainties, we’ve seen parents seriously consider options they wouldn’t have looked at earlier. Ultimately, safety is a major concern,” said Pratibha Jain, founder of the consulting firm EduAbroad.
However, some say these foreign outposts are selling a half-baked dream.
“Students still prefer to study abroad because they want to experience life in a ‘developed’ country,” said an education counsellor from one of India’s largest educational consulting firms, who spoke to ThePrint on the condition of anonymity. “These foreign universities have mainly created an option for middle-class students who can’t afford to go abroad but still want an international degree. Classrooms filled with students from across the world, access to global internships, long-established research labs, and student cultures built over decades remain out of reach,” he added.
Nonetheless, these foreign universities pose a threat to Indian private universities, along with educational consulting firms that earn lakhs by sending students abroad. The changing landscape is democratising elite education in India, where the private universities have long held a monopoly.
‘Feel like I’m in a management team’
Khyati Kapur was a consistent topper throughout school, with achievements extending well beyond academics. She seemed to have it all: academic excellence, ambition, and even an acceptance letter from Harvard University.
“I wanted to study in the US and experience an Ivy League education. Getting into Harvard with a fee waiver made it possible, but my parents didn’t agree. And geopolitics did not help,” Kapur said.
That dream haunts her still. Entering an Ivy League college meant freedom, independence, and life beyond what India could offer.
When the plan fell through, she began preparing for competitive exams, spending long hours in coaching classes. It was during this time that she first heard about the Gurugram campus of the University of Southampton.
It wasn’t exactly what she had wanted, but it was close enough.
In many ways, it’s a question of return on investment. A BSc course at the University of Southampton is priced at around Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1 crore in the UK and about Rs 40 lakh in India. The difference, while significant, does not necessarily ease the pressure when placed alongside domestic options.
There was one major hurdle: the nearly Rs 40 lakh fee for the BSc (Hons) Business Management programme. But that changed when she was awarded the only 100 per cent Presidential Scholarship in her cohort, covering the full cost. From that point on, the decision was easy.
As part of the first batch of students, Kapur was looking forward to the first day of college. But her excitement was dimmed by the lack of campus culture. Surrounded by shiny and clinical corporate offices, she had been robbed of the core experience of university life.
“I feel like I am a part of the management team. Building societies, clubs from scratch for the students to come,” said Kapur.
She has gradually settled into the experience. Her days now involve rigorous assignments analysing real firms, group projects, and writing long essays. What it lacks in extracurriculars, the university makes up for with a sharp, uncompromising focus on academics.
A similar pattern is visible at Deakin University. Vishvam Patel, part of the first batch that graduated in March, pointed to a clear shift in how academics are approached compared to what he was used to.
“The process feels completely different from what I was used to in the Indian education system. Classes are far more engaging and interactive, and the lectures don’t stay confined to what’s written in textbooks,” Patel said.
Simulation games, interaction with real-world industry players, and an emphasis on critical thinking are part of the daily classes.
Now, as he steps into his family business in Gujarat, he said that training has made a difference—he finds himself better equipped to deal with real-world challenges.
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Not what Indian market wants?
In the same batch as Patel and taught by the same teachers on the same campus, another MBA student was living an entirely different reality. For him, the 18-month course fell far short of expectations.
The graduate, who now lives in Delhi, said the legacy of Australia’s Deakin University is heavily pushed during the admission process. But once inside, it begins to feel superficial.
“The kind of training we got and what companies here actually look for don’t fully match. You’re taught to think a certain way, but when it comes to hiring, that’s not necessarily what they prioritise,” he said.
The gap shows up most clearly in job interviews, where recruiters tend to prioritise performance in coding rounds, domain-specific knowledge, and internship credentials.
Vatsal, a BTech student aspiring to study abroad for his master’s, fears that the lack of established networks and alumni culture could leave graduates earning 20 to 30 per cent less in their early careers—despite paying fees that are two to three times those of established Indian colleges.
The MBA graduate’s concerns echo the unease in many parents and students exploring these programmes.
“This is one of the first questions families ask us: ‘the brand might be international, but would it actually work in the Indian job market?’” said an education consultant who advises students on overseas and transnational programmes.
In many ways, it’s a question of return on investment. These imported campuses have set up bases in India, but not without a cost.
A BSc course at the University of Southampton is priced at around Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1 crore in the UK and about Rs 40 lakh in India. The difference, while significant, does not necessarily ease the pressure when placed alongside domestic options.
Top Indian institutions—including the private ones—offer comparable degrees at a fraction of the cost, with established placement networks and a longer track record in the domestic job market.
“If you’re spending Rs 20 lakh on a 16-month course and if it can’t even get you an internship, then you have to seriously question the return on it,” the student said.
He is now back in Delhi, and has so far struggled to land any internship, much less a job. He claims many from his batch are in the same position.
With placements uncertain and the experience not quite matching the same abroad, the Indian campuses of foreign universities ultimately fall back on the classroom to stand apart.
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A changing landscape
Indian universities have always relied on rigid structures, theory-heavy syllabi, and a strong focus on exams over practical learning. But the system is now at a turning point.
As many private universities continue to lean on outdated legacy languages such as C++ and generic commerce streams, the gap between what is taught in classrooms and what industries actually need continues to widen.
The India Skills Report 2026 highlights just how much the landscape has shifted. The most sought-after skills today include AI and data analytics, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. These are no longer add-ons.
Around 70 per cent of IT companies and 50 per cent of BFSI (banking, financial services, and insurance) firms have already integrated AI into their recruitment processes. With further growth, India’s IT sector is expected to add around 1,35,000 net new jobs by March 2027.
Tapping into this pool of requirements, Deakin, Southampton, and Wollongong are designing their programmes to match what companies are looking for today. Their courses range from data science, business analytics, and finance to cybersecurity, software engineering, fintech, and AI.
“I am confident that having completed their globally recognised degrees, these graduates are prepared to meet India’s economic, industry, and workforce needs,” said Professor Iain Martin, Deakin Vice-Chancellor, during the graduation ceremony of the first batch in March.
While Martin’s words echoed with confidence, Indian parents and students aren’t completely sold on the idea. To them, enrolling in India-based foreign universities is more like a high-stakes wager: The institutes have no history in the country, and no alumni trail.
Vatsal, a BTech student aspiring to study abroad for his master’s, fears that the lack of established networks and alumni culture could leave graduates earning 20 to 30 per cent less in their early careers—despite paying fees that are two to three times those of established Indian colleges.
“It is just an idea, a promise,” he said.
And it’s an idea that is yet to find its firm footing.
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)