Keir Starmer has praised UK universities for expanding into India as he used his first official visit to the country to announce several new higher education and research partnerships. During the Mumbai leg of Starmer’s two-day visit, he confirmed that Lancaster University and the University of Surrey have received approval to open new campuses in India. They join a growing list of UK institutions expanding into the country, including Southampton, York, Aberdeen, Bristol, Liverpool, Queen’s University Belfast and Coventry. The expansion also feeds into the India-UK Vision 2035, a joint roadmap for deeper collaboration in education, research and innovation. Downing Street argues that offering UK degrees in India will strengthen cultural and economic links without adding pressure to migration figures.

Source: The Times October 09, 2025 23:42 UTC