UK Universities Set to Establish Campuses at GIFT City, Gujarat

Two UK universities, Queen’s University Belfast and Coventry University, have filed applications to set up international campuses at Gujarat’s GIFT City, continuing the trend initiated by Australian institutions. This marks a significant step as India opens its doors to foreign educational institutions through relaxed regulations.

The International Financial Services Authority (IFSCA) granted approval to Queen’s University, which plans to start with postgraduate programs, followed by potential research and undergraduate courses. Coventry University, with global campuses already in Egypt, Poland, Morocco, and Kazakhstan, will further expand its presence in India.

Queen’s University Belfast’s Expansion Plan

Queen’s University Belfast, a top-ranked UK institution, is the third foreign university to be approved for GIFT City. With a history of nearly 200 years and a reputation in sustainability and impact, Queen’s plans to offer postgraduate programs with a future focus on research and undergraduate courses. The university currently has over 1,000 Indian students.

Coventry University Joins the GIFT City Network

Coventry University, which has over 13,000 international students from 160 countries, is poised to join the GIFT City educational ecosystem. The university, known for its global campuses, launched an “India Hub” in Delhi in 2024 to address key global challenges, including climate change and economic development. Coventry brings extensive international experience, especially from its campuses in Egypt, Poland, Morocco, and Kazakhstan.

Regulatory Framework Encourages Foreign Campuses

The establishment of foreign university campuses in GIFT City is facilitated by the IFSCA’s 2022 regulations, which allow universities to repatriate funds in foreign currency and operate without typical Indian infrastructure requirements. Universities from Australia, such as Deakin University and the University of Wollongong, have already set up campuses in GIFT City, offering courses in business analytics, cybercrime, and financial technology.

Future of Foreign Universities in India

The IFSCA has also set conditions for foreign universities, such as a top-500 global ranking or reputation in their home country, to qualify for establishing campuses in GIFT City. These developments are part of a broader strategy to make India a hub for global education and innovation.

Summary of the news

Why in News	Key Points
Queen’s University Belfast and Coventry University have received approval to establish international campuses at Gujarat’s GIFT City, following Australia’s lead.	Queen’s University Belfast and Coventry University are setting up campuses in GIFT City, Gujarat.
Approval for Queen’s University Belfast	Approved by the International Financial Services Authority (IFSCA), it plans to offer postgraduate programs initially, with potential for research and undergraduate courses.
Coventry University’s Expansion	Coventry University, with global campuses in Egypt, Poland, Morocco, and Kazakhstan, will now establish a campus in GIFT City.
Deakin University’s Role	Deakin University was the first foreign university to establish a campus in GIFT City in January 2024.
IFSCA Regulations (2022)	The regulations allow foreign universities to repatriate funds in freely convertible foreign currency and offer courses in research areas like fintech and STEM.
GIFT City	Located in Gujarat, GIFT City is an international financial services hub aiming to attract foreign institutions.
Eligibility for Foreign Universities	Foreign universities must be ranked in the top-500 globally or be reputed in their home countries to apply for a campus in GIFT City.
Queen’s University	Based in Northern Ireland, Queen’s is nearly 200 years old, a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities, and ranked among the top-200 for impact and sustainability.
Coventry University	Established in 1843, Coventry has over 13,000 international students from 160 countries, with existing campuses in several countries.
Campus Duration	Foreign universities in GIFT City are granted a 5-year registration, which can be renewed for another 5 years.