Welcome to the UK Education HUB

The UK Education Hub is where the British Council support and channel collaboration and activities by UK universities and the UK government. The Hub brings together in-country engagement with UK universities into a single platform that will help deliver the India UK Vision 2035 Education Pillar. 

In July 2020, India adopted a bold and transformative National Education Policy(NEP).  In response, the University Grants Commission (UGC) introduced two landmark regulations: 

Purpose of the Hub 

  1. Facilitate bilateral education activities aligned with the UK-India Vision 2035 strategic partnership.
  2. Serve as a one-stop-shop for UK universities navigating new opportunities in India’s liberalised Transnational Education (TNE) landscape.

This is being led by the British Council, based out of our Delhi office and delivered in consultation with FCDO, Department for Business and Trade and Department for Education. The Hub brings British Council and UK in India activity into two offers across system-level support and bespoke university support. 

What does the Hub do?

System level support 

Strengthen UK–India education cooperation by delivering outcomes under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) and supporting India’s National Education Policy (NEP 2020) reforms.

What we do

  • Manage the Annual UK–India Strategic Education Dialogue
  • Provide rapid, impartial regulatory advice
  • Coordinate bilateral working groups and commission targeted research
  • Represent UK interests with Indian regulators as reforms evolve

Who is it for

UK and Indian governments, regulators, and sector bodies

Bespoke University Support

Enable UK universities to realise opportunities in India by leveraging the strength of the UK higher education brand and providing tailored, institution-specific support.

What we do

  • Convene a contribution-based UKUIMP
  • Provide bespoke advice on regulation, partners, locations, and market entry
  • Support marketing coordination, industry links, strategic communications, and local engagement
  • Build goodwill, networks, and partnerships to support long-term success in India

 Who it’s for

Individual UK HEIs and UK university consortia operating in or entering India

Strategic Alignment

This will ensure UK universities and sector bodies working in India are aligned to the Vision 2035 objectives through: 

  • Annual Strategic Education Dialogue 
  • Unified UK negotiating position on Mutual Recognition of Qualifications (MRQ) and future NEP reforms
  • Alignment with UK education, industrial, science and technology policies, and STN priorities

Market Access & Compliance

End-to-end support enabling UK HEIs to navigate India’s federal and state regulations efficiently, reducing time from scoping to launch. This will include:

  • Live regulatory tracker, compliance handbook, and service-provider directories
  • Evidence-based regulatory advice and rapid-response intelligence
  • Regular sector briefings and knowledge-sharing forums

 Branch Campus and Partnership Pipeline

Support and guide UK HEIs keen to establish TNE programmes and Branch Campuses in India. Lifecycle support includes:

  • Early engagement with UGC, MoE, and state governments
  • Application support and regulatory troubleshooting
  • Launch, accreditation, and readiness reviews
  • Graduation milestones and profile-raising activities

Knowledge Sharing and Risk Management

Ensure the latest local policies, insights and information are communicated to the UK education sector in a timely and accessible manner through:

  • Creation of the UKUIMP as a peer network
  • Shared intelligence repository to reduce duplication and mitigate risk
  • Quarterly meetings, masterclasses, and expert input from British Council, DBT, FCDO, and service providers

Soft Power and UK HE Brand Uplift

Promote the UK as a key partner for Indian institutions and a premier place for higher studies for Indian students through

  • Coordinated communications around approvals, launches, and graduations
  • Strategic marketing and communications support in collaboration with British High Commission and India’s Ministry of Education
  • Cross-cultural advisory support to align expectations and ensure coherent campus offers

The Hub will not:  

  • replace legal or technical services for market research, negotiating joint ventures, ensuring tax compliance, or investor vetting—universities must engage consultants and law firms. 
  • conduct due diligence or bear liability for losses from its advice. 
  • sign off or approve applications or business/commercial models. 
  • share their data without explicit consent from universities. 
  • manage MEA or MOCA relationships, trade, or commercial activities. 

Central to this initiative is the formation of the UK Universities in India Members Programme (UKUIMP) — a collaborative network to strengthen India-UK higher education partnerships.

UK Universities in India Members Programme: Overview and objectives

 The UKUIMP aims to:

  • Provide unbiased advice and support to UK universities planning or operating international branch campuses in India.
  • Assist universities in identifying Indian partners and navigating regulatory frameworks for collaborative ventures.
  • Elevate the collective profile and reputation of UK universities within the Indian higher education ecosystem.
  • Maximize value in student recruitment, stakeholder engagement, and networking through coordinated events, fairs, and initiatives.
  • Foster a community of knowledge-sharing to address common challenges and jointly develop solutions.
  • Promote TNE partnerships encouraging more Indian students to earn UK qualifications locally while strengthening alumni networks. 

Next Steps :

Please fill out the form here if you are interested to be a part of the UKUIMP. Once we receive the completed form we will send you the details for making payment and the next steps.

Who can Join ?

  • UK universities with existing or planned International Branch Campuses in India.
  • UK universities engaged in or interested in joint, dual, or twinning degree partnerships with Indian institutions.

  • Basic Membership: £5,000 per year (minimum two-year commitment).
  • Enhanced Membership: £8,000 per year, offering extended consultation and support—ideal for universities establishing branch campuses.

Membership is rolling and valid for two years upon fee payment.

Based in the British Council’s Delhi building, the UKUIMP benefits from:

  • A dedicated physical space co-located with the Education Hub.
  • Access to advanced video conferencing facilities, auditoriums, libraries, and event spaces in Delhi and Kolkata.
  • Support for hosting university events, meetings, and outreach activities.

  • Development of a distinct brand identity and dedicated web portal.
  • Biannual face-to-face and virtual meetings to strategize, share insights, and address challenges.
  • Knowledge workshops and masterclasses involving UK and Indian higher education leaders.
  • Formation of special interest groups (e.g., marketing, student experience, recruitment) for targeted collaboration.
  • Engagement with Indian higher education bodies, industry forums, and international counterparts for broader networking.

Alliance members enjoy:

  • Complimentary access to British Council venues for key events (e.g., alumni gatherings, admissions counselling).
  • Advisory support from British Council higher education specialists on partnerships, stakeholder relations, and outreach.
  • Enhanced membership offers personalised support during branch campus setup, including engagement with government stakeholders.

Membership plans at a glance

Plan Fee (2 years) Meetings & Events Advisory Support Venue Access
Basic £10,000 2 face-to-face + 2 virtual meetings; 2 networking events 3 hours Theatre (1 day/year), Meeting rooms (8 hours/year)
Enhanced £16,000 All Basic + meetings with authorities 6 hours Theatre (2 days/year), Meeting rooms (10 hours/year)

Additional costs (catering, branding, extra tech) billed separately. 

Legal Disclaimer: 

The British Council provides advisory support only. Universities are strongly advised to consult professional legal, tax, or regulatory advisors before entering any formal agreements in India.

The UKUIMP is not a substitute for commercial consultancy services. The British Council will maintain transparency in working with external service providers to support member institutions.

Our Partners

Department Business and Trade UK Government: 

Our work in higher education and science aims to strengthen and extend international connections between India and the UK by building relationships and enabling collaboration through partnerships and joint research.  We achieve our objectives by working closely with the higher education sector and partners in UK and India at systemic, institutional and individual level. This includes policymakers in government, higher education providers, sector bodies, universities, research institutions and students and those that influence them.  British Council delivers this mandate through Going Global Partnerships programme and UK India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) amied at promoting internationalisation of higher education in India through joint academic and research partnerships, policy dialogues and capacity strengthening initiatives

Research Innovation Corridor (RIC) - Science Technology Network BHC 

The UK-India Research & Innovation Corridor (RIC) is a flagship bilateral initiative, agreed by the Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom and India on 24th July 2025. The RIC aims to enhance science, research, and technology partnerships between the two countries, promoting collaboration, identifying opportunities, and driving strategic, evidence-based decision making. The RIC is both a data analysis initiative, enabling us to bilaterally track our work and inform strategic decision making, while also serving as our overarching framework to engage both India and UK ecosystems in a more coordinated and strategic manner. The RIC is delivered under the oversight of the UK-India Science & Innovation Council (SIC), a ministerial dialogue, building on 25 years of collaboration and aligning with the UK-India Vision 2035.
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