UK shifts education strategy beyond student numbers, puts India in spotlight
Britain has unveiled an updated International Education Strategy that moves away from focusing mainly on international student enrolments and instead prioritises the expansion of UK education abroad through overseas campuses and global partnerships. India has been identified as a central market in this new approach, as the UK aims to increase the value of its education exports to £40 billion annually by 2030.
Rather than measuring success by visa figures alone, the strategy emphasises strengthening the UK’s educational presence in high-growth regions by collaborating with local governments, regulators and institutions. Alongside India, key focus countries include Indonesia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam, with Brazil, Mexico and Pakistan added as emerging markets.
India continues to be one of the UK’s most important student sources, with around 99,000 Indian study visas issued in the year ending June 2025, second only to China. The strategy highlights continued engagement with Indian authorities to ease regulatory challenges and support cross-border education partnerships.
To support overseas expansion, the UK government has formed a new Education Sector Action Group, which will work with universities, colleges and schools to overcome trade and regulatory barriers. Overseas campuses are seen as a major opportunity to diversify revenue while reaching students who may not travel to the UK.
The policy document cites the University of Southampton’s Gurugram campus as a flagship example, established under India’s updated UGC regulations for foreign universities. This development aligns with the announcement of nine new UK university campuses in India, revealed by Indian and British leaders in late 2025.
The government has positioned education exports as both an economic driver and a tool of global influence. Officials stressed that UK education plays a key role in developing future skills, innovation and international leadership, while contributing significant economic value at home.
At the same time, the strategy reinforces stricter compliance requirements for UK institutions. Universities that fail to meet standards could face recruitment limits or lose their ability to sponsor international students. International recruitment will remain subject to existing visa and migration rules, with the Graduate Route continuing alongside stronger enforcement against misuse.
