University of Surrey gets in-principle approval to open campus in GIFT City during UK PM’s India visit
October 09, 2025
New Delhi: Another foreign university, namely the University of Surrey from England, has received in-principle approval to open its campus in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), marking a significant step in expanding global higher education opportunities in India.
The announcement was made as part of the outcomes of the visit of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to India. Starmer, who is on a two-day visit to India, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai, and both leaders held delegation-level talks.
This visit follows the recently concluded trade agreement between the two countries, signed during PM Modi’s visit to the UK in July 2025. After three years of extensive negotiations, the trade pact was finalized to deliver “significant benefits to both nations” by boosting wages, improving living standards, and lowering consumer prices.
Here is the full list of outcomes:
| S. No. | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| I. Technology and Innovation | ||
| 1. | Establishment of the India-UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre. | |
| 2. | Establishment of the India-UK Joint Centre for AI. | |
| 3. | Launch of Phase II of the UK-India Critical Minerals Supply Chain Observatory and establishment of a new satellite campus at IIT-ISM Dhanbad. | |
| 4. | Establishment of the Critical Minerals Industry Guild to secure resilient supply chains and promote green technologies. | |
| II. Education | ||
| 5. | Handing over the Letter of Intent for opening of the Campus of Lancaster University in Bengaluru. | |
| 6. | In-principle approval for opening of Campus of University of Surrey in GIFT City. | |
| III. Trade and Investment | ||
| 7. | Inaugural meeting of the reconstituted India-UK CEO Forum. | |
| 8. | Resetting the India-UK Joint Economic Trade Committee (JETCO) which will support implementation of the CETA and drive economic growth and job creation in both countries. | |
| 9. | A new joint investment in the Climate Technology Startup Fund, a strategic initiative under the MoU between the Government of the UK and the State Bank of India for supporting innovative entrepreneurs in sectors such as climate technology and AI. | |
| IV. Climate, Health and Research | ||
| 10. | Launch of Phase-III of Bio-Medical Research Career Program. | |
| 11. | Establishment of the Offshore Wind Taskforce. | |
| 12. | Letter of Intent (LoI) between ICMR and NIHR, United Kingdom on Health Research. | |
Recent Stories
- India vs SL Match
- Free rides on AMTS buses for three days during Diwali
- 100 years of service to nation was our duty, so no celebration is needed: RSS Chief
- Commonwealth Sport Board Recommends Ahmedabad as Host City for 2030 Commonwealth Games
- Gujarat CM to visit Mumbai for listing of SMC's green municipal bonds on NSE