Coventry University announces plans for India campus despite growing financial pressures

Coventry University has revealed plans to open a new campus in India, making it the first English university in the country’s GIFT City business district.

The new branch of Coventry University could see students enrolled and studying as early as 2026.

The move comes amid growing financial pressures on universities nationwide, including Coventry, raising questions about whether the expansion is an effective use of tuition fees.

The new campus branch, located at the heart of the smart city in the Indian state of Gujarat, will initially only offer two degrees – BSc International Business Management, and BSc Business and Finance.

Coventry’s further expansion in India has been seen as controversial by some, as higher education institutions across the UK continue to face funding crises

The campus will not be Coventry’s first move into India. The university already has a Global Hub in New Delhi, which opened in April 2024 and houses over 70 employees who manage admissions, recruitments, and partnerships in the India region.

Coventry’s expansion in India has been seen as controversial by some, as higher education institutions across the UK continue to face funding crises caused by a drop in international student recruitment, rising staff costs, and inflationary pressures.

One in four universities are reporting a negative cash flow, with Coventry University among those facing losses. The university reported a £59 million deficit earlier this month, which bosses have blamed on “circumstances beyond [its] control”.

Nevertheless, the project in India, which has been hailed as a “significant milestone for developing” higher education in GIFT City, presses ahead.

The project received approval at an event at the London Stock Exchange on 9 April. Chancellor Rachel Reeves was among those present, alongside Andrew Bailey, the Governor of the Bank of England, and Nirmala Sitharaman, the Indian Finance Minister.

The presence of these figures show how important the project is, not only to higher education officials, but also to politicians.

The opportunity to make a real difference for the next generation of learners in India is one that we have grasped with both hands and will continue to do so

Professor John Latham, Vice-Chancellor of Coventry University

Professor John Latham CBE, Vice-Chancellor of Coventry University, has celebrated the approval of the Indian campus, saying: “The opportunity to make a real difference for the next generation of learners in India is one that we have grasped with both hands and will continue to do so.”

The project aims to provide expanded accessibility to higher education in India, boosting opportunities through education, jobs, investment, and intellectual property development.

While the project has been seen as controversial in light of the university funding crisis in the UK, the new branch will bring opportunity to many. Coventry University hopes the move will continue to expand the university group’s investment portfolio, with investment in their international campuses exceeding £1 billion in the least five years.