- The Department for Education further informed that it would also bring in “toughened compliance standards” to ensure people coming to the UK to study were genuine students, and that universities would face recruitment caps and licence revocations if they failed to meet those standards.
India has emerged as a key focus country in the United Kingdom’s new ‘International Education Strategy’, released on Tuesday, which aims to raise the value of Britain’s education exports to £40 billion annually by 2030. As part of the plan, the UK has set up a new Education Sector Action Group to work with the International Education Champion, universities, colleges, and schools to remove trade barriers and expand the country’s education and skills offerings in high-growth markets.
The Department for Education further informed that it would also bring in “toughened compliance standards” to ensure people coming to the UK to study were genuine students, and that universities would face recruitment caps and licence revocations if they failed to meet those standards. “This approach removes targets on international student numbers in the UK and shifts the focus towards growing education exports overseas by backing UK providers to expand internationally, build partnerships abroad and deliver UK education in new markets,” the DfE said.
It states that the International Education Champion, Professor Sir Steve Smith, will continue to strengthen education ties with focus countries including, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam, while emerging economies such as Brazil, Mexico, and Pakistan have also been added to the agenda to broaden the global reach of UK education.
“By expanding overseas, our universities, colleges and education providers can diversify income, strengthen global partnerships and give millions more access to a world-class UK education on their doorstep, all whilst boosting growth at home,” said UK Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.
The policy document highlights the University of Southampton’s Gurugram campus —the first foreign university campus set up in India under new UGC regulations — as a major milestone, alongside the announcement of nine new UK university campuses in India by Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Keir Starmer in October 2025.
UK Minister for Trade Chris Bryant described education exports as a major success story, driven by digital learning, AI-enabled innovation and future skills development, and said the UK was well placed to expand its global education footprint. Beyond economic goals, the strategy seeks to enhance Britain’s global soft power by strengthening long-term international partnerships, with British universities counting more than 50 serving world leaders among their alumni.
According to official estimates, international students already deliver economic benefits of around £560 per UK citizen. “Generations of world leaders, top scientists, and great cultural figures have benefited from some form of UK education, creating lasting partnerships and strengthening links between countries.
“Through this ambitious strategy, we will grow education exports and work with our diplomatic network and the British Council to strengthen education systems around the world,” said Baroness Jennifer Chapman, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office minister.
The government also said universities would be subject to toughened compliance standards, with measures such as recruitment caps and licence revocation for institutions that fail to meet them. The strategy emphasises that international student recruitment will continue to align with the UK’s migration and visa framework, with firm action against violations to protect the integrity of the Graduate Route post-study work scheme.
