GLOBAL SCHOOL, LOCAL CAMPUS

GEOPOLITICAL SHIFTS ARE LIKELY TO ACCELERATE HIGHER EDUCATION INVESTMENTS BY FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES IN THE INDIAN MARKET.

- BY SAMALI BASU GUHA

ON A HUMID Thursday morning in Gurugram, Prittyush Magan scrolls through his notes as he waits for his afternoon class. He is midway through his course—MSc in International Management—not in the U.K. or Australia, but at the University of Southampton’s Delhi campus. A year ago, he was working at a tech firm after completing his BCA, convinced that the only way to access global education was to go abroad. Today, he is attending classes just a short drive away from home. “I realised after working that there are things you only get from a global university,” says Prittyush. “But going abroad and setting up a place is expensive. When Southampton opened nearby, it felt I could finally access that world without leaving mine.”

His days are a mix of two-hour lectures, one full teaching day every week, and a remote job with a U.S.-based firm. “The teaching style is different,” he explains. “It’s not about studying for an exam. It’s about how I’m implementing what I learn. The faculty brings experience from campuses around the world. That gives me the freedom to learn in my own way.”

Across the campus, Vatsala Hira, who is pursuing her MSc in Finance, echoes the sentiment. “Southampton is a legacy institution,” she says. “The courses are research-led. We go deep, right to the grassroots of a concept. What really differentiates this place is the room to experiment—we’re not put in a box. Faculty gives us space to explore ideas.”

She describes having a multicultural peer group as an enriching experience. “We have an alumni network that connects us to the U.K. and Malaysia campuses. Whether it’s pitching a startup idea or looking for a job reference, it feels like doors are opening.”