On May 12, the United Kingdom released the new Immigration White Paper, which introduces stricter framework for foreigners coming to the UK via work, study, and settlement routes. It can also impact international students – as it has proposed to reduce the time of the Graduate Route visa (allowing students to work in the UK after completing their studies) to 18 months, instead of the earlier 24 months. But Alison Barrett MBE, country director India, British Council, told FE’s Vikram Chaudhary that despite these changes, the UK continues to be a great study destination, with its institutions remaining open, diverse, and welcoming for foreign students. Excerpts:
How will the new Immigration White Paper impact the UK as a global study destination?
While no timescales have been set for the implementation of these changes – as they will be phased based on parliamentary time to make the necessary changes to immigration rules – the UK government has emphasised that international students are welcome and valued. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has stated that international students are an asset to UK universities, communities, and the country.Given the quality of education, global recognition and international exposure, the UK continues to be a great destination for Indian students as well. The UK remains committed to attracting global talent, and ensuring a positive experience for international students. UK institutions remain open, diverse, and welcoming, with the academic community continuing to advocate for international students and their vital role in campus life, research, and the economy. The post-study work Graduate Route visa, which allows students to stay post-study, remains in place. We urge students to stay updated through official channels and base their selection on the quality of courses and universities’ programmes aligned to their interest.
Last year, the University of Southampton announced it will open a campus in India, and this year universities of Liverpool and York made similar announcements. In addition, Imperial College London has opened a Global Hub in India. What role did the British Council play towards facilitating their entry into India?
The University of Southampton’s upcoming campus in Gurugram is set to welcome students in just a few weeks in August 2025, the University of Liverpool received their letter of intent allowing them to set up a campus in Bengaluru in 2026, and Queens University Belfast is set to open in GIFT City, Gujarat, later this year. Several other UK universities are also planning to announce their plans to establish campuses in India. In addition, since the launch of the academic collaboration regulations in 2023, we have seen a sharp rise in other forms of transnational education with more jointly developed postgraduate and master’s programmes between UK and Indian institutions being established.The British Council has played a pivotal role in enabling this progress, in line with the goals set by the National Education Policy of India. We have supported the internationalisation of education by facilitating policy consultations between governments, for example by contributing to the agreement on the mutual recognition of academic qualifications signed by India and the UK in 2022, feeding back on draft regulations as part of the public consultation processes, publishing research and insight on different aspects on transnational education and related opportunities in India, and helping UK universities navigate India’s federal regulatory and academic context.
With UK universities setting up campuses to India, will British students also turn up?
The launch of UK campuses in India signals the beginning of a strategic and impactful phase in transnational education between the two countries. International branch campuses help fulfil the extensive demand for quality higher education in India, provide greater accessibility to an international education at a more affordable level. This helps prepare future-ready graduates as they will graduate with both local and global networks. As part of India’s higher education ecosystem, a UK university can more easily build bridges between academics and open up transformative opportunities for students in both countries. In time, we expect British students will consider India as a study destination, deepening cross cultural learning and exchange.
What are your views on India signing agreements on the Mutual Recognition of Academic Qualifications with the UK, Ireland, Australia, and France? In which all ways can the British Council contribute towards this new trend of internationalisation of education?
The UK and India have an agreement called the Mutual Recognition of Academic Qualifications (MRQ), which means that degrees from both countries are officially accepted in each other’s education systems. This makes it easier for students to study or work in either country. Recently, the University Grants Commission (UGC) in India issued regulations to recognise qualifications obtained from foreign higher education institutions. Thanks to these changes, students with UK degrees don’t need to get a separate certificate to prove their qualification, as long as their degree is covered by agreements like the MRQ.
The UGC has now introduced a transparent, technology-enabled mechanism to streamline the recognition process for international qualifications, addressing long-standing concerns about delays and ambiguity, particularly for returning Indian students seeking admission or employment in India.This automatic recognition reinforces the core objective of the MRQ: to support seamless academic mobility and strengthened work opportunities between the two countries. It should be noted that professional qualifications such as Medicine, Engineering, Pharmacy, Nursing, Law, and Architecture and such other qualifications regulated by respective Statutory Councils in India are not in scope of the MRQ or regulation.The MRQ agreement also facilitates the delivery of joint degrees, encourages collaborative research, and opens new career pathways.
The 274% increase in Indian student enrolments in the UK between 2019 and 2023 reflects the growing relevance and appeal of such initiatives, including the Graduate Route visa, which allows students to work in the UK after their studies for up to 18 months.The UK and India work closely across a range of strategic initiatives to support the internationalisation of education. These include the Internationalising Higher Education (IHE) programme, the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI), and the Going Global Partnerships scheme, which has enabled over 100 institutional collaborations over the past three years.
These programmes foster academic-industry linkages, support institutional capacity-building, and enable the co-development of curricula, joint research projects and new joint or dual degree programmes.To further support this alignment between the two education systems, the British Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UGC in December 2024 under which we have already facilitated a knowledge exchange session between The UK National Information Centre (ENIC UK) and the UGC. We also supported UGC’s membership of the ENIC UK database and are exploring additional linkages between the two organisations to enhance mutual understanding and recognition processes.
The recent Union Budget announced measures such as setting National Centres of Excellence for Skilling, Centre of Excellence for AI in Education, and the Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak scheme. Do you expect the British Council to play any role in such initiatives?
The Union Budget 2025-26 reaffirms the Indian Government’s commitment to education and skills development, laying a strong foundation for the nation’s youth and future workforce. The creation of five National Centres of Excellence for Skilling and global skilling partnerships will equip young people with the expertise needed to thrive in an increasingly competitive world. The expansion of IIT infrastructure to accommodate 6,500 more students and the 500-crore allocation for a Centre of Excellence for AI in education is a step forward in nourishing India’s technical and digital capabilities supporting the global talent pipeline in these areas.
With a focus on fostering inclusive education, preserving regional languages, and ensuring students can learn in their mother tongues, the Bharatiya Bhasha Pushtak scheme will provide digital access to Indian language books, a great way to build linguistic competence. At the British Council, we look forward to partnering with the Government on these initiatives so that together we can create opportunities that empower young people, enabling them to drive meaningful change and succeed both locally and globally.
The British Council recently organised Climate Skills – Seeds for Transition India cross-partner facilitator training. What are climate skills, and why are these skills important for teachers/trainers?
Climate Skills – Seeds for Transition India is part of a broader global Climate Skills programme developed in partnership with HSBC. This initiative aims to equip young people and communities with the skills needed to respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by climate change in their local communities – particularly in the transition to net zero.Climate Skills refer to the knowledge, values, and practical capabilities that individuals need to understand climate change, respond to its impacts, and actively contribute to sustainable development. We take a cross-cultural approach, starting with core life skills such as communication, leadership and empathy. Subsequently, more technical skills are developed through experiential learning, including climate literacy, environmental leadership and community engagement, all with the ultimate aim of developing locally relevant, climate-positive solutions.Teachers and trainers play a crucial role in this process. and help to ensure that climate education is not only evidence based and relevant but also action-oriented and inclusive. Through our recent facilitator training, over 55 educators from three leading Indian higher education institutions- The Energy and Resources Institute, Hyderabad Sind National Collegiate University, and the University of Mumbai—were empowered to deliver innovative climate skills training to young people.
These educators are now better prepared to guide students in understanding shared environmental challenges and co-creating solutions, while fostering leadership and resilience.In India alone, the programme will train 290 master trainers and directly engage 2,000 youth over the next year. This initiative reflects our commitment to a long-term, international climate education that is rooted in local to global collaboration. It seeks to go beyond discussion by partnering with governments, communities, and institutions to develop practical, grassroots-level solutions. Many of these approaches were recommended in UNESCO’s recent State of Education report, Seeds of Change, published in 2023 and which we also contributed to.In essence, Climate Skills are essential not only for young people but also for the educators who shape their learning. Teachers and trainers with these skills can act as powerful catalysts for community action- helping students build the knowledge and confidence needed to address the global climate crisis at local, national, and international levels.
At a time when most Indian states and many politicians are talking about empowering local languages (Kannada in Karnataka, Tamil in Tamil Nadu, Marathi in Maharashtra) – and the NEP has focused on using mother tongues in higher education – where do you foresee the future of English language in India?
India’s rich linguistic diversity is one of its greatest strengths, and the National Education Policy’s emphasis on promoting local languages and multilingual education (MLE) will help children build strong foundational literacy skills early in their educational journey. At the same time, English continues to be a global lingua franca – facilitating access to international higher education, research collaboration, and employment opportunities. In an increasingly interconnected world shaped by globalisation, mobility, and digital connectivity, proficiency in English gives Indian students and professionals a competitive edge, both nationally and internationally.Importantly, this is not an either-or scenario.
Multilingualism and English language learning can — and should – coexist. Our experience shows that leveraging a learner’s home language to learn English and other languages, enhances comprehension and supports conceptual understanding. Recognising this, the British Council has been working with government and other key stakeholders across India who are at the forefront of MLE to support both multilingual education approaches and high-quality English language teaching, learning and assessment.At the British Council we strongly support the NEP’s vision for multilingual education and the pedagogical use of multiple languages in the classroom. We believe that celebrating and integrating India’s linguistic diversity into the education system, while equipping learners with English language skills, creates a powerful platform for academic success, cultural exchange, and global citizenship. By supporting multilingualism and enhancing English proficiency, India is well-positioned to foster inclusive development, bridge local and global communities, and empower its youth to thrive on the world stage.
Do you also foresee the usage of English to rise further? What benefits does the English language have over all other languages?
According to the British Council’s research publication “The Future of English: Global Perspectives”, English is currently the most widely spoken language worldwide and is expected to maintain its status as the global language of communication for at least the next decade and beyond. However, another important aspect that the report points out is, that the future world will be linguistically diverse and a hyper multilingual. English will continue to serve as a bridge language across key sectors such as education, international business, diplomacy, science, and technology. As a result, proficiency in English will remain a critical asset for individuals seeking access to international study, employment, and professional development opportunities.
English is also the most used language on the internet. With artificial intelligence, large language models and machine learning, driving most of future human endeavours, having knowledge of English will continue to remain a critical skill. Compared to other languages, English offers distinct advantages due to its global reach and the extensive resources available for its learning and use. It is the most taught foreign language worldwide and is often a prerequisite for participation in global academic, professional, and digital spaces. In multilingual settings, it often serves as a neutral medium, facilitating inclusive dialogue and collaboration.English continues to hold a unique position among world languages, offering significant social, educational, and economic benefits. Its role is evolving. English will continue to remain relevant in future, alongside many other languages.