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York Vice-Chancellor joins Prime Minister on first major trade mission to India

York Vice-Chancellor joins Prime Minister on first major trade mission to India

Posted on 9 October 2025

The University of York’s Vice-Chancellor accompanied the Prime Minister and leaders from across education, business and culture, on a trade mission to India.

The visit aimed to build on the momentum from the UK-India trade deal, signed in July this year.

Professor Charlie Jeffery was one of 14 university leaders to join the delegation in recognition of the demand for higher education in India – with 70 million places needed by 2035.

During the visit, the UK government confirmed the expansion of British university campuses in India, marking a major step forward in strengthening UK–India ties and boosting the UK economy through education exports.

The expansion will allow thousands of Indian students to access UK-quality education in their home country, while creating new opportunities for collaborative research and development in areas such as climate resilience, biotechnology, and AI.

In June this year the University of York was awarded a licence to establish a campus in Mumbai. The University of York Mumbai will offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes for entry in 2026.

Delegates on the trade mission included representatives from Rolls Royce, British Telecom, Diageo, London Stock Exchange and British Airways, as well as some of the UK’s biggest cultural institutions, such as the British Film Institute and the National Theatre - opening new doors for creative exports, co-productions, museum and heritage partnerships, talent exchange, and joint initiatives across film, fashion, sport, and digital culture.

Unparalleled opportunity

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Our great British universities are admired all over the world for their teaching excellence, high-quality research and commitment to innovation.

"I’m delighted that more Indian students will be able to benefit from a world-class British education in the near future - strengthening the ties between our two countries while pumping millions back into our economy and supporting jobs at home.”

A distinctive feature of York’s campus in Mumbai will be a strong emphasis on research from the outset. This commitment to research will underpin teaching and the student experience, but also contribute significantly to India’s growing demand and drive for research development and innovation in areas such as food security, environmental change and future technologies.

Vice-Chancellor of the University of York, Professor Charlie Jeffery, said: “The India-UK Vision 2035 opens an exciting new chapter in a relationship defined by shared values, talent, and ambition. Education and research are among the most powerful bridges between our two countries — enabling us to tackle global challenges together and drive inclusive, knowledge-led growth.

“Our partnerships in India are already delivering real impact — from advances in health and food security to breakthroughs in climate resilience and green innovation.

“With the University of York Mumbai campus, we are building on this momentum, placing research and collaboration at the heart of our engagement and supporting India’s ambitions in sustainability, future technologies, and the creative industries.”

Future technologies

It is anticipated that the trade deal between the UK and India will increase UK GDP by £4.8 billion each year, add £2.2 billion to wages, and is expected to raise bilateral trade by £25.5 billion per year, with UK exports to India projected to grow by nearly 60%.

India is fast becoming one of the world’s most significant technology players – with a tech sector expected to be valued at £1 trillion by 2030.

Earlier this year, the University signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the newly created Indian Institute for Creative Technologies (IICT). Research and teaching in the creative industries is a key part of the plans for the development of the University of York Mumbai campus, and coincides with the University introducing the potential for new projects with partners in India at CoStar Live Lab, part of a £75.6m UK national network of laboratories that are developing new ideas and technologies to ensure the UK stays at the cutting edge of the creative industries.

Alison Barrett MBE, Country Director India, British Council, said: "I congratulate the University of York on receiving this recognition for its plans to open an International Branch Campus in Mumbai.

"By combining world-class teaching with a strong focus on research, innovation, and industry collaboration, the campus will offer programmes in AI, cyber security, creative industries, business, and economics. This venture will provide students with globally relevant skills, foster partnerships between Indian and UK innovators, and strengthen the internationalisation of education for both nations.”