Announcement
On 3 September 2026, Birkbeck, University of London announced that it has received a Letter of Approval (LoA) from the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India, granting formal clearance to establish and operate a Bengaluru campus under the UGC’s 2023 regulations for Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs). The LoA follows an earlier Letter of Intent (LoI) granted earlier in the year and represents the final regulatory step before admissions can commence.
Campus Details
The Bengaluru campus will be situated at Sattva Tech Park, a prominent technology and business hub. It will deliver undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in business management and business analytics, with degrees awarded directly by the University of London and overseen by Birkbeck’s academic governance. Tuition fees are projected to be up to 60 % lower than comparable programmes in the United Kingdom, offering a cost‑effective option for Indian students.
Partnership with Education Centre of Australia
The campus is being set up in partnership with Education Centre of Australia (ECA), a global education services provider with more than two decades of experience in transnational education. ECA is providing the financial backing and operational infrastructure required for the campus launch. Rupesh Singh, CEO of ECA Group, stated that the LoA validates the collaborative work undertaken to meet UGC requirements and that the partnership will now focus on delivering a high‑quality student experience in Bengaluru.
Institutional Statements
Professor Sally Wheeler, Vice‑Chancellor of Birkbeck, University of London, said the LoA is a landmark moment that brings the university to the threshold of welcoming its first Indian cohort, emphasizing the months of work with the UGC to demonstrate compliance with academic quality and governance standards. A senior UGC official highlighted that the LoA process is designed to assure students and parents of academic quality, governance, and campus readiness, reinforcing India’s ambition to become a preferred global education destination under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Birkbeck Background
Founded in 1823, Birkbeck is a member of the University of London Federation and is ranked among the top 300 universities globally in the Times Higher Education World Rankings 2025 and Time Magazine’s World’s Top Universities 2026, and within the top 400 in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
Education Centre of Australia Background
ECA Group celebrates 20 years of excellence in international education, supporting over 10 000 international student enrolments annually through partnerships with institutions such as Victoria University, University of Tasmania, University of Canberra, University of the Sunshine Coast, London Metropolitan University, Charles Sturt University, and Birkbeck. The group operates across more than 20 markets, is supported by a network of over 4 000 certified education agents, and offers higher‑education, pathway, and EdTech divisions to enable universities to expand internationally.