Growing Transnational Education: The Rise of International Campuses

The UK government recently published its International Education Strategy, focusing on what it describes as ‘sustainable recruitment’ of high-quality international students and expanding UK education overseas, boosting exports.

With all of the financial challenges facing the sector, and the prospect of a continuing squeeze on international students coming to the UK, many institutions will be looking at new transnational education (TNE) prospects, including the possibility of establishing international campuses.

The International Education Strategy presents TNE as an area of serious growth potential for UK higher education. The latest report from Universities UK (UUK) on TNE activities reports that numbers have increased to involve over 650,000 students, a 70% increase in the last decade.

International campuses as a model for transnational education

TNE can take many forms including partnership operations, franchising, validation, dual degrees, blended learning and remote delivery. However, one of the most significant growth areas is international campus developments.

An international campus is one which is owned, in part or wholly, by a university operating in another country and delivering programmes leading to its awards.

The rise in international campuses and what it means for UK higher education

CBERT, the Cross-Border Education Research Team, reports regularly on the growth in international campuses. Its latest data, published in January 2026, provides an international campus listing which shows that the UK, with 53 international campuses, is second only to the US (97 campuses overseas) in terms of this kind of education export.

Of the 387 international campuses recorded by CBERT 50 are located in China, 39 in the UAE, 17 in Uzbekistan and 16 in Malaysia.

New UK international campus developments in Asia

UK international campus numbers continue to grow and most of the recent developments have taken place in Asia:

• Cardiff University Kazakhstan, Cardiff’s first international campus, opened its doors to its first cohort of students in Astana in September 2025. Cardiff sees this campus contributing to Kazakhstan’s ambitions to become an international education hub and expand higher education as a major driver of national prosperity.
• In October 2025 there was big news about new campuses to be opened by UK universities in India. Following the lead of the University of Southampton, which launched its presence in Gurugram in September 2025, eight other universities were announced as preparing to establish campuses in India. York, Liverpool, Bristol, Aberdeen, Surry, Lancaster, Coventry and Queen’s Belfast are all planning international campus developments.
• In January 2026 it was announced that the Universities of Manchester, Birmingham and Reading would be working together to establish a campus presence in Thailand, in partnership with Chulalongkorn University, to offer a suite of three undergraduate and four postgraduate degrees in the first instance. The aim of this “Global Link” initiative is to help bridge what Thailand has identified as a major skills gap.
• In China, the University of Exeter (following the well-established campuses of Nottingham and Liverpool), is establishing a joint institute in partnership with Zheijiang University of Technology. Based in Hangzhou, the new institute will offer students the opportunity to qualify with a dual degree.

Future international campus locations for UK transnational education

Other UK universities also have international campuses in the pipeline:

• The University of West London plans to expand its Sri Lankan operations and partner with a private HE provider to establish a new international campus in Colombo.
• Vietnam is apparently keen to host new international after reforming its regulations and aiming to become an international education hub and there is apparently already UK university interest.
• There have also been media reports of universities hoping to be the first to establish themselves in Saudi Arabia, despite some of the significant reputational challenges associated with operating there.
• Closer to home some international branch campuses will soon be set up in Greece following a change in the law. Three UK universities – Keele, York and the Open University – are in the first tranche.
• In a recent official visit to the UK, the President of Indonesia was reported to be exploring partnership opportunities with UK universities, including the possibility of establishing branch campuses in Indonesia.
• And, hot off the press, Azerbaijan has just issued an open call inviting UK universities to express an interest in being members of a consortium to establish a joint university as part of the UK–Azerbaijan Strategic Partnership on education and innovation.

Risks and challenges of developing an international campus

The government wants to facilitate sustainable TNE growth and remove barriers whilst also ensuring that everyone is aware of the risks and challenges involved. On the other hand, TNE, whilst it has many benefits, typically takes time and energy to pursue and demands a long-term commitment to partnerships.

International campuses in particular represent a distinctive set of challenges which we can help institutions navigate successfully.

These challenges are not theoretical, and many institutions have already encountered practical issues during the early stages of international campus development.

Balancing opportunity and risk in international campus development

These are all exciting opportunities for UK institutions. However, it is important that HE institutions considering an international campus do go into it with their eyes open – such developments are far from straightforward.

Challenges range from building the infrastructure to restructuring institutional, and local governance. Legal issues, financial matters and developing local management structures can take time and significant effort, as can coming to terms with an entirely new political and cultural environment.

While it is inevitable that there will be a need to return some funds to the UK to cover part of the costs of operations, there is a real risk of undermining credibility if it looks like the aim of the international campus is simply to extract money.

To leverage the full benefit of an international campus a university must have a strategy that goes beyond thinking about cash-generation. The investment is substantial, but it is worth it for a university with a genuine international vision.

The establishment of an international campus will have a major impact on the institution, its students, staff and stakeholders as well as contributing to the government ambition to grow international exports.

Key questions if considering an international campus opportunity

Institutions will want to explore the following fundamental issues at the outset of any international campus deliberations:

• What governance model will apply, and how will local and UK oversight interact?
• Which regulatory approvals are needed in the host country, and what are the likely timescales?
• How will academic quality be maintained across borders, including assessment policies and student support?
• What are the financial implications, including tax liabilities, profitsharing models and restrictions on repatriating funds?
• How will local leadership be appointed, and what responsibilities will sit overseas versus in the UK?
• How will cultural expectations differ, and what training or adaptation will be needed for teams delivering programmes?
• What reputational risks might arise from operating in the chosen jurisdiction?

These considerations will help institutions identify potential challenges early and support more informed discussions with partners and advisers.

We have substantial experience of supporting institutions with TNE, and we are very familiar with the complexities, risks and difficulties such arrangements can present. If you’d like to explore international campus opportunities or other TNE possibilities, our education team can provide guidance.