British elite schools expand into India amid shifting education trends

Prestigious British educational institutions are increasingly establishing campuses in India, driven by tighter market conditions in China and the introduction of VAT on private school fees in the United Kingdom. Notable examples include Bedford School, which opened an all-girls international campus near Chandigarh, and Harrow School, which established a presence in Bengaluru. Other institutions such as Shrewsbury School in Bhopal and Wellington College in Pune have also expanded into the country.

This expansion coincides with a shift in how Indian families approach international education. While affluent households continue to seek international exposure and Cambridge curricula, there is a growing focus on return on investment (ROI) for higher education. Data from the Ministry of Education indicates a decline in Indians declaring study as their primary purpose for overseas travel, falling from approximately 894,758 in 2023 to 619,264 in 2025.

Changing global policies are also influencing these trends. For instance, the United Kingdom is set to reduce the duration of its Graduate visa from two years to 18 months for most graduates starting in January 2027, contributing to a more selective approach among Indian students regarding studying abroad.