Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (CAM) is counselling Coventry University on establishing its international branch campus in GIFT City, Gujarat state, making it the first English university to receive approval.
Partner Ketaki Mehta led the transaction team, with the assistance of senior associate Jinisha Motwani and associate Hridaykrishna Motwani.
The team is helping the UK-based public research university with regulatory approvals to operational setup in line with the International Branch Campuses and Offshore Education Centres Regulations, 2022 (IFSCA IBC and OEC Regulations).
“Foreign universities are looking at an India foray, with GIFT – IFSC having permitted standalone campus setups. The UGC [University Grants Committee] quickly followed the trend, thereby opening up doors for foreign universities to enter India, without necessarily having to piggy back with an Indian organisation,” Mehta said.
“This move will highly benefit the Indian diaspora to get education that is not only international quality, but also carries international recognition, as the regulatory framework mandates for these courses to have the same recognition as provided at home campus by these universities.”
Coventry is the first English university to receive approval under the Academic Infrastructure Service Provider route by the International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA).
Coventry University’s GIFT City campus could see the first students enrolled in 2026, and will initially offer two courses – both Bachelor’s of Science honours degrees in international business management and business and finance.
