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The global educational landscape has shifted. This week, the 500-year-old University of Aberdeen officially opened admissions for its brand-new Mumbai campus, making it the first ancient Scottish institution to plant its flag in India. Operating out of the tech-heavy suburb of Powai, the campus is scheduled to begin classes in September 2026. Under the leadership of Principal Professor Peter Edwards, the university is targeting India's high-demand sectors, offering degrees in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Business Management. To sweeten the deal, the university has launched the "Aberdeen Pioneer Scholarship," offering a ₹2 lakh tuition fee waiver for its first cohort. This move is a direct result of India’s National Education Policy 2020, which created a "fast-track" for world-class foreign universities to operate with full autonomy.
The Dhaka Dilemma: Why the Snub?
While Mumbai celebrates this academic milestone, Dhaka remains conspicuously absent from the expansion plans of UK universities. The reason is not a lack of interest from students, but a tightening "compliance trap" set by the UK Home Office. As of January 2026, the UK has slashed the acceptable student visa refusal threshold from 10% down to a ruthless 5%. With visa refusal rates for Bangladeshi students recently hitting 22%, British institutions face a "catastrophic risk" of losing their entire sponsorship license if they recruit too heavily or set up shop in Dhaka. At least nine major UK universities—including Wolverhampton, Sunderland, and London Metropolitan—have already suspended or restricted applications from Bangladesh this year to protect their global standing.
Policy vs. Reality: The Missing Link
The divide between India and Bangladesh is increasingly driven by regulatory trust. While India has streamlined its process for foreign branch campuses (FBCs), Bangladesh’s University Grants Commission (UGC) is still navigating a complex draft policy. Current requirements in Dhaka include a massive Tk 5 crore fixed deposit and a minimum of 25,000 square feet of space, yet the lack of a clear law regarding the repatriation of profits remains a deal-breaker for UK boards of governors. Furthermore, a 2025 crackdown on unauthorized "fake" campuses in Bangladesh has left many UK institutions wary of the local market's legal stability.
Financial Survival and Future Outlook
For institutions like Aberdeen, global expansion is a survival tactic. Professor Edwards admitted that reaching a break-even financial position by 2028 is a "real challenge" requiring over £5 million in savings. In this high-stakes environment, universities are choosing the path of least resistance. India offers a stable, government-backed "Red Carpet" through its 2035 Vision, whereas Bangladesh currently presents a "Red Tape" obstacle course. Until Dhaka can align its visa compliance and financial repatriation laws with international standards, the "missing link" in Bangladesh’s higher education will continue to drive British investment across the border.
