British universities maintain extensive research partnerships with Chinese institutions linked to China’s military, despite mounting national security concerns and restrictions imposed by allied countries. These collaborations, which span over two decades and involve thousands of students and hundreds of research projects, continue even as officials from the United States, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, and the European Union have tightened controls on similar exchanges.

One longstanding example is the partnership between Queen Mary University of London and the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (BUPT), a Chinese university closely associated with the country’s defence establishment. The collaboration includes joint campuses, degrees, and research in areas such as 6G technology, satellite communications, and drone networks. Queen Mary representatives state that the partnership complies with UK government regulations and is subject to stringent oversight.

Research by the charity UK-China Transparency identifies at least 19 British universities as academic partners to eight Chinese universities known for their deep military links. This number significantly exceeds comparable partnerships involving countries such as Russia. According to experts, the British academic sector remains China’s preferred foreign destination for collaborations that may support Chinese defence interests.

Unlike the UK, many allied nations have introduced more explicit restrictions. The US has placed the eight Chinese universities on an entity list requiring permission for research collaboration, while Canada limits funding for projects involving these institutions. Japan restricts partnerships with several of them, Taiwan bans joint research and exchanges with most, and the EU excludes them from certain research funding programs.

Within the UK, however, the government has not publicly released a list of universities or entities considered high-risk, relying instead on intelligence agencies and security services to monitor and advise on potentially sensitive collaborations. Officials emphasize the importance of openness in academic research but face criticism that this approach leaves gaps for exploitation by foreign actors.

Concerns about Chinese influence and espionage on UK campuses have increased in recent years. Intelligence agencies have warned that hostile states target British universities to acquire sensitive data and intellectual property. Investigations have been launched into academics suspected of breaching export controls, and senior intelligence officials have publicly highlighted the scale of Chinese espionage attempts.

Some partnerships raise additional questions about ideological alignment. For example, a collaboration between Reading University and the US-sanctioned Beijing Institute of Technology includes mandatory coursework on topics such as “Theory and Practice of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.” Reading University states it has no concerns about the appropriateness of these programs.

These findings have sparked debate over whether British universities adequately consider the risks associated with Chinese funding and partnerships, particularly those with links to the military. Critics argue that current government policies lack clarity and fail to prevent foreign entities from exploiting academic freedom to advance their strategic goals. Nevertheless, Chinese funding and joint initiatives remain significant in UK higher education, highlighting ongoing tensions between openness and national security.