The University Grants Commission (UGC) recently approved the establishment of campuses by five renowned foreign universities within the country. This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aiming to enhance the quality and global competitiveness of Indian academia.
One of the five recent universities that got approval to set up a campus in India is the Illinois Institute of Technology (USA). Set to become the first American university to establish a campus in India, the campus reflects the growing interest of U.S. institutions in expanding their global footprint.
The University of Liverpool (UK) is another university soon to set up a campus in India, aiming to offer a range of programmes that cater to the evolving educational needs of Indian students.
There is also Victoria University (Australia), which plans to provide courses that align with global standards and industry requirements, and Western Sydney University (Australia), which intends to establish a campus in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, focusing on disciplines like artificial intelligence, finance, and cybersecurity.
Finally, Istituto Europeo di Design (Italy) also received approval by the UGC to set up a campus in India, bringing expertise in design education to the Indian academic landscape.
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These campuses are currently in advanced stages of development and are expected to commence operations soon, between 2026-27. These institutions aim to offer curricula that are on par with their home campuses, ensuring that Indian students receive quality education without the need to travel abroad.
The approval of these international campuses in India comes soon after the University of Southampton, ranked 81st globally in the QS World University Rankings 2024, became the first UK university to receive approval from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to set up a campus in India. Located in Gurugram, Haryana, the campus is slated to commence operations in July 2025, offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs in disciplines such as computer science, business management, economics, and finance.
The UGC’s 2023 regulations have been instrumental in facilitating the entry of foreign universities into India. These guidelines allow top-ranked global institutions to establish campuses with autonomy over admissions, fee structures, and faculty recruitment, provided they meet specific criteria.
As India continues to position itself as a global education hub, the establishment of these campuses marks a significant step towards achieving the goals outlined in the NEP 2020.
