Three Global Universities Get Approval to Open India Campuses

Welcoming the universities, Pradhan said the development marks an important milestone in strengthening international academic partnerships, expanding educational opportunities and promoting research collaboration.

India has taken another major step towards becoming a global higher education hub, with the Ministry of Education issuing Letters of Approval (LoAs) to three internationally renowned universities — the University of Bristol, the University of York and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) — to establish campuses in the country. The approvals were formally handed over by Department of Higher Education Secretary and University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Dr. Vineet Joshi in the presence of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Representatives from the three universities, along with officials from the Ministry of Education, UGC, British High Commission, Australian High Commission and British Council, attended the ceremony. The approvals form part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 vision to internationalise higher education and bring globally reputed institutions to India.

Mumbai and Bengaluru Chosen as New Academic Hubs

Welcoming the universities, Pradhan said the development marks an important milestone in strengthening international academic partnerships, expanding educational opportunities and promoting research collaboration.

The University of Bristol will establish its Mumbai Enterprise Campus, offering programmes in areas such as Immersive Arts, Finance, Data Science, Economics, Business Management, Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

The University of York will set up its first overseas campus in Mumbai, with proposed courses in Finance, Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Economics, Business and Creative Industries Management.

The University of New South Wales will establish UNSW Bengaluru, which is scheduled to begin operations in August 2026 at Manyata Business Park. The campus plans to offer programmes in Business, Computer Science and Cyber Security while also supporting collaborative work in renewable energy, healthcare, transport and education.

Pradhan noted that Mumbai and Bengaluru are among India's leading centres for innovation, technology and knowledge creation. He described Bengaluru as one of the world's emerging technology capitals and said the universities' decision to establish campuses in these cities reflects confidence in India's growing education ecosystem.

Foreign University Presence Continues to Expand

The establishment of these campuses is being facilitated under UGC regulations that provide a transparent and time-bound framework for foreign higher educational institutions to operate in India while maintaining their academic autonomy and international standards.

Officials believe the move will allow more Indian students to access globally recognised education without leaving the country. It is also expected to encourage greater academic mobility, strengthen research partnerships and create new opportunities for collaboration between Indian and international institutions.

With the latest approvals, five foreign universities have now received Letters of Approval under the UGC framework. The University of Southampton and the University of Liverpool had previously received approvals, with Southampton already commencing academic operations during the 2025–26 academic session.

The UGC has also issued ten Letters of Intent to other leading institutions from the United Kingdom, United States, Australia and Italy that are exploring plans to establish campuses in India.

In addition, Deakin University, the University of Wollongong and Queen's University Belfast have already begun operations in Gujarat's GIFT City, reflecting growing international interest in India's higher education sector.

The Ministry of Education believes these developments will contribute to building a globally competitive, inclusive and future-ready higher education system while positioning India as an attractive destination for international learning and research.