Marking a major milestone in the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Ministry of Education has issued Letters of Intent (LoIs) to five globally reputed universities—University of York, University of Aberdeen, University of Western Australia, Illinois Institute of Technology, and Instituto Europeo Di Design (IED), Italy—to establish branch campuses in Mumbai.
The announcement was made during the event ‘Mumbai Rising: Creating an International Education City’, in the presence of Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis, and other dignitaries. Shri Pradhan highlighted that this move brings the Prime Minister’s vision of offering affordable, premium global education within India closer to reality. He emphasized that India is transitioning from a participant to a leader in the global education ecosystem.
These branch campuses will offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses in key disciplines like business, computer science, public health, economics, data science, and design—fields critical to India’s innovation-led development goals.
The Chief Minister noted that foreign universities establishing campuses in India will help overcome affordability and accessibility barriers for Indian students. Further discussions are underway with five more global institutions.
The LoIs were issued under the UGC’s 2023 regulations, aimed at internationalizing Indian education. All five universities rank within the QS World Top 500 and are expected to set up campuses in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Chennai. The University of Western Australia will open two campuses—one in Mumbai/Navi Mumbai and one in Chennai.
This initiative coincides with the five-year anniversary of NEP 2020 and reflects its core goals: internationalization at home and India as a global study destination. It builds on earlier approvals granted to the University of Southampton and University of Liverpool, as well as operational campuses of Deakin University and University of Wollongong in GIFT City.
Additionally, Indian institutions are expanding abroad, with IITs and IIMs launching international campuses. This growing two-way movement of knowledge, talent, and innovation is shaping India’s rise as a global education hub.
