To boost India’s global role in education under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Ministry of Education has given Letters of Intent (LoIs) to five top international universities, allowing them to open full-fledged campuses in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
The five universities granted LoIs are:
University of York (United Kingdom)
University of Aberdeen (United Kingdom)
University of Western Australia (Australia)
Illinois Institute of Technology (United States)
Instituto Europeo di Design (IED) (Italy)
Each of these institutions features in the QS World Top 500, underscoring their strong academic credentials and international reputation. The announcements were made during the “Mumbai Rising: Creating an International Education City” event at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. The gathering was addressed by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who jointly emphasised the transformative potential of this initiative.
A two-way vision for global education
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan described the move as a step toward realising the Prime Minister’s vision of India as a global knowledge hub. He noted that the initiative represents India’s dual strategy, welcoming foreign campuses and promoting Indian institutions abroad, thereby enhancing two-way global academic exchange.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis stated that the arrival of these universities would make world-class education more affordable and accessible for Indian students, eliminating the need to travel abroad. He also revealed that discussions are ongoing with five more foreign universities, indicating further expansion in the near future.
Courses in high-demand sectors
These international campuses will offer Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs in high-growth domains such as:
Business & Economics
Computer Science
Public Health
Data Science
Design & Innovation
Emerging Technologies
These offerings align with India’s ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) goal, aiming to equip students with globally relevant, future-ready skills.
First-ever foreign university campuses in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai
This marks the first instance of foreign universities establishing full campuses in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Notably, the University of Western Australia also plans to open a second campus in Chennai, reflecting growing confidence in India’s reformed regulatory framework, especially after the implementation of the UGC (2023) Guidelines for Foreign Universities.
Dr. Vineet Joshi, Secretary of the Department of Higher Education and UGC Chairman, highlighted the use of a transparent, tech-enabled fast-track process, which completed approvals in under a month. He also emphasised the role of recent Equivalence Regulations that facilitate dual-degree and collaborative programs, boosting “internationalisation at home.”
Indian institutions expand abroad too
In parallel with inbound global campuses, Indian institutions are also going global:
IIT Delhi is opening a campus in Abu Dhabi
IIT Madras is launching operations in Tanzania
IIM Ahmedabad is preparing for a new campus in Dubai
This outward push signifies India’s rising confidence and capability in higher education exports.
Diplomatic representatives from the UK, USA, Australia and Italy applauded India’s open and collaborative education policies. They affirmed their commitment to supporting these ventures with world-class faculty, curriculum, and infrastructure, seeing education as a powerful bridge for diplomacy and mutual growth.