Foreign Universities Establishing/Proposing Campuses in India (as of 2025)

University of Wollongong (UOW), Australia

• Location in India: GIFT City, Gujarat
• Status: Announced in 2023; expected to start operations soon.
• Programs Offered: Business, Finance, STEM (specific details awaited).
• Note: This will be a full-fledged international branch campus.

Deakin University, Australia

• Location in India: GIFT City, Gujarat
• Status: Announced in 2023; academic operations expected to begin by 2025.
• Programs Offered: Business Analytics, Cybersecurity, and other emerging areas.
• Highlights: First foreign university to receive approval to set up an independent campus in India.

University of Birmingham and University of Melbourne (Joint Initiative)

• Status: Signed MoU to explore collaborative degrees and research in India.
• Location: Not a standalone campus yet, but indicative of future developments.
• Focus: Joint PhDs and integrated programs.

🔹 Policy and Regulatory Framework

• UGC (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations, 2023: Enables top 500 global universities to set up autonomous campuses in India with freedom in admissions, hiring, and fee structure.
• GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City): Designated as the first hub for foreign university campuses in India with special regulations and tax benefits.

🔹 Other Universities Exploring Entry

Although not yet operational, the following foreign universities have shown interest:

• King’s College London (UK) – exploring partnerships and dual degree models.
• University of Cambridge & University of Oxford (UK) – discussions at policy level.
• MIT and Stanford University (USA) – exploring collaboration, not full campuses yet.

🔹 Significance for India

• Attracts international curriculum and pedagogy without students needing to go abroad.
• Boosts India’s standing as an international education hub.
• May help retain Indian students who otherwise spend billions studying overseas.