NEW DELHI : India has granted approval to three globally reputed foreign universities from the United Kingdom and Australia to establish campuses in the country, marking a significant step in the internationalisation of higher education under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The Letters of Approval (LoAs) were handed over in the presence of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The approved institutions include the University of Bristol and the University of York from the United Kingdom, both of which will establish campuses in Mumbai, and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) from Australia, which will set up a campus in Bengaluru.
According to the Ministry of Education, the move is aimed at bringing internationally recognised academic and research opportunities closer to Indian students while strengthening India’s position as a global education destination.
The proposed campuses are expected to offer programmes in emerging and high-demand fields, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cyber Security, Data Science, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Creative Industries, Immersive Arts, Renewable Energy, Health, Transport and Education Technology.
The approvals form part of the government’s broader vision under NEP 2020 to promote the internationalisation of higher education. The policy seeks to encourage leading foreign universities to establish a presence in India while also creating opportunities for Indian institutions to expand their global footprint.
Education officials said the arrival of internationally recognised universities could provide Indian students with access to foreign degree programmes without having to relocate overseas, while also encouraging greater academic collaboration, research partnerships and knowledge exchange. The decision comes as India continues to position itself as a major higher education hub, supported by its large student population, expanding research ecosystem and growing demand for globally competitive academic programmes.
The government said the initiative reflects increasing international confidence in India’s higher education sector and aligns with the broader goal of transforming the country into a global knowledge and innovation hub.
With campuses planned in Mumbai and Bengaluru, two of India’s leading centres for business, technology and innovation, the universities are expected to contribute to research, skill development and industry-academia collaboration in the years ahead.