India is quickly becoming one of the most important countries for international branch campus development.
For many years, India was mainly seen as a major student-sending country. Now, it is also becoming a host country for international universities, with new campuses opening or planned across Gurugram, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and GIFT City.
Why India matters
- India’s National Education Policy 2020 opened the door for more international higher education collaboration.
- The UGC’s 2023 regulations created a clearer route for foreign universities to establish campuses in India.
- GIFT City has developed a separate route for international branch campuses, especially in finance, fintech, business analytics, cyber security and professional education.
- India is now moving from policy discussion to delivery, with several UK and Australian universities approved, operating or preparing to launch.
Latest UGC approvals
- University of Bristol Mumbai Enterprise Campus has received a Letter of Approval from the University Grants Commission (UGC). The campus is expected to welcome its first students from 2026, with programmes linked to Data Science, Economics, Finance, Financial Technology and Data Science, and Immersive Arts.
- University of York Mumbai has received UGC approval to commence campus operations in India. It plans to welcome undergraduate and postgraduate students from the 2026/27 academic year, with initial areas including Computer Science with AI and Cyber Security, Business, Economics, Finance, Management and the Creative Industries.
- UNSW Sydney has received a UGC Letter of Approval to establish UNSW Bengaluru. The campus is expected to begin teaching in August 2026 at Embassy Manyata Business Park, with initial programmes in Business, Computer Science, Data Science and Cyber Security.
Other major branch campus developments
- University of Southampton Delhi, based in Gurugram, was the first UK university to open in India under the new UGC route. It is a major milestone for UK-India TNE and offers programmes in areas such as business, management, computer science, economics and software engineering.
- University of Liverpool Bengaluru is now UGC approved and is preparing to open in Bengaluru, with programmes linked to Business Management, Accounting and Finance, Computer Science, Biomedical Sciences and Game Design.
- University of Aberdeen is planning a campus in Mumbai/Navi Mumbai, with proposed areas including Business Management, Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Economics and MBA provision.
- Lancaster University has also been linked to Bengaluru, with an expected focus on business, management, computing and related areas.
GIFT City as a specialist hub
GIFT City in Gujarat is becoming a distinctive hub for international branch campuses, particularly for postgraduate and professionally aligned provision.
- Deakin University and University of Wollongong were among the first Australian universities to operate from GIFT City.
- Deakin University focuses on areas such as Business Analytics and Cyber Security.
- University of Wollongong focuses on areas such as Computing, Data Analytics, Finance and Business-related provision.
- Queen’s University Belfast has developed its GIFT City campus presence, with postgraduate programmes linked to Finance, Financial Analytics, Business Analytics, Artificial Intelligence and Construction Project Management.
- Coventry University and University of Surrey have also received in-principle approval for GIFT City campuses.
Why the locations matter
- Gurugram / Delhi NCR connects universities to national networks, employers and a large student market.
- Bengaluru links directly to India’s technology, start-up, AI, innovation and cyber security ecosystem.
- Mumbai and Navi Mumbai connect to finance, professional services, enterprise, creative industries and research partnerships.
- GIFT City offers a specialist environment for finance, fintech, business analytics and global professional education.
The student value: international degrees at a lower tuition cost
One of the strongest student-facing arguments for India’s branch campus development is cost.
Students can access an international university degree in India without paying the full tuition fee associated with studying overseas for the whole degree. The saving is not only about tuition, but tuition alone already shows a significant difference.
- University of Southampton Software Engineering UG: studying in India is around £10,860 per year, compared with around £31,000 per year at the UK campus. Over a three-year degree, this represents a tuition-fee saving of around £60,420.
- University of Liverpool Accounting and Finance UG: studying in India is around £9,000 per year, compared with around £27,000 per year at the UK campus. Over a three-year degree, this represents a tuition-fee saving of around £54,000.
These figures do not include further savings from accommodation, flights, visas, insurance and day-to-day living costs. For many students and families, this makes the branch campus model a much more accessible route to an international degree.
However, this should not be presented too simply as a low-cost option. These campuses are still likely to sit within the premium part of Indian higher education. Affordability, scholarships, access and student outcomes will remain important questions as the sector grows.
What this means for students
- Students can access international degrees without moving overseas for the full duration of study.
- Branch campuses may reduce the overall cost compared with studying abroad.
- Students may benefit from international curricula, local employability links and possible mobility routes to the home campus.
- Students can remain closer to family, local networks and India’s growing employment market while still gaining an overseas university award.
What this means for universities
- India offers scale, talent, employer demand and long-term partnership opportunities.
- Success will require more than opening a branded campus.
- Universities will need to invest in quality assurance, local staffing, student support, employability, contextualised curriculum and strong industry partnerships.
- The strongest campuses will be those that are academically credible, locally relevant and globally connected.
Why transparency matters
As India’s branch campus landscape grows, students, parents, agents and education professionals need clear information on:
- which campuses are approved;
- where they are located;
- which programmes are offered;
- what the fees and entry requirements are;
- whether the degree is equivalent to the home campus award;
- what mobility, employability and progression opportunities are available.
This is why Branch Campus Finder has created a dedicated India country page. It brings together key information on international branch campuses in India, helping users compare institutions, locations, programme areas and campus status more easily.