Top 15 International Universities Opening Campuses in India 2025

In 2025, India’s education system is changing in a big way. 15 famous international universities are planning to open their campuses in India this year. This is a big step that will give Indian students more chances to study world-class courses without going abroad.

The Indian government is supporting this move through the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and new UGC rules. These changes make it easier for top global universities to set up in India.

In this blog, you’ll learn about the top International Universities in India 2025, where they are opening, what courses they will offer, and how they will help students across the country.

Why Are Foreign Universities Coming to India?

India has a large number of young students who want a high-quality education. To meet this growing demand, foreign universities are seeing India as a great place to set up new campuses.

With the launch of NEP 2020 and the UGC’s 2023 regulations, it has become easier for international universities to open and run campuses in India.

This move also supports the government’s ambitious goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, a fully developed and educated India. These campuses will provide Indian students with global exposure, enhanced research opportunities, and help reduce the need to study abroad for higher education.

UGC Guidelines for Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India

In 2023, the UGC introduced new rules, known as the “Setting Up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India.” These rules allow top global universities to open campuses in India.
Only those foreign universities that are ranked in the top 500 globally or have strong expertise in a specific subject can apply.
Foreign universities can offer certificate, diploma, and degree programs at UG, PG, PhD, and research levels.
They can hire teachers from India or abroad, as long as they meet high academic standards. Run courses just like they do in their home countries.

Approval Process for Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India

Universities must apply online and share their plans, like what courses they’ll offer, where the campus will be, and how they’ll manage everything. UGC checks the details and gives a Letter of Intent (LoI). After that, the university gets 2 years to build and start its campus in India.

Important Rules

They cannot offer only online or distance courses. Teaching must be done mostly in classrooms.
They can’t run study centres or franchise models. They must directly run the campus.
The degrees must be the same as those offered in their original country and should be valid in India.

Government Support

The UGC and the Ministry of Education are working together to make the setup process smooth.
These steps are part of India’s larger plan to improve education and give students more global opportunities.

Top 15 Foreign Universities Planning Campuses in India

As per the latest announcements under UGC’s 2023 regulations and aligned with NEP 2020, here are the leading universities expected to set up full-scale campuses in India during the academic year 2025 (so far):

University	Country	Confirmed India Campus Location	Expected Start
University of Liverpool	UK	Bengaluru	August 2026
University of Southampton	UK	Gurugram	August 2025
Illinois Institute of Tech	USA	To be finalised	2025
Victoria University	Australia	—	2025
Western Sydney University	Australia	—	2025
Istituto Europeo di Design	Italy	—	2025
Deakin University	Australia	GIFT City, Gujarat	July 2025
University of York	UK	Mumbai (proposed)	2026–27
University of Western Australia	Australia	Mumbai (proposed)	2026–27
University of Aberdeen	UK	—	2025
Queen’s University Belfast	UK	—	2025
University of Surrey	UK	—	2025
Coventry University	UK	—	2025
Lincoln University College	Malaysia	—	2025

University of Liverpool (UK)

The University of Liverpool has received official approval from UGC to open its first Indian campus in Bengaluru, with classes starting in August 2026.

The campus will offer degrees in Business Management, Accounting & Finance, Computer Science, Biomedical Sciences, and Game Design. These degrees will follow the same standards as the UK campus.

The Bengaluru campus will focus on research and industry partnerships, with tie-ups already in place with Wipro, Dream11, AstraZeneca, and others. It aims to grow from a few hundred students to 5,000+ in five years. This marks a major step in bringing global education directly to Indian students under NEP 2020 reforms.

University of Southampton (UK)

The University of Southampton became the first foreign university to open a full campus in India under UGC’s 2023 rules. The campus was launched in Gurugram in July 2025, with classes starting in August.

It offers UG and PG courses like Computer Science, Business, Economics, and Finance, with the same quality as the UK campus. Students also get options to study part of their course in the UK or Malaysia.

The first batch has around 170 students, and the campus aims to grow to 5,000+ students over the next 10 years. This move supports NEP 2020 and brings affordable, world-class education to Indian students.

Illinois Institute of Technology

Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) is the first U.S. university to get UGC approval to open a campus in India. The campus will be set up in Mumbai, with classes starting in 2026.

It will offer programs in Engineering, Computer Science, and Business, following the same high standards as its Chicago campus. Students will also benefit from Illinois Tech’s Elevate program, which includes internships and global learning.

The first batch is expected to have 300 students, with fees about one-third of U.S. costs, making top-quality U.S. education more affordable in India.

Victoria University (Australia)

Victoria University (Melbourne) is one of five institutions recently approved by the UGC to open a full campus in India under the 2023 regulations. While the exact city is still under review, plans are underway to finalise the campus location soon.

Academic focus includes industry-linked programs in Business, IT, and Hospitality, mirroring Victoria University’s practical learning model. This initiative aims to bring affordable Australian-style education to India, helping students gain global exposure locally and strengthening India–Australia educational ties.

Western Sydney University (Australia)

Western Sydney University is setting up its first Indian campus in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, with classes starting in 2026. The campus will offer programs in Business, Computer Science, and Engineering, along with a focus on agriculture and food technology.

It will also establish a Centre of Excellence for smart farming and water security. This move supports NEP 2020 and brings practical, research-driven Australian education to Indian students.

Istituto Europeo di Design (Italy)

The Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) is the first Italian university approved by UGC to open a campus in India, likely near Mumbai. It will offer top-quality programs in fashion, interior design, visual arts, and communication, following the same standards as its campuses in Europe. This move brings premium Italian design education to Indian students under NEP 2020.

Deakin University (Australia)

Deakin University became the first international university to open a full campus in India, located at GIFT City, Gujarat, in 2024. It offers postgraduate programs like Business Analytics and Cyber Security, following the same academic standards as its Australian campus. The campus provides industry-linked learning with internship support and was recognized for supporting India’s NEP 2020 goals.

University of York (UK)

The University of York is set to open its first overseas campus in Mumbai by 2026–27. It will offer UG and PG programs in Computer Science, Business, Economics, and Creative Industries, with the same standards as its UK campus.

The campus will start in a commercial facility, with plans to expand and enroll up to 10,000 students in 10 years. It will also focus on research and partnerships with Indian institutions.

University of Western Australia (Australia)

The University of Western Australia (UWA) is opening its first international campuses in Mumbai and Chennai, with classes starting in mid-2026. The campuses will offer UG and PG programs in STEM and Business, matching UWA’s standards from its Perth campus.

UWA will use a mix of Australian and Indian faculty and plans to support student exchange and industry collaborations, including a scholarship program for girls.

University of Aberdeen

The University of Aberdeen, one of Scotland’s oldest universities, is set to open its Mumbai campus by September 2026. It will offer UG and PG programs in Data Science, Business, Economics, AI, and MBA, with plans to expand into Public Health, Film Studies, and Psychology later.

The campus will start in an existing facility and grow over time, supporting India-UK academic ties and aligning with NEP 2020 and UGC reforms.

Queen's University Belfast

Queen’s University Belfast is opening its first Indian campus in GIFT City, Gujarat, by early 2026. It will offer PG programs in Business Analytics, Finance, Project Management, and more, with future plans for AI-focused degrees. As the first UK Russell Group university in India, it aims to deliver UK-level education aligned with NEP 2020 goals.

University of Surrey

The University of Surrey is set to open its campus in GIFT City, Gujarat, by 2026–27, in collaboration with Global University Systems. The campus will offer programs in Business, Finance, Computer Science, AI, and Cybersecurity, following the UK curriculum. Surrey faculty will lead the teaching, while GUS will manage operations, bringing global education to India’s financial hub under NEP 2020.

Coventry University

Coventry University will open its first Indian campus in GIFT City by 2026, becoming the first English university in the region. The campus will offer undergraduate programs in International Business Management and Business & Finance, with more courses planned later. This move supports India’s NEP 2020 goals and builds on Coventry’s strong ties with Indian students.

Lincoln University College

Lincoln University College has applied to set up its first Indian campus in Telangana under UGC’s 2023 regulations. Known for programs in medicine, engineering, business, and AI, the university meets global ranking norms and has existing academic ties in India. If approved, it will be the first Malaysian university to establish a campus in India.

University of Wollongong

The University of Wollongong is set to open its first campus in India by 2026 under UGC’s 2023 guidelines. The final location is yet to be confirmed, with cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad under consideration.

The campus will offer UG and PG programs in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Data Science, and Business, following the same academic standards as its Australian campus.

This move supports NEP 2020 and aims to bring affordable, globally recognized Australian education to Indian students, along with strong research and industry partnerships.

Expected Benefits for Indian Students

Indian students will gain access to global degrees at local costs, making international education more affordable. They can study close to home, avoiding visa hassles and relocation stress.

Foreign campuses will bring world-class research and tech innovation directly to India. Students can also benefit from global internships and placement networks, boosting international career opportunities.

Conclusion

India is stepping into a new era of education with top international universities opening campuses on its soil. This means students can now access globally recognised education without leaving the country. To make the most of these opportunities, students should regularly check UGC updates and official university websites for admission details and announcements.