India Approves Campuses of Three Top Global Universities

• University of Bristol, University of York and UNSW receive Letters of Approval
• New campuses to be set up in Mumbai and Bengaluru
• Move advances NEP 2020 vision of internationalising higher education
• Five foreign universities now approved to establish campuses in India

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 9th June: The Ministry of Education on Monday handed over Letters of Approval (LoAs) to three globally reputed foreign higher education institutions — the University of Bristol, the University of York and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) — to establish campuses in India, marking a major step towards the internationalisation of higher education under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The Letters of Approval were presented by Higher Education Secretary and University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Dr Vineet Joshi in the presence of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Representatives of the three universities received the approvals during a ceremony attended by officials from the Ministry of Education, UGC, the British High Commission, Australian High Commission and the British Council.

Addressing the event, Pradhan said the establishment of the three campuses represents another important milestone in advancing the NEP 2020 vision of globalising India’s higher education ecosystem.

He said the arrival of these institutions would strengthen quality education, global learning partnerships and research collaboration in the country.

“With Bristol and York establishing campuses in Mumbai, and UNSW setting up its campus in Bengaluru, these institutions are aligning with two of India’s most dynamic knowledge, technology and innovation hubs,” Pradhan said.

The University of Bristol will establish its Mumbai Enterprise Campus, offering programmes in immersive arts, finance, data science, economics, business management, entrepreneurship and innovation.

The University of York will set up its first overseas campus in Mumbai, with courses in finance, computer science with artificial intelligence, cyber security, business, economics, creative industries and management.

Meanwhile, UNSW Bengaluru is scheduled to commence operations in August 2026 at Manyata Business Park. The campus will offer programmes in business, computer science and cyber security, while also promoting collaboration in renewable energy, healthcare, transport and education.

The Ministry said the new campuses form part of India’s broader internationalisation agenda under NEP 2020, which seeks to promote India as a global education destination while maintaining the highest international academic standards.

Officials noted that the UGC regulations for foreign higher educational institutions provide a transparent, streamlined and time-bound framework for globally recognised universities to establish campuses in India while retaining institutional autonomy.

The government expects the new campuses to expand access to world-class education within the country, boost research and innovation, promote academic mobility and deepen educational partnerships with the United Kingdom and Australia.

With the latest approvals, five foreign universities have now received Letters of Approval under the UGC regulations, including the University of Southampton and the University of Liverpool. The University of Southampton has already begun academic operations in India from the 2025-26 academic session.

The UGC has also issued 10 Letters of Intent to other globally reputed universities from the United Kingdom, United States, Australia and Italy for establishing campuses across India. In addition, Deakin University, the University of Wollongong and Queen’s University Belfast have already commenced operations in GIFT City, Gujarat.

The Ministry said the growing interest from leading international institutions reflects increasing confidence in India’s academic and regulatory ecosystem and will contribute to building a globally competitive, inclusive and future-ready higher education landscape.