India’s higher education sector received a major boost on Tuesday as the Ministry of Education granted approval to three globally renowned universities to establish independent campuses in the country.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan handed over formal Letters of Approval to the University of Bristol, University of York and University of New South Wales (UNSW).

The approvals increase the number of foreign universities permitted to operate campuses in India to five, following earlier approvals granted to the University of Southampton and University of Liverpool.

Mumbai and Bengaluru chosen as academic hubs

The University of Bristol and the University of York will establish their campuses in Mumbai, offering programmes in areas such as artificial intelligence, data science, financial markets and cyber security.

Meanwhile, UNSW plans to launch its Bengaluru campus at Manyata Business Park by August 2026, with a strong focus on technology and innovation-driven education.

The move is expected to strengthen ties between global academia and India’s rapidly growing technology and business sectors.

Boost for NEP 2020 vision

Speaking at the event, Dharmendra Pradhan said the development aligns with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which seeks to internationalise India’s higher education ecosystem and provide greater access to world-class education.

The initiative is also expected to reduce the financial burden on students who would otherwise travel abroad to pursue international degrees.

Global standards with local access

Under the University Grants Commission (UGC) framework, foreign universities will enjoy academic and operational autonomy while maintaining international curriculum standards.

Students enrolled at these campuses will receive degrees from the parent institutions, providing access to globally recognised qualifications within India.

The announcement follows the establishment of foreign university campuses at Gujarat’s GIFT City, including those of Deakin University and University of Wollongong.

Officials revealed that applications from several other universities from the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe are currently under consideration.