Mumbai to Host Campuses of 5 Top Foreign Universities Under NEP 2020 Vision

In a landmark move to strengthen India’s global education footprint under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Ministry of Education has issued Letters of Intent (LoIs) to five globally ranked foreign universities to establish branch campuses in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

The universities include:

• University of York (UK)
• University of Aberdeen (UK)
• University of Western Australia (Australia)
• Illinois Institute of Technology (USA)
• Instituto Europeo Di Design (IED) (Italy)

This milestone was marked during the event ‘Mumbai Rising: Creating an International Education City’, where senior dignitaries including Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed the gathering.

Mumbai to Become Global Education Capital Under NEP 2020

Speaking at the event, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan emphasized that this initiative reflects the Prime Minister’s vision of positioning India as a global knowledge hub. He added that the move signifies India’s two-way engagement with the global education ecosystem, promoting both inbound campuses and outbound expansion of Indian institutions.

“We are not just inviting foreign universities; we are co-creating innovation-driven ecosystems,” Pradhan said.

Shri Devendra Fadnavis noted that the presence of these universities would provide world-class education at affordable costs, solving accessibility challenges for Indian students. He also stated that talks are underway with five more universities to join this initiative.

UG and PG Courses in High-Demand Domains

The foreign universities will offer Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs in key areas such as:

• Business & Economics
• Computer Science
• Public Health
• Data Science
• Design & Innovation
• Emerging Technologies

These disciplines align with India’s ambition for a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) and are expected to shape the future-ready workforce.

First-Ever Foreign University Campuses in Mumbai/Navi Mumbai

This is the first time international universities will establish branch campuses in Mumbai/Navi Mumbai. The University of Western Australia will also open a second campus in Chennai, showing growing confidence in India’s regulatory environment post the UGC (2023) Guidelines.

All five institutions are ranked in the QS World Top 500, underscoring their global academic reputation.

UGC’s Fast-Track Approval and Global Collaborations

Dr. Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education and UGC Chairman, highlighted the transparent, tech-enabled process for approvals, completed within a month. He reiterated the Ministry’s role in enabling “internationalization at home” through collaborative and dual-degree programs under recent Equivalence Regulations.

Additionally, Indian institutes like IIT Delhi and IIT Madras are expanding overseas with new campuses in Abu Dhabi and Tanzania, respectively, while IIM Ahmedabad prepares for a Dubai presence.

Global Support for India’s Educational Vision

Diplomats and representatives from the UK, USA, Australia, and Italy welcomed India’s open educational policies. They stressed education as a bridge of diplomacy and expressed commitment to bringing world-class faculty and curriculum to Indian soil.

A Five-Year Milestone for NEP 2020

Marking five years of NEP 2020, this initiative exemplifies ‘Sankalp Se Siddhi’—the journey from vision to reality. It reaffirms the government’s commitment to empowering Indian youth through innovation-led, inclusive education, making India a true global education hub.