India’s higher education system is going through an important change. The government is making efforts to bring global education to the country and attract well-known foreign universities. With the help of the National Education Policy 2020 and rules set by the University Grants Commission, top international universities can now open their own campuses in India. Earlier, they could only work through partnerships or student exchange programmes, not independently.
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The entry of foreign universities is likely to make India an important education hub in the region. Students can now study for international degrees, follow updated courses, and gain industry-relevant skills without going abroad. However, these campuses are not being opened everywhere. They are mostly being set up in big cities that have good infrastructure, strong job markets, and global connections. This article explores which Indian cities have foreign university campuses.
Some of the foreign universities' campuses are located in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, GIFT City and Bangalore. Check the table below for the list of top foreign universities in India along with their location.
Name of University | City |
Delhi NCR (Gurgaon, Haryana) | |
Delhi NCR (Gurgaon, Haryana) | |
GIFT CITY, Gujarat | |
GIFT CITY, Gujarat | |
GIFT CITY, Gujarat | |
Bangalore, Karnataka | |
Mumbai, Maharashtra | |
Mumbai, Maharashtra | |
Mumbai, Maharashtra | |
Mumbai, Maharashtra |
With the 2023 guidelines introduced by the University Grants Commission, leading global universities are now beginning to set up branch campuses in the Delhi NCR region. Delhi NCR offers strong infrastructure, proximity to policymakers, and a large student base—making it one of the top destinations for foreign campuses. Some of the foreign universities in Delhi are already established, and some are upcoming or set to establish in 2026. Check the details below of foreign university campuses in Delhi NCR.
The University of Southampton Delhi NCR campus is located in Gurgaon, Haryana. The university offers UG programmes, including BSc Hons, BE Software Engineering Hons, while PG programmes are MSc. Admissions are done based on past academic performance, the application form, and several other criteria.
Victoria University has been approved by UGC and is set to open its campus in 2026 at Gurgaon, Haryana. Bachelor of Information Technology, Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Data Science, Bachelor of Cyber Security and MBA. Victoria University Delhi NCR fees for UG programmes is Rs 11,00,000, and PG programmes is Rs 13,50,000.
GIFT City of Gujarat has 2 established foreign university campuses and 1 upcoming campus. Check the details of foreign university campuses in GIFT City below.
Deakin University (Australia) established an initial presence in India back in 1994 and set up a branch campus in GIFT City, Gujarat, in early 2024. The postgraduate courses of Deakin University GIFT City include the Master of Business Analytics and the Master of Cyber Security Professional. The estimated course fees is $39,600.
University of Wollongong has established its campus in GIFT City, Gujarat.
The programmes include Bachelor of Business in Business Analytics and Finance, Master of Financial Technology, and Master of Computing in Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence. Admissions to the University of Wollongong GIFT City are based on IELTS/TOEFL scores.
Queen's University of Belfast has been approved and is set to establish its campus in 2026.
The courses offered by Queen's University of Belfast GIFT City include M.Sc courses in six different specialisations: M.Sc Financial Analytics, M.Sc Finance and M.Sc Business Analytics.
Bangalore has 1 approved foreign university that is set to be established in 2026. Check the details of the Foreign universities in Bangalore below.
The University of Liverpool Bengaluru campus is established under the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEI) regulations and aligned with India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. University of Liverpool Bangalore UG courses include BSc Hons and BA Hons, while the PG course is MSc. For domestic students, UG annual tuition fees is Rs 11,50,000, and PG annual tuition fees are Rs 15,00,000.
At present, there are no fully operational foreign universities in Mumbai, but some of them are set to open in 2026. Check details of some of the best foreign university campuses in Mumbai below.
The University of York is set to open its campus in Mumbai in 2026. Popular programmes of the University of York Mumbai include BA Hons, BSc Hons and MSc. Annual fees for domestic students is Rs 12,50,000 for UG programmes. Fees for MSc Management is Rs 15,000, MSc Finance is Rs 16,00,000 and MSc Artificial Intelligence is Rs 16,50,000.
The University of Bristol has received formal approval from the University Grants Commission of India to launch its first international campus in Mumbai. The course list includes 3-year BSc programmes and 1-year MSc and MA courses. Fee structure for UG courses is Rs 15,00,000 and PG courses is Rs 22,00,000.
The University of Aberdeen is approved by the UGC and will set up a campus in 2026. University of Aberdeen Mumbai course list includes BSc, MA, MSc and MBA. University of Aberdeen Mumbai fees for UG programmes is Rs 12,00,000 for domestic students. Fee structure for PG programmes ranges from Rs 14,00,000 to Rs 17,00,000.
Illinois Institute of Technology will open a new campus in Mumbai, which is expected to welcome its first students in August 2026 under the UGC’s Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEI) regulations. Illinois Institute of Technology UG programme is BS and PG programmes include MAS Data Science, MS and MBA.
Cities like Delhi NCR, GIFT City, Bengaluru, and Mumbai have become the main centres for these campuses because they have good infrastructure, strong global connections, and better job opportunities. Instead of spreading across the country, these universities are choosing a few key cities that can support high-quality education and international standards.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Foreign university campuses in India are mainly located in Delhi NCR, GIFT City, Bangalore, and Mumbai. These cities are preferred due to strong infrastructure and global connectivity.
These cities offer better infrastructure, job opportunities, and international exposure. They also have a large student population and strong industry connections, making them ideal for global universities.
Some universities like Deakin University and the University of Wollongong have already established campuses in GIFT City, Gujarat.
Yes, several universities, such as the University of Southampton, University of Liverpool, and University of York, are planning to open campuses in cities like Delhi NCR, Bangalore, and Mumbai by 2026.