Three Foreign Universities Get UGC Approval to Open Campuses in India

India has cleared three more foreign universities to open campuses in the country, marking another big step in the global expansion of Indian higher education. On Monday the Ministry of Education handed over Letters of Approval to the University of Bristol, the University of York and the University of New South Wales (UNSW). These approvals were given under University Grants Commission rules that allow foreign higher educational institutions to set up and run campuses in India. The letters were presented by Dr Vineet Joshi, Secretary of the Department of Higher Education and Chairman of the UGC in the presence of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The move is being seen as part of the internationalisation push under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Read the article to know further details.

New Campuses Planned in Mumbai and Bengaluru

The University of Bristol will open its Mumbai Enterprise Campus and plans to offer courses in immersive arts, finance, data science, economics, business management, entrepreneurship and innovation. The University of York will also open its first overseas campus in Mumbai. Its proposed courses include finance, computer science with artificial intelligence, cyber security, business, economics, creative industries and management.

UNSW will set up its campus in Bengaluru and is expected to begin operations from August 2026 at Manyata Business Park. The university plans to offer programmes in business, computer science and cyber security. It has also said it wants to build stronger ties with India in renewable energy, health, transport and education.

In the presence of Hon’ble Union Minister for Education, Shri @dpradhanbjp, Letters of Approval were handed over to three globally reputed foreign universities from the UK and Australia to establish campuses in India.

The LoAs were received by:
📌 University of Bristol, UK… pic.twitter.com/BEXGJMT4tw

— Ministry of Education (@EduMinOfIndia) June 9, 2026

Government Says Move Supports NEP 2020 Vision

At the event Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the entry of these universities supports the internationalisation goals of NEP 2020. He said their presence would improve quality education in India while also helping global learning partnerships and research collaboration grow. He also noted that Mumbai and Bengaluru were chosen because both cities are major centres of knowledge, technology and innovation. Representatives from the British High Commission, Australian High Commission, British Council, Ministry of Education, UGC and the three universities were present at the ceremony.

Five Approvals So Far, More Global Expansion Ahead

With these latest clearances five approval letters have been issued under the UGC framework. Earlier the University of Southampton and the University of Liverpool had also received approval and Southampton has already started academic operations from the 2025-26 session. In addition the UGC has issued 10 Letters of Intent to institutions from the UK, the US, Australia and Italy for future campuses in India. Deakin University, the University of Wollongong and Queen’s University Belfast are already operating in GIFT City.

The government believes these campuses will bring international education closer to Indian students, improve academic mobility, support research and innovation and create more opportunities at home. It also expects stronger education ties with countries like the UK and Australia as India works towards building a globally competitive higher education system.