Several Australian universities are poised to begin operating in India next year, marking a significant step in the internationalization of India's higher education sector and strengthening educational ties between the two countries. This move aligns with India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which encourages top global institutions to establish campuses in India.
The University of Western Australia (UWA) and Victoria University are among the first to establish campuses in India by mid-2026. UWA plans to launch two campuses in Chennai and Mumbai, while Victoria University will set up its campus in Gurugram. The University of Southampton (UK) has already begun operations in Gurugram this August, and the University of Liverpool (UK) is preparing to start its academic year in Bengaluru in 2026. Deakin University and the University of Wollongong already began operations in 2024 in Gujarat's GIFT City under the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) Regulations 2022.
UWA's Chennai campus will initially offer undergraduate courses in Information Technology (IT), and the Mumbai campus will focus on business programs. Victoria University's Gurugram campus is expected to launch undergraduate and postgraduate programs in business, information technology, and research. Victoria University's campus will be modeled on VU's modern City Tower Campus in Melbourne, aiming to deliver the same academic quality but at lower costs. The Victoria University campus will be the first in India to teach using the VU Block Model.
UWA has a 10-year expansion plan for its India campuses and will begin with approximately 200 students combined across the two campuses. The university hopes to have around 6,000 students at each campus within ten years, complete with full facilities, including dormitories. Initially, the campuses will be commuter-based, but UWA aims to develop residential options in the future. UWA also intends to hire primarily Indian faculty members.
These new campuses will offer Indian students access to affordable, globally recognized education and the opportunity to earn Australian degrees without the expense of studying abroad. They also aim to create industry-connected, skill-driven programs and expand India's higher education infrastructure with global standards. According to UWA Vice-Chancellor Amit Chakma, India was a "logical choice" for global expansion due to the strong and complementary relationship between India and Australia. Victoria University stated that they aim to contribute to India's human capital development through their campus.
Other Australian universities, including Western Sydney University and La Trobe University, have also received approval to establish campuses in India. Western Sydney University (WSU) will set up its campus in Greater Noida, Victoria University in Noida, and La Trobe University in Bengaluru. Western Sydney University's Greater Noida campus aligns with UP's Higher Education Incentive Policy 2024, which aims to create a flexible, inclusive, and robust higher education system.
The entry of Australian universities into the Indian education market is expected to stimulate competition and improve educational standards. However, challenges remain, including maintaining academic standards across different regulatory environments and ensuring that degrees earned in India hold the same value as those earned in Australia. Despite these challenges, the move represents a significant shift in global education dynamics, with Australian institutions increasingly focused on delivering education directly to students in their home countries.
