Ambivalent response as five more unis join India’s TNE boom
Just last week, the University Grants Commission formally issued LOIs to five Western institutions: the University of York and University of Aberdeen (UK), University of Western Australia, Illinois Institute of Technology (USA), and IED Istituto Europeo di Design (Italy), during an event titled ‘Mumbai Rising: Creating an International Education City’.
The handover ceremony was attended by union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, UGC acting chairman Vineet Joshi, vice-chancellors of the participating universities, and diplomats from the US, UK, Italy, and Australia.
The institutions can now proceed with setting up campuses in the 250-acre Edu City, an upcoming education hub near Navi Mumbai International Airport, currently under construction and located on the outskirts of Navi Mumbai.
While no specific launch date has been announced, the universities are expected to begin operations within an 18-month timeline, with most aiming to start their admission cycles before December 2026.
The government’s larger goal is to have at least 10 international universities in this region (Edu City)
Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra CM
Moreover, the campuses are set to offer fees that are 25-30% lower than what students from India currently pay for similar courses while studying abroad, according to Fadnavis.
“The government’s larger goal is to have at least 10 international universities in this region,” Fadnavis stated at the event, highlighting that the emerging education hub is already being supported by key transport infrastructure.
“This initiative is expected to give Mumbai, known mainly for its industries, finance, and entertainment, a new identity as an academic destination,” he added.
How the idea of Edu City came about
According to Ashwin Damera, CEO of Emeritus, Mumbai was not initially on the radar for the participating universities as a campus location.
“Of the five foreign universities that recently announced their decision to establish campuses in Mumbai, three had no intention of coming here. In fact, they were actively scouting other Indian cities. Mumbai wasn’t even in contention – written off early because of one factor: prohibitively expensive real estate,” read the LinkedIn post by Damera.
“We considered several approaches, but it became clear that what was needed was structural intervention. The solution? If the government could designate and develop a dedicated education zone – an academic hub – it could fundamentally change the equation.”
According to Damera, the proposed solution prompted Fadnavis to view Edu City as a strategic priority, leading him to pitch the vision to international universities.
“In their experience, it was usually them chasing the state – not the other way around. That shift matters. Symbolism matters. Execution matters more.”
Unis offer diverse options through India campus
According to Sachin Jain, country manager, ETS India and South Asia, the announcement of the LOIs marks a “watershed moment”, as each of the five international universities brings distinct strengths to the table.
“Illinois Tech anchors the ecosystem with its reputation for engineering and technological innovation, supported by a strong research culture. The University of Aberdeen brings balanced strengths in foundational sciences and humanities, underscored by top rankings in earth sciences and human geography.
“The University of York adds a societal dimension through its expertise in business, public policy, and social sciences, with a strong focus on sustainability,” stated Jain.
“The University of Western Australia offers a global perspective with its leadership in environmental science and clean technology research. Finally, the Istituto Europeo di Design introduces a vital creative element, offering globally relevant design innovation grounded in real-world applications.”
An interesting aspect shared by the delegates was that they intend to recruit not just from India, but from other parts of the world for their Indian campus as well
Sushil Sukhwani, Edwise International
While the University of York will offer undergraduate and postgraduate programs in AI, cybersecurity, business, economics, and creative industries, the University of Western Australia will focus on business and STEM fields.
Meanwhile, the University of Aberdeen, Scotland’s first university with a soon-to-be India campus, will launch courses in computing, data science, AI, business, and later expand into public health, psychology, and film studies.
The first US campus in India, Illinois Institute of Technology, will offer programs in computer science, engineering, and business, with Italy’s IED Istituto Europeo di Design expected to focus on creative courses in fashion, product, interior design, visual communication, and digital arts.
“It may also be relevant to each of the institutions to offer credit-based programs that can be taken by the students within these five institutions and by the larger ecosystem outside Educity, Navi Mumbai, to bring interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary modalities to a larger student base,” added Jain.
Student recruitment: expectations and challenges
Sushil Sukhwani, founder and director, Edwise International, said some programs could begin as early as September 2026, with the possibility of agents assisting in student recruitment.
“I am already in touch with one institution following this activity, and the delegates from there mentioned that they are already gearing up to give select agents in India, and from around the world, contracts to recruit for this campus,” stated Sukhwani.
“An interesting aspect shared by the delegates was that they intend to recruit not just from India, but from other parts of the world for their Indian campus as well.”
According to Vincenzo Raimo, an international higher education consultant, who has held leadership roles at the University of Nottingham and the University of Reading, recruitment projections for branch campuses are often “overly ambitious”, with costs that frequently overlook key overheads and the role of academic staff.
UK institutions have not always been good at fully accounting for their own contributions, particularly academic time, quality assurance, and other institutional overheads required to support these ventures
Vincenzo Raimo
“India’s outbound student market, however, is often driven by motivations that go beyond just the qualification such as access to international work experience, and post-study migration opportunities are also a major draw. These benefits won’t be as easily accessible to those who remain in India.”
Raimo further noted that while universities, especially from the UK, could boost recruitment by offering transfer options and post-study work routes, they must contribute equally to partnerships if they aim to use Indian campuses to strengthen their brand and student pipeline.
“When it comes to student recruitment, India is a very different proposition from other established branch campus markets such as Malaysia or China. In those contexts, we’ve seen strong demand from more cost-conscious students who might otherwise not be able to afford study abroad,” stated Raimo.
“In many cases, the local partner is responsible for navigating regulatory frameworks, running campus operations, and driving student recruitment, and often bearing the bulk (or all) of the capital investment,” added Raimo.
“However, UK institutions have not always been good at fully accounting for their own contributions, particularly academic time, quality assurance, and other institutional overheads required to support these ventures. That poses a risk to both financial sustainability and academic integrity.”
Why universities are aiming for “soft” courses
According to A. Jayakrishnan, former vice-chancellor of the University of Kerala and Cochin University of Science and Technology, and ex-professor at IIT Madras, many international universities setting up in India are prioritising high-demand “soft” courses like computer science, economics, and IT, a trend seen in the country for several years.
“There’s little interest in setting up programs in mechanical or electrical engineering. Universities are choosing disciplines that are logistically simpler and more marketable to Indian students,” stated Jayakishnan.
“Everyone wants computer science now, not necessarily out of passion, but because that’s where the brand value and big salary packages are.”
Jayakrishnan noted that while affordability may remain a concern, with government support likely limited to measures like subsidised land, he also stressed the need for transparent recruitment practices.
Still, he added that the entry of international universities could offer students a “fundamentally different approach” to education.
“One major draw of institutions like the Illinois Institute of Technology is their teaching approach. The pedagogy is entirely different, it’s more about critical inquiry, problem-solving, and engagement,” stated Jayakrishnan.
“Experiencing that different pedagogical style, one that encourages real-world application, could be a real advantage for Indian students.”
Maharashtra’s scholarship conundrum
While the UGC has encouraged international universities setting up shop in India to offer full or partial merit- or need-based scholarships, a senior official told Hindustan Times that institutions will have the autonomy to make that decision.
The voluntary nature of offering scholarships could affect students hoping to study at these institutions, as the universities, despite potentially lower fees, retain full autonomy over their fee structures.
Scholarships for education have long been a contentious issue in Maharashtra, where restrictions have previously been placed on aid for marginalised students, and government-funded scholarship schemes have faced repeated delays, leaving many students abroad still awaiting promised disbursements.
“According to a recent RedSeer report, nearly 60% of Indian students consider cost a key driver when evaluating overseas study,” stated Jain.
“By offering international-quality education at a lower cost than equivalent programs abroad, domestic campuses of global institutions can remove a major barrier.”
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