India Issues LOIs to Five Top Global Universities to Set Up Campuses in Mumbai, Marking NEP 2020 Milestone

In a major stride towards realizing the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Government of India has issued Letters of Intent (LoIs) to five leading foreign universities to establish their offshore campuses in India. The announcement was made during the high-profile event ‘Mumbai Rising: Creating an International Education City’ held in Mumbai.

The five global institutions receiving LoIs are the University of York, University of Aberdeen, University of Western Australia, Illinois Institute of Technology, and Instituto Europeo Di Design (IED), Italy. These campuses will be set up in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Chennai, with the University of Western Australia opening two branches — one in Mumbai/Navi Mumbai and another in Chennai.

Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis were present at the occasion, alongside top education and diplomatic officials. Shri Pradhan hailed the development as a historic moment in India’s education journey, noting that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is emerging as a premium global education destination at affordable costs.

“This initiative not only fulfills the vision of NEP 2020 but also reflects the spirit of Sankalp se Siddhi — from resolution to realization,” said Shri Pradhan. “Mumbai is becoming a global education capital where finance, technology, and academia converge to empower India’s youth and drive innovation-led growth toward a Viksit Bharat by 2047.”

The new foreign university campuses will offer undergraduate and postgraduate programs in high-demand fields such as business, economics, data science, public health, design, computer science, and more. These programs aim to serve Indian students who seek global-standard education within the country, reducing costs and increasing access.

CM Devendra Fadnavis praised the swift issuance of LoIs and reiterated Maharashtra’s commitment to creating a thriving global academic ecosystem. “The NEP 2020 has opened the doors for world-class education in India. These foreign universities will add immense value to our education sector and create opportunities for students previously limited by affordability and access,” he said.

The event was attended by senior officials from the Union Ministry of Education, University Grants Commission (UGC), Ministry of External Affairs, and dignitaries from the UK, US, Australia, and Italy. Representatives from these countries’ high commissions expressed pride in being part of India’s global education vision and praised the speed and clarity of India’s regulatory process.

Dr. Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education and UGC Chairman, emphasized the transparent and time-bound digital process used to evaluate proposals. “This round of LoIs was completed within a record time of one month, showcasing India’s commitment to educational excellence and internationalization,” he said.

The newly launched campuses fall under the UGC’s 2023 regulations on the establishment and operation of foreign higher education institutions in India. These developments are part of a broader internationalization effort that includes Indian institutions going global, such as IIT Delhi’s Abu Dhabi campus and IIT Madras’s expansion to Tanzania.

In addition to the five LoIs issued today, two others — for the University of Southampton and University of Liverpool — have already been granted. Deakin University and the University of Wollongong were the first to begin operations in India at GIFT City, Gujarat, under IFSCA rules.

This development marks a pivotal moment in India’s transformation into a globally competitive, inclusive, and innovation-driven education hub, further reinforcing the goals of NEP 2020 and India’s ambition to become a world leader in higher education.