All You Need to Know About International Universities Coming Up in India

India’s latest higher-education reforms specifically aim to make India “a global study destination providing premium education at affordable cost”. This has encouraged several international universities to consider opening campuses in India, which will offer Indian students a world-class curriculum under the aegis of global faculty. International universities in India provide an opportunity for students to earn internationally accredited degrees, without the high living expenses incurred when one actually attends the parent campuses. As a result, India would be able to retain students who would otherwise want to study overseas, while students gain global exposure from India itself. Hence, many students are now considering to pursue undergrad in India. However, the university application process will differ from typical Indian applications and will reflect those of the parent universities abroad – some universities might, for example, require SAT scores and essays.

Why study at international universities in India?

The main advantage of studying at an international university campus in India is that it is a passport to a global curriculum, besides, of course, the university’s brand name, while pursuing undergrad in India. Other reasons for choosing an international university campus in India could be as follows:

• Students gain access to state-of-the-art facilities while staying and studying in India, substantially reducing their living and travel expenses. In many cases, it could cut down the costs (as compared to studying at their parent campus) by about 40-60%.

• Degrees are awarded by the parent institution and are automatically recognized in India for jobs and further study.

• Access to foreign teaching models, research collaborations and a cosmopolitan campus can boost career skills.

• Most existing/proposed campuses are in major hubs such as the NCR (National Capital Region), Bengaluru, Mumbai, and GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City), which will allow students to access opportunities in their vicinity, making it easier for them to pursue internships.

However, it is important to remember that the fees charged by these universities are premium, which is still not affordable for many people. For example, the fees paid by a student pursuing UG in India at the University of Southampton in Delhi are about 15 lakhs per annum. In addition, the university admissions process could be confusing, especially for universities that require applicants to take additional exams such as the SAT and GRE/GMAT.

International universities in India – university campuses

Several international universities have already opened or proposed opening campuses in India. Here is a list for your reference (as of April 2026):

Besides the universities listed above, several others, such as the Instituto Europeo di Design (Italy), the University of Surrey (UK), the University of York, and the University of Bristol (UK), have received Letters of Intent (LoI) from India’s Ministry of Education, and are planning to open campuses in India in the near future.

How are international university campuses different from Indian Universities?

According to the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) Foreign Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2020, once an international university receives approval to set up its campus in India, it can set its own admission criteria, tuition fees, and faculty recruitment, with little regulatory oversight. Besides, students studying at these international universities in India will receive their degrees from the parent university overseas (i.e., an international degree), which will be automatically recognized in India. It is also important to note that admission to these universities may require additional tests, such as the SAT for undergraduate courses, along with essays.

International universities are, however, expected to deliver the curriculum in accordance with the standards set by the parent institution. Courses are taught by a mix of local and international visiting faculty. Curricula are set by the parent institution (sometimes with minor localization), so the content is internationalized. As a result, students often see novel courses or teaching methods not found in typical Indian universities. Students at these campuses can often spend time at the home campus – Southampton is expected to allow up to a year’s exchange with its UK/Malaysia counterparts.

Fees and financing are typically higher than at other universities for pursuing undergrad in India. While lower than full overseas cost (eliminating international travel and visa fees), tuition at these campuses will still be high, requiring many to take education loans similar to studying abroad. In addition, these campuses are not fully established, so student life is still evolving. Besides, students will need to find private accommodation and commute to campus.

How to choose which university to apply to?

You would want to consider the following factors while choosing which universities to apply to:

• Check the admission criteria and compare them with your profile. Please bear in mind that some universities might require you to submit your SAT scores, for example.

• Compare the rankings and reputation of all the universities you are considering. This also includes their research output and faculty expertise.

• Go through their course page to understand how well it aligns with your learning and career goals. Do they have any collaborations with companies for internships? What is the student-faculty ratio?

• You might also want to check if the university lets you study abroad (at their parent campus) for a while.

• Campuses may provide student clubs, sports and extracurricular activities you might be interested in taking up, but the offerings will grow over time.

• How good is the infrastructure on campus? The University of Southampton has a campus inside a tech park, while Victoria University is planning to build a full-fledged campus – the amenities at both universities would be drastically different.

• Evaluate the tuition fees for each university, schedule for payment, and explore scholarships or fellowships (which are currently very limited).

• Factor in living expenses, which would be higher in Gurugram or Mumbai than in GIFT City.

• Career outcomes are extremely important, so think in terms of how this degree will help you with your career, if it’s recognized abroad (if you plan to move abroad later), etc.

University admissions process

As for the admissions process, entry requirements vary across universities. When compared to an average application sent out to an Indian university, applicants might be expected to submit SAT scores for undergraduate programs and GRE/GMAT scores for postgraduate courses. In short, planning to study undergrad in India at these campuses usually means meeting both Indian and international entry requirements. For more information, please visit your target university’s website.

The admissions timeline for these campuses broadly follows India’s academic calendar with fall (August/September) intakes. Foreign universities must publish program details and fee structures at least 60 days before applications open. In practice, most campuses will launch applications in late spring (April-June) for the following academic year. Some campuses may also require interviews or essays.

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