The Regulations were published in UGC’s website on 8 November 2023.

Here’s a look at global universities that have announced campuses in India and those preparing to launch soon:

1. Coventry University, UK: As an undergraduate Coventry student studying in GIFT City, you can expect state-of-the-art infrastructure, advanced technology and excellent connectivity.  Students could be enrolled and learning in 2026. Degrees awarded at the India campus will be the same as those awarded at Coventry University in the UK. Two courses will initially be launched (Business & Finance, International Business Management), with plans to add further courses in the future.
   

2. Illinois Institute of Technology, USA: Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech), Chicago’s only tech-focused university, is set to become the first U.S. university to be approved by the UGC to establish an independent degree-granting campus in India. Opening in fall 2026, the new Illinois Tech-Mumbai campus will offer a range of undergraduate and graduate programs in high-demand fields such as computer science, engineering, and business.
   

3. Istituto Europeo di Design, Italy: The Istituto Europeo di Design is the first Italian institution to have received a Letter of Intent from the Ministry of Education – Government of India, expressing its willingness to allow DAPL courses (Bachelor’s Degree), accredited by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR), to be offered in India as well.
   

4. Queen’s University Belfast, UK: Queen’s University Belfast is set to become the first UK Russell Group university to open a campus in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City, India), with the first cohort of students expected to start in January 2026. The new international campus will offer a portfolio of five postgraduate programmes initially, tailored to the specific needs of the Indian economy. There are plans to increase the range of courses in the coming years and to welcome PhD students who will support the growth of the India campus into a hub for research and innovation.  
   

5. University of Liverpool, UK: The University of Liverpool, Bengaluru will open for its first intake of undergraduate and postgraduate students in August 2026. Initial subject options will include Business Management, Accounting and Finance, Computer Science, Biomedical Sciences and, a first for UK campuses in India, Game Design, with a wider range to follow.
   

6. University of Aberdeen, UK: The University of Aberdeen is the first of the UK’s ancient universities and the first Scottish university to be granted permission for a branch campus in Mumbai, India with a target launch of September 2026. Some of the proposed programmes are BSc Computing Science and Data Science, MA Business Management, Economics, MBA, and MSc Artificial Intelligence. 
   

7. University of York, UK: York Mumbai is welcoming undergraduate and postgraduate students from the 2026/27 academic year, with initial courses in: Computer Science with AI and Cyber Security, Business, Economics &Creative industries. Their Mumbai campus is a research-intensive, global hub, delivering the same academic standards and transformative experience as York in the UK.
   

8. University of Western Australia, Australia: The first UWA campus is set to open in Mumbai, followed by Chennai, which will offer a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in STEM and business to meet the aspirations of Indian students and evolving needs of the global workforce and economy. 
   

9. University of Bristol, UK: Due to open in summer 2026, the Mumbai Enterprise Campus will be the University’s first international campus. Initial subjects taught at undergraduate and postgraduate level will focus on areas of global distinction for Bristol such as data science, economics, finance and investment, immersive arts and financial technology, expanding to computer science and AI, business and management.
   

10. University of Surrey, UK:  The University of Surrey is set to open a world-class International Branch Campus in GIFT City, Gujarat, India, delivered in collaboration with GUS Global Services (GGS). Professor GQ Max Lu, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Surrey, and Dr Sharad Mehra, CEO of Global University Systems (GUS) Asia Pacific, announced the collaborative project on the side lines of the QS India Summit 2025 in Goa on January 28.  
    

11. Victoria University, Australia: In a first for the state, Victoria University (VU) has been granted a licence by the Indian government to establish a comprehensive campus in the country under the new National Education Policy (NEP) by 2027. The university plans to launch its campus in the Delhi National Capital Region and will offer undergraduate, postgraduate and research courses.  
    

12. Western Sydney University, Australia: Western Sydney University has announced the opening of its new international campus in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, all set to welcome students in mid-2026. Aligned with India’s National Education Policy 2020, the campus will drive innovation in advanced manufacturing, Agri-Tech, and emerging sectors like precision agriculture and renewable technologies. 
    

In addition to the above, universities that are already operational in India are: 

1. Deakin University, Australia: Having opened its doors in 2024, Deakin University GIFT City Campus was the first international branch campus in India. 
   

2. Southampton University, UK: Programmes starting in August 2025 in Gurugram, include B.Sc courses in Computer Science, Economics, Accounting & Finance, and Business Management, as well as M.Sc courses in Finance and International Management.
   

3. University of Wollongong, Australia: In November 2024, The University of Wollongong (UOW) India inaugurated its India campus in GIFT City for courses on Financial Technology and Data Analytics. 
   

Source: (UGC, 2025; Coventry University, 2025; Illinois Institute of Technology, 2025; Istituto Europeo di Design, 2025; Queen’s University Belfast, 2025; University of Liverpool, 2025; University of Aberdeen, 2025; University of York, 2025; University of Western Australia, 2025; University of Bristol, 2025; University of Surrey, 2025; Victoria University, 2025; Western Sydney University, 2025; Deakin University, 2024; Southampton University, 2025; University of Wollongong, 2024)