Five International Universities to Open Campuses in Mumbai

By Kai June 20, 2025
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In a major development for India’s transnational education (TNE) landscape, five international universities have received Letters of Intent (LOIs) from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to establish campuses in Mumbai.

The institutions include 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). These campuses will be based in Edu City, a dedicated 250-acre education hub under development near Navi Mumbai International Airport.

The LOIs were handed over during the ‘Mumbai Rising: Creating an International Education City’ event, attended by India’s education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, and international diplomats.

Fadnavis described the initiative as a transformative move to give Mumbai an academic identity and revealed that tuition fees at the new campuses would be 25–30% lower than overseas programmes. Most institutions are expected to start operations by late 2026.

This initiative comes amid growing momentum in India’s push to host global institutions, following similar moves in GIFT City, Gurgaon, and Bangalore. However, the development has received a mixed response from education experts.

While the expansion is seen as a “watershed moment” by many, concerns around affordability, student expectations, academic quality, and operational complexities persist. Analysts like Vincenzo Raimo and A. Jayakrishnan have warned that student motivations in India differ significantly from other countries, and universities must adapt to succeed.

Institutions are focusing on “soft” high-demand courses such as computer science, AI, design, and business. Several universities are also exploring credit-based interdisciplinary offerings to attract a wider student base.

Despite uncertainties, the move represents a bold step in reimagining India’s role in global education. Whether Mumbai can become a sustainable academic hub will depend on execution, cost management, and the ability of these institutions to deliver world-class education tailored to the Indian context.

Source: THE PIE NEWS

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