Illinois Tech to Become First US University to Establish Degree-Granting Campus in India

By Ezra May 10, 2025
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In a landmark move, Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) is set to become the first American university approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to open a degree-granting campus in India. The Illinois Tech – Mumbai campus is expected to welcome its first batch of students in the autumn of 2026.

Announced as a historic moment in Indo-US educational collaboration, the Mumbai campus will offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in high-demand fields such as computer science, engineering, and business. The move aligns with India’s National Education Policy 2020, which encourages the entry of top international universities to strengthen India’s global educational standing.

“This campus represents a profound opportunity to democratise access to global-quality education,” said Raj Echambadi, President of Illinois Tech. “We are honoured to extend our mission to empower talented Indian students with a transformative learning experience.”

The Mumbai campus will offer the same academically rigorous and industry-aligned curriculum as the Chicago campus, including Illinois Tech’s acclaimed Elevate programme, which ensures students gain hands-on experience through internships, research, and innovation challenges. Courses will be taught by a globally recruited faculty, including visiting professors from the US.

This expansion arrives at a time of surging interest from Indian students in international education. According to Illinois Tech officials, the number of Indian graduate students at the university has grown by over 73% in the past five years. The new campus aims to meet this rising demand while offering Indian students globally recognised degrees without leaving the country.

The initiative has received praise from Indian officials, including Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and India’s Consul General in Chicago, Shri Somnath Ghosh, who hailed the campus as a critical step toward positioning India as a global education hub.

With this pioneering venture, Illinois Tech will strengthen educational bridges between the United States and India, fostering innovation and preparing the next generation of global leaders.

Source: TIMES OF INDIA

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