16 Foreign Universities to Set Up in India

The Indian government has issued 16 Letters of Intent (LoIs) to foreign higher education institutions to establish campuses in the country. This move is part of the government's efforts to internationalise higher education in India. The LoIs have been issued to universities from Australia, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The states of Karnataka and Maharashtra have received the highest number of LoIs, with six each, followed by three in Delhi NCR and one in Tamil Nadu. Mumbai has emerged as a key destination for foreign university campuses, with four institutions receiving approval to begin academic operations in the city. These include the University of York, University of Bristol, University of Aberdeen, and Illinois Institute of Technology.

The expansion of foreign universities in India comes under the University Grants Commission's (UGC) framework for foreign higher educational institutions, introduced through the UGC Regulations, 2023. The government has also highlighted the overseas expansion of Indian institutions, including IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, and IIM Ahmedabad.

IIT Madras established its overseas campus in Zanzibar in 2023, followed by IIT Delhi in Abu Dhabi in 2024. IIM Ahmedabad established its campus in Dubai in 2025. The IIT Madras Zanzibar campus has so far graduated 35 students with MTech degrees in Data Science and AI and Ocean Structures. IIT Delhi's Abu Dhabi campus offers nine undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes, with 171 students in the 2025-26 academic year.

The government has also noted that the number of Indians studying abroad has increased in recent years. According to data from the Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, the number of Indians who disclosed study or education as their purpose of travel stood at 4,45,580 in 2021, increasing to 7,52,100 in 2022 and 8,94,758 in 2023. However, the number declined to 7,60,060 in 2024 and further to 6,19,264 in 2025.

The internationalisation of higher education in India is expected to provide more opportunities for students and promote collaboration between Indian and foreign institutions. The government's efforts to attract foreign universities to set up campuses in India are part of a broader strategy to improve the quality and accessibility of higher education in the country.

The expansion of Indian institutions overseas is also seen as a positive development, as it will provide opportunities for Indian students to study abroad and for foreign students to study in India. The government's initiatives in this area are expected to have a significant impact on the higher education sector in India and promote the country's reputation as a hub for international education.

In conclusion, the issuance of LoIs to foreign universities and the expansion of Indian institutions overseas are significant developments in the higher education sector in India. These initiatives are expected to promote internationalisation, improve the quality of education, and provide more opportunities for students in India and abroad.

The government's efforts to promote higher education in India are part of a broader strategy to improve the country's human resources and promote economic development. The internationalisation of higher education is seen as a key factor in achieving these goals, and the government's initiatives in this area are expected to have a significant impact on the country's education sector and economy.

Overall, the development of foreign universities in India and the expansion of Indian institutions overseas are positive trends that are expected to promote internationalisation, improve the quality of education, and provide more opportunities for students in India and abroad.