UNSW Sydney to open India campus

The new campus in Bengaluru will enable Indian students to obtain a global top 20 university degree on home soil.

UNSW Sydney will open its first overseas campus in Bengaluru, India, in 2026. The new campus will provide Indian students with access to UNSW’s world-leading education in a country where the demand for university places far outweighs supply. 

UNSW Bengaluru will be established in line with India’s National Education Policy 2020, which enables top-ranked foreign institutions to set up branch campuses in India to boost the country’s higher education quality and to develop world-class, work-ready graduates. 

The announcement was made by Australia’s Federal Education Minister Jason Clare at a ceremony in New Delhi, hosted by India’s Education Minister, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan.  

“Education is one of Australia’s biggest exports. And it is not a one-way street. It’s not just about students coming here. It’s also Australian universities coming to them,” Minister Clare said.  

“This is a great example of that. UNSW coming to India will create the highest-ranked university in the country. It will open up new opportunities for young people in India and bring our two countries even closer together.”

Minister Pradhan said he was looking forward to UNSW’s new campus opening in 2026.

“I am very happy to welcome UNSW to India; to watch the emergence of new connections between Indian and Australian students, academics and industry, to help realise India’s vision to be a global destination for education, knowledge creation and innovation from which all of society can benefit,” he said.

UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs said the new campus was an important milestone aligning with UNSW Strategy: Progress for All, which committed to delivering global impact through the expansion of the University’s global educational offerings in key regions. 

“Education is one of the most powerful forces for global progress. The UNSW community strongly values the contribution students and faculty members from India make to our classrooms, laboratories, campuses and partnerships in Australia. And we are very excited to now make our world-class education more accessible to Indian students who can now study locally at a comprehensive education and research UNSW campus at Bengaluru,” Prof. Brungs said.  

“UNSW Bengaluru will increase the number of available tertiary places in India, where there is a large and growing unmet need for higher education. Moreover, it will enable Indian students for the first time to study at a global top 20 university campus in India. Graduates will receive the same UNSW qualifications as they do in Australia, valued by employers and academic institutions across India and internationally.” 

Prof. Brungs said that throughout its 75-year history, UNSW had remained future-focused – innovating and pre-empting – to meet the needs of learners and industry. 

“We will continue this commitment in India to support its development of a globally competitive workforce, as this wonderful country emerges as a world leader in research and innovation,” he said. 

Courses being offered will mirror existing UNSW undergraduate degrees in business, media, computer science, data science and a postgraduate degree in cybersecurity. 

Quality assurance will be implemented through joint governance structures and overseen by UNSW’s Academic Board.

The campus will also contribute to UNSW’s efforts to diversify international student recruitment markets.  

UNSW Deputy Vice-Chancellor Global Professor Colin Grant said UNSW’s physical presence in India was responding to a changing global landscape – both in education and more broadly. The Bengaluru Campus was a continuation of UNSW’s engagement with Indian institutions and government departments.

“Bengaluru is a strategic hub with a strong industry and innovation culture. By establishing a base there, UNSW will further its commitment not only to education but also to much deeper engagement with the country’s government, industry, academia and innovation ecosystems,” Prof. Grant said.  

“I am looking forward to the development of new research-industry partnerships to collaborate on major initiatives where knowledge and innovation – in areas such as renewable energy, health, transport and education – improve lives and enable equitable progress worldwide.”