Global universities, India campuses: About Maharashtra’s new 250-acre ‘Educity’ blueprint

Five leading international universities, including the University of York and the University of Aberdeen, have received Letters of Intent (LOIs) to establish campuses in Maharashtra’s upcoming ‘Educity’. The 250-acre educational hub is being developed near the Navi Mumbai International Airport as part of the state’s ambitious 'Mumbai Rising – Creating an International Education City' initiative.

Set to commence operations by 2026–27, these institutions will be among the first foreign universities to open campuses in India, under the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) revised 2023 guidelines. The proposed 5-km-long 'International Education City', the first of its kind in India, aims to make global academic programmes accessible to Indian and Asian students.

The University of York will begin its India operations from an existing building in a central Mumbai business district, with plans to develop a full-scale campus in Navi Mumbai over the next few years. Initial academic programmes will include undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security, Business, Economics, and the Creative industries. Students will follow the same curriculum as the UK campus and graduate with a University of York degree.

Similarly, the University of Aberdeen is set to become the first Scottish university to establish a physical campus in India, following approval from the University Grants Commission (UGC). Scheduled to launch in Mumbai by September 2026, the campus will also mark the first entry into India by one of the UK’s ancient universities. The proposal is now pending final approval from the University’s governing body, the Court, which will review it next month. Initial programmes will include Computing and Data Science, AI, Business Management, Economics, and an MBA. Future expansions may cover Public Health, Psychology, Mathematics, Film Studies, and International Business Management.

Additionally, the University of Western Australia, the USA's Illinois Institute of Technology and Italy's Istituto Europeo di Design, are also in discussions to establish campuses in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. These developments coincide with the international expansion of Indian institutions. IIT Delhi, IIT Madras and IIM Ahmedabad are setting up campuses in the UAE, Tanzania and Dubai, respectively, indicating a new era of two-way academic exchange.

The academic offerings from these campuses will span sectors of high growth and strategic relevance, including Business, Data Science, Computer Science, Public Health and Design. Special emphasis will be placed on emerging technologies and future-ready skills, reflecting the goals of India’s ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision.

Now, for generations of Indian students, the dream of a world-class international education, without crossing oceans or continents, could be just a train or short flight away. The promise is bright: global degrees, cutting-edge research, and industry-aligned learning delivered right here on home soil.

But while the vision inspires hope, the reality will depend on details yet to be revealed. Fee structures, accessibility, and long-term value will be key. If the cost of a foreign education remains unchanged despite a local setting, one must ask: are we truly bridging the gap, or simply relocating it?

Still, if done right, this could mark the beginning of a quiet turnaround; one that redefines India’s academic identity, not by imitation, but by integration. It may not be perfect yet, but it’s a step worth watching.