Australia and India have taken another significant step in strengthening their education partnership, with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) receiving final regulatory approval to establish its international branch campus in Bengaluru. The landmark development makes UNSW one of the first Australian universities to receive permission to operate a full-fledged campus in India under the country’s new National Education Policy (NEP) framework.
The approval from Indian authorities represents a major milestone in the growing Australia–India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, highlighting the increasing collaboration between the two nations in higher education, research, innovation and skills development. The Bengaluru campus is expected to welcome its first cohort of students in 2026, offering Indian students access to globally recognised Australian education without leaving the country.
UNSW’s India campus will initially offer postgraduate programs in high-demand disciplines, including computer science, artificial intelligence, engineering, business analytics and technology-related fields. The university plans to gradually expand its academic offerings while developing research partnerships with Indian institutions and industry leaders, supporting innovation in areas critical to both countries’ future economies.
Located in Bengaluru-widely recognised as India’s technology and innovation capital-the campus will provide students with direct access to one of the world’s fastest-growing startup ecosystems. By combining Australian academic standards with India’s thriving technology sector, UNSW aims to create stronger links between education, research and industry while preparing graduates for globally connected careers.
UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs described the approval as a defining moment in the university’s international engagement, saying the Bengaluru campus reflects UNSW’s long-term commitment to India. He noted that the new campus will strengthen academic collaboration, support world-class research and provide students with greater opportunities to learn from internationally recognised academics while remaining connected to India’s rapidly evolving economy.
The development also reflects Australia’s growing role as one of India’s preferred international education partners. Thousands of Indian students already choose Australia each year for higher education, making India Australia’s second-largest source of international students. The establishment of Australian university campuses in India creates new pathways for students while further strengthening people-to-people connections between the two nations.
Education has become one of the fastest-growing pillars of Australia–India relations. In recent years, both governments have signed a series of agreements promoting academic collaboration, mutual recognition of qualifications, student mobility, joint research and institutional partnerships. The opening of the UNSW Bengaluru campus is expected to accelerate these initiatives while encouraging greater collaboration across emerging technologies, sustainability, healthcare and advanced manufacturing.
Industry leaders believe the new campus will also contribute to India’s ambition of becoming a global education hub under the National Education Policy. By attracting leading international universities, India aims to expand access to world-class education, strengthen research capabilities and reduce the need for students to travel overseas while still receiving internationally recognised qualifications.
For Australia, the initiative reinforces its reputation as a trusted education partner in the Indo-Pacific region. Australian universities continue to deepen engagement with India through collaborative research, dual-degree programs, innovation partnerships and student exchange initiatives, helping address shared challenges while supporting economic growth driven by knowledge and technology.
As Australia and India continue to strengthen one of the region’s most dynamic bilateral relationships, the launch of the UNSW Bengaluru campus represents far more than the opening of a new university. It symbolises the growing confidence, shared ambition and long-term partnership between two nations investing in education, innovation and future-ready talent. For students, researchers and industries on both sides, the campus promises to become a powerful bridge connecting Australian academic excellence with India’s innovation-driven future.
