The University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney has officially opened its first-ever campus in India, marking a major milestone in both the university’s history and the growing Australia-India education partnership. Located in Bengaluru, India’s technology and innovation capital, the new campus will welcome its inaugural cohort of students when classes commence on 10 August 2026.
The launch of UNSW Bengaluru represents years of planning and collaboration between Australian and Indian stakeholders and is expected to expand access to globally recognised Australian higher education qualifications in some of the world’s fastest-growing and most in-demand industries.
The official opening ceremony brought together senior government representatives, university leaders and industry partners from both countries. Among those in attendance were UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs, Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill MP, Australian High Commissioner to India Philip Green OAM, Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, representatives from India’s Ministry of Education, academic partners, alumni and members of the broader UNSW community.
Professor Attila Brungs described the launch as a reflection of UNSW’s long-term commitment to India’s growing innovation ecosystem and Australia’s strategic education partnership with India.
He said the Bengaluru campus aligns with the university’s “Progress for All” strategy and recognises India’s position as one of the world’s most dynamic centres for research, entrepreneurship and technological innovation. The campus aims to foster collaboration between students, researchers, governments and industry while preparing graduates to thrive in an increasingly interconnected global economy.
The announcement comes shortly after UNSW Sydney was ranked the highest-ranked Australian university and placed 19th globally in the 2027 QS World University Rankings, further strengthening its international reputation for excellence in teaching, research, graduate employability and sustainability.
UNSW Bengaluru will initially focus on academic disciplines aligned with India’s National Education Policy 2020 and future workforce requirements. Key areas of study and research will include artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital technologies, advanced manufacturing and sustainability-sectors that are expected to play a critical role in shaping both India’s and Australia’s economic futures.
Students at the new campus will benefit from an education model that combines academic excellence with industry engagement. Importantly, graduates will receive the same UNSW degrees awarded to students studying in Sydney, providing them with globally recognised qualifications backed by one of Australia’s leading universities. They will also gain access to UNSW’s global alumni network of more than 300,000 graduates worldwide.
The Bengaluru campus will initially offer undergraduate and postgraduate programs in Business, Computational Data Science, Computer Science and Cyber Security. All programs will be delivered under UNSW’s academic governance framework and quality standards, ensuring consistency across both campuses.
Located at Embassy Manyata Business Park in Bengaluru, the campus has been strategically established within one of India’s most prominent technology and innovation hubs. The location provides students with direct access to industry networks, employment opportunities and collaborations with some of the world’s leading technology companies operating in the region.
The establishment of the campus follows a journey that began in 2022 when UNSW formally committed to exploring opportunities to establish a presence in India. Since then, the university has achieved several significant milestones, including receiving regulatory approval from India’s University Grants Commission (UGC), developing the Bengaluru campus and recruiting its inaugural academic and professional workforce.
Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill said the opening of UNSW Bengaluru further strengthens one of the most important pillars of the Australia–India bilateral relationship-education.
He noted that educational collaboration has long created enduring people-to-people connections between the two nations while fostering innovation, research partnerships and skills development. According to Minister Hill, the new campus will create exciting opportunities for students, researchers and industry partners to work together in addressing shared global challenges.
The launch also reflects Australia’s growing commitment to internationalising its higher education sector and strengthening educational partnerships across the Indo-Pacific region. By establishing a physical presence in India, Australian universities are increasingly positioning themselves to contribute directly to the development of future global talent.
The opening ceremony recognised the contributions of numerous strategic partners, including the Australian High Commission, Austrade, Investment NSW, higher education institutions, leading employers and members of the Australian and Indian business communities who have supported the project from conception to completion.
In recent months, prospective students and their families have participated in information sessions, guided campus tours and experience days designed to introduce them to life at UNSW Bengaluru. These initiatives have generated considerable interest among Indian students seeking internationally recognised qualifications without having to relocate overseas during the early stages of their academic journey.
Classes are scheduled to officially commence on 10 August 2026, marking the beginning of teaching and student life at UNSW’s newest international campus. The university believes the Bengaluru campus will play an important role in shaping future Australia–India collaboration in higher education, research and innovation for decades to come.
The opening of UNSW Bengaluru is not only a historic milestone for one of Australia’s leading universities but also a significant step forward in deepening educational ties between Australia and India, offering students new pathways to globally competitive education and careers in the industries of the future.
