The University of Western Australia has reached a major milestone in its expansion into India, receiving a Letter of Approval from the University Grants Commission to establish its international branch campus in Mumbai. The clearance paves the way for the university to welcome its first students in the city in September 2026.
The Mumbai campus, based in Andheri East, is expected to provide Indian students with an opportunity to undertake a University of Western Australia degree without relocating overseas. The initiative is particularly significant for students seeking an Australian university qualification while remaining close to their families, communities and India’s expanding professional and technology sectors.
UWA is a member of Australia’s Group of Eight and is ranked among the world’s top 100 universities. Its India expansion represents a significant step in the university’s international strategy and makes it the first Group of Eight institution to establish a presence in India under the country’s framework for foreign higher-education providers.
The new Mumbai campus is being positioned within one of the city’s major commercial and education centres. UWA says the Andheri location offers strong connections to businesses, start-ups and transport networks, with the campus situated close to Mumbai’s airport and Marol Naka Metro station. The university expects this setting to help students connect their studies with industry and employment opportunities.
Students will have access to programmes covering areas including computer science, cybersecurity, data science, artificial intelligence, business management, global business, economics and enterprise and innovation. Postgraduate options include a Master of Information Technology and Master of Business Administration, reflecting UWA’s focus on disciplines connected with evolving workforce requirements.
UWA India has already opened applications for its inaugural intake, with teaching at the Mumbai campus scheduled to commence in September. The university’s current admissions information says applications are open, while the first cohort will enter a campus designed around modern classrooms, laboratories, student areas and industry-oriented learning.
The Mumbai initiative is part of a broader Indian expansion that also includes a UWA campus in Chennai. The university has described the two-campus strategy as its first international expansion, with Chennai expected to commence most programmes in March 2027. MBA teaching across the Indian campuses is scheduled to begin earlier, in November 2026.
UWA’s India plans have been supported by a significant investment program. Earlier announcements indicated an investment of approximately $73 million, or around ₹500 crore, to establish its Indian presence. The university has also indicated plans to expand enrolments substantially over time and build academic and industry partnerships across the country.
The institution has also been developing links with Indian academic and research organisations. Partnerships announced earlier include collaborations with IIM Mumbai and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, covering areas such as mining, automation and sustainability. UWA has additionally outlined plans for an India Centre in Visakhapatnam intended to support research, innovation and collaboration.
Financial accessibility is another part of UWA’s India strategy. In May, the university announced a major scholarship commitment for students across India, saying the initiative was intended to broaden access for high-potential students from different socioeconomic and regional backgrounds. The scholarship program accompanies UWA’s planned portfolio spanning STEM, business and technology.
UWA’s arrival also comes during a broader expansion of foreign university education in India. The University Grants Commission has issued Letters of Intent to foreign higher-education institutions from Australia, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States, with several institutions seeking to establish campuses in major Indian education and business centres.
For Indian students, the Mumbai campus could offer a different pathway to an internationally recognised qualification. Rather than making an immediate move to Australia, students can begin their university journey in India while studying under the academic standards and programs associated with a Western Australian institution. The model could also deepen connections between Indian industry and Australian higher education.
The development has wider significance for Australia-India relations, particularly in education, research and innovation. UWA has described its Indian presence as a way to strengthen connections between the two countries while creating opportunities for research partnerships, industry collaboration and knowledge exchange. The move comes as both countries continue expanding cooperation across education and the broader Indo-Pacific economy.
With regulatory approval now secured and the September intake approaching, attention will turn to the university’s first cohort and the operation of its Mumbai campus. For UWA, the opening represents more than the establishment of a new location: it marks the beginning of a long-term academic presence in one of the world’s largest higher-education markets.
