02 June,2026 08:03 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi Alurkar
Educationists believe students can benefit from quality international education without leaving the country. Representation pic/istock
With admissions season approaching and many students preparing for September intakes, parents, aspirants, and education experts are increasingly looking at opportunities closer home. Following Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's announcement of the Navi Mumbai âEdu City' project in 2025, several renowned universities from the US, UK, and Australia, among other countries, are setting up campuses in India.
The move has sparked interest among students who are keen to know whether they can access the same academic environment, faculty, and global exposure that overseas campuses offer, without bearing the high costs and visa-related challenges associated with studying abroad.
"The changes the world is experiencing are not just a temporary phase driven by a few global leaders. The world is witnessing a real shift, with countries becoming less willing to retain international students in their workforce and companies increasingly unable to afford visa sponsorship," said Dhaval Mehta, an education expert at Globestar Ulio.
Education consultants said intake rates of Indian students in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom have been declining. With reputed foreign institutions now setting up campuses in India, educationists believe students can benefit from quality international education without leaving the country.
"The cost of studying at foreign universities in India is significantly lower than pursuing the same education abroad. In fact, banks are increasingly concerned about how students who studied overseas but failed to secure jobs will repay their education loans," Mehta added.
Education consultant Karan Gupta said the emergence of international campuses in India comes at a significant time. "The timing is not accidental. With H-1B restrictions in the US, tighter post-study work rules in the UK, and a visible anti-immigrant sentiment across several Western countries, many parents are concluding that spending Rs 30-40 lakh in India for a recognised foreign degree is more practical than spending Rs 1.5 crore abroad without any assurance of a job or visa. For the right student, it can be a sensible option. For the wrong student, it could prove to be an expensive compromise," he said.
University of Aberdeen
First Scottish university to establish a campus in India
Temporary campus: Powai
Inaugural intake: September 2026
Programmes: 2 undergraduate, 2 masters
Fees: Approximately Rs 12 lakh per year onwards, depending on the course
University of Bristol
Member of the Russell Group of universities in the UK
Temporary campus: Cignus Powai
Inaugural intake: August 2026
Programmes: 3 undergraduate, 3 postgraduate
Fees: Approximately Rs 15 lakh per year, depending on the course
Illinois Institute of Technology
First US-based university to establish a campus in India
Temporary campus: Vikhroli, Godrej Business District
Inaugural intake: Fall 2026
Programmes: 4 undergraduate, 4 masters
Fees: Approximately Rs 16 lakh per year onwards, depending on the course
