The Emergence of International Branch Campuses Under NEP 2020

India's higher education landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which explicitly encourages top global universities to establish campuses within the country. This policy shift, formalized through University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations in 2023, allows foreign higher education institutions (FHEIs) ranked in the top 500 of global rankings like QS World University Rankings to set up branch campuses without needing prior approval, provided they meet specific criteria such as financial sustainability and academic standards. The goal is multifaceted: to boost the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) from the current around 28% to 50% by 2035, curb the $11-13 billion annual outflow on overseas education, and infuse international best practices into domestic academia.

Since the regulations took effect, over 18 foreign universities have received letters of intent (LOIs) or full approvals, with campuses concentrating in economic hubs like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Gurugram, and Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City). Early movers include Deakin University and the University of Wollongong in GIFT City, both operational since 2024-2025, offering programs in business and technology. The University of Liverpool's Bengaluru campus opened in late 2025, marking a milestone for UK institutions. These developments signal India's ambition to become a net exporter of higher education, reversing the traditional brain drain where over 1.3 million Indian students study abroad annually.

This influx is not without hurdles. Regulatory compliance requires FHEIs to ensure degrees are of equivalent quality to home campuses, with fees regulated to prevent profiteering—typically 20-40% lower than abroad but still premium at ₹15-40 lakhs per year for undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Enrollment has started modestly, with hundreds of students in pioneer campuses, but projections suggest thousands more by 2027 as infrastructure scales.

Eruditus Steps In: Pioneering Partnerships for Campus Expansion

At the forefront of this revolution is Eruditus Executive Education, a Singapore-headquartered edtech giant valued at over $3 billion, known for partnering with 80+ top universities worldwide for executive programs. In a landmark announcement on January 29, 2026, Eruditus revealed collaborations with seven prestigious foreign universities to operationalize their India campuses across Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Gurugram. These partnerships position Eruditus as a key enabler, handling on-ground logistics, student recruitment, faculty support, and industry linkages while universities retain full academic control.

Eruditus's model leverages its decade-long expertise in India, where it has scaled executive education for institutions like IITs and IIMs. Co-founder and CEO Ashwin Damera emphasized the shift in global student mobility: "Rising costs and policy barriers are keeping more Indian students at home, even as demand for high-quality education grows." By facilitating physical campuses, Eruditus aims to bridge the gap, allowing students to earn globally recognized degrees locally, fostering research, and spurring innovation ecosystems.

The strategic locations—Mumbai's financial nerve center, Bengaluru's tech Silicon Valley, and Gurugram's corporate corridor—align with program focuses like AI, data science, and fintech, promising robust industry tie-ups.

Spotlight on the Seven Partner Universities and Their Offerings

The seven universities bring diverse strengths, all ranked highly globally:

• Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT, USA) – Mumbai campus, first U.S. institution approved; programs in computer science, engineering, business (applications open for fall 2026).
• University of Aberdeen (UK) – Mumbai; energy, biomedical sciences, business; opening summer 2026.
• University of Bristol (UK) – Mumbai; AI, engineering, economics.
• University of Liverpool (UK) – Bengaluru; building on its existing campus, expanding management, IT, creative industries.
• University of New South Wales (UNSW, Australia) – Programs in technology, design; location forthcoming.
• University of Victoria (Australia) – Gurugram (Delhi NCR); accounting, finance, immersive arts.
• University of York (UK) – Mumbai; game design, data science, MBA.

Campuses will launch phased intakes from August/September 2026, adhering to parent university curricula, assessments, and oversight. Initial cohorts target 200-500 students per campus, scaling to thousands.

Programs on Offer: From AI to Game Design

Curricula mirror home campuses, emphasizing STEM, business, and emerging fields. Expect undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in:

• Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence
• Data Science and Biomedical Sciences
• MBA, Accounting & Finance
• Game Design, Immersive Arts, Fintech
• Business Management, Economics, IT

These programs promise global accreditation, mobility options (semester abroad), and career services. Fees, while premium, undercut study-abroad costs by 50-70%, e.g., ₹20-30 lakhs for a three-year UG vs. ₹1 crore abroad including living expenses.

Benefits for Students, Faculty, and the Economy

For students, international branch campuses (IBCs) offer world-class education without visas or cultural shocks, building local networks while accessing global alumni. Parents save forex, and graduates gain employability boosts—alumni from similar models secure roles at Google, McKinsey, with salaries 20-50% above local peers.

Faculty opportunities abound; explore faculty positions at these campuses via platforms like AcademicJobs.com. Economically, each campus could create 500+ jobs, stimulate real estate (EduCity Navi Mumbai), and retain talent for India's $5 trillion economy goal.

Stakeholders like industry leaders hail it as a "nation-building effort," enhancing R&D in AI hubs.

The 'Zero Sum Game' Debate: Gains vs. Concerns

Not all views are celebratory. Critics, including Ram Sharma, Chancellor of UPES, label IBCs a "zero sum game" at events like The PIE Live India. Arguments include minimal capital inflow—private equity (49-51% ownership) enables 100% profit repatriation, especially tax-exempt in GIFT City. Little investment in local faculty or infrastructure initially; high fees (₹25 lakhs+) cater to elites, exacerbating inequality.

Local universities fear student/faculty drain, with domestic institutions losing top talent to global brands. Sharma notes: "We're not getting real capital flowing in." Counterpoints: competition spurs quality upgrades; collaborations (e.g., joint research) benefit all; long-term FDI and knowledge transfer outweigh short-term profits.

Balanced perspectives from NITI Aayog reports advocate safeguards like fee caps and equity requirements.

Challenges: Regulation, Quality Assurance, and Sustainability

IBCs face regulatory scrutiny: UGC mandates equivalence, 75% local enrollment eventually, no discrimination. Step-by-step setup: LOI application, due diligence, final approval (6-12 months). Quality hinges on faculty ratios (1:15), infrastructure parity.

Sustainability risks: low initial enrollments (e.g., Deakin's 200 students), cultural adaptation. Solutions: hybrid models, scholarships (10-20% seats), industry sponsorships. Government incentives like land subsidies in SEZs aid viability.

Case Studies: Lessons from Pioneer Campuses

Deakin University's GIFT City campus (2024) enrolled 300+ in business/tech, 90% placement rate. University of Wollongong follows suit. Liverpool Bengaluru reports strong demand for MBA. These validate the model: 85% student satisfaction, growing international intake (10%). Challenges like faculty recruitment highlight needs for academic career strategies.

Future Outlook: 30+ Campuses by 2030

Projections: 30+ IBCs by 2030, adding 1 lakh seats, $5B savings in forex. France, Singapore unis next. Eruditus's role expands, potentially to 20 partners. Tech integration (AI labs), sustainability focus shape next wave.

For educators eyeing opportunities, higher ed jobs at these campuses offer global exposure. Rate professors via Rate My Professor for insights.

Photo by The New York Public Library on Unsplash

Career Implications and Actionable Advice

IBCs reshape job markets: demand for adjuncts, admins surges. Professionals, upskill via higher ed career advice. Students: research fees, placements; apply early. Institutions: partner for twinning programs.

India's higher ed evolves positively, balancing globalization with equity.