UNSW Sydney to Launch India Campus in Bengaluru by August 2026, Boosting Global Education Collaboration

The University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia, is set to establish its first campus in Bengaluru by August 2026 after receiving a letter of intent from the University Grants Commission (UGC). The announcement was made by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan during a press briefing following the third Australia-India Education and Skills Council (AIESC) meeting.

Ranked 20th in the QS World University Rankings 2026, UNSW Sydney will offer a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including:

• Business
• Media
• Computer Science and Data Science
• Cybersecurity

This campus marks a significant milestone in Australia-India higher education collaboration, bringing one of the world’s top universities directly to Indian students.

Australia’s Expanding Footprint in India

Australia’s Minister for Education, Jason Clare, highlighted that of the 19 international universities granted letters of intent to establish campuses in India, seven are Australian institutions. He noted that this is a reflection of the strong bilateral trust and educational ties between the two nations.

Other Australian universities involved in India include:

• La Trobe University
• Victoria University
• Western Sydney University
• University of Western Australia

Additionally, Deakin University and the University of Wollongong have already begun operations in GIFT City, Gujarat.

Collaborations Beyond Higher Education

The AIESC meeting also led to several other key collaborations between India and Australia:

1. Early Childhood Education:
    
   • Collaboration between CBSE and the Australian Qualifications Framework to enhance teacher training in early childhood education.
   • An agreement between the National Council for Teacher Education and the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership.
      
2. CBSE-Affiliated Schools in Australia:
    
   • Plans to establish additional CBSE schools in Australia to cater to the Indian diaspora and growing global demand for STEM-focused CBSE education.
      
3. Sports Curriculum Development:
    
   • Collaboration in sports education from school to higher education levels.
   • In line with Australia hosting the 2032 Olympics and India’s bid for the 2036 Olympics, this partnership will strengthen sports capacity-building initiatives.

Research and Innovation Partnerships

Beyond teaching collaborations, Indian and Australian universities will engage in research and innovation in cutting-edge areas:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Biodiversity
• Smart Mobility
• Disaster Resilience: Deakin University and IIT Roorkee to establish a Centre of Excellence in Disaster Resilience.
• Mining and Sustainability: University of Western Australia collaborating with IIM Mumbai and IIT(ISM) Dhanbad.

These initiatives aim to foster global research standards, knowledge exchange, and practical skill development in priority sectors.

Significance of UNSW’s Bengaluru Campus

The Bengaluru campus of UNSW Sydney is expected to:

• Provide internationally benchmarked education to Indian students without requiring them to travel abroad.
• Strengthen India’s position as a hub for global higher education in Asia.
• Support India’s vision of skill development, STEM education, and global research collaboration.
• Expand career opportunities in emerging fields such as data science, cybersecurity, and digital media.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan emphasized that this campus is part of a larger push for international collaboration and quality higher education accessibility for Indian students.

AIESC: Driving India-Australia Education and Skills Cooperation

The Australia-India Education and Skills Council (AIESC) serves as a platform for collaboration in education, skill development, training, and research. The third AIESC meeting involved:

• Senior officials from India and Australia
• Vice-Chancellors and academics
• Representatives from various universities and research institutions

The council has facilitated agreements that bridge policy, teaching, and research, ensuring long-term cooperation between the two countries.

Looking Ahead

With the Bengaluru campus scheduled to open by August 2026, UNSW Sydney will play a pivotal role in:

• Delivering world-class education in India
• Expanding India-Australia research collaborations
• Promoting STEM and innovative skill development

These efforts align with India’s goal of becoming a global education hub, offering students opportunities to access high-quality international curricula locally, and preparing them for global careers.

The establishment of the UNSW campus also signifies a broader trend of international universities investing in India, highlighting the country’s growing demand for high-quality higher education and its strategic importance in Asia-Pacific educational partnerships.