Foreign universities in India: Should you choose an Indian campus over studying abroad? Know the pros & cons

If you’ve had to defer or cancel your foreign education plans, there’s good news—foreign education has come to India. With nearly 19 foreign universities, mostly from the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia, either already operational or set to start their sessions in Fall this year or in 2027, a brand-new set of higher education options has opened up for Indian students.

These institutions are ranked among the top 500 globally and include the Illinois Institute of Technology (US), the University of Liverpool, the University of Southampton, Victoria University, and The University of Western Australia (Australia), among others. Most of their Indian campuses are, as expected, in metros like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi NCR, and GIFT City in Gujarat.

A degree from a foreign university without leaving India may seem to combine the best of both worlds, but will it deliver the low-cost, highquality education people are looking for? More importantly, will a foreign degree in India offer the return on investment that justifies the higher fees compared to some of the Indian universities? Though the enrolment process has already begun at several of these universities, weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.

Why the influx now?

The unprecedented influx of foreign universities in the past two years is due to a combination of domestic policy changes and global upheavals, with the defining push clearly coming from vested commercial interests.

ALSO READ | Need over ₹2 crore for foreign education? From scholarships to SIPs - know the smart ways parents can plan for expensive foreign degrees

Indian market: The biggest reason is that India is not only among the world’s largest higher education markets, with nearly 180 million people between the ages of 18 and 24, but also that Indian students represent the largest global cohort. “With over 13.35 lakh students choosing to study abroad in 2024, it represents an opportunity global universities can no longer ignore. Setting up campuses here is the natural next step,” says Tripti Maheshwari, Co-Founder, Student Circus.

“Universities are simply following the demand rather than waiting for it to come to them,” counters Sandeep Parekh, Managing Partner, Finsec Law Advisors. “For years, a large number of Indians have gone abroad to study, and the universities have come to depend on that fee income,” he says. However, over the past two years, this number has dropped sharply, especially to favoured destinations such as Canada, the United States, the UK, and Australia. This is because of tighter visa policies, shorter post-study periods, higher visa and tuition fees, and rising cost of living due to the depreciating rupee. “Foreign universities have a strong commercial reason to set up campuses where the students already are,” explains Parekh, who is also a visiting faculty at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.

Policy change: The second reason is India’s conscious bid to build India into a global education hub, retain talent, and reduce the foreign exchange that leaves the country for education. In 2020, a policy shift altered the market, from one where foreign institutions could only collaborate with Indian partners into one where they could set up and operate their own campuses. The National Education Policy 2020 allowed foreign universities ranked among the top 500 globally to establish campuses in India. The next turning point came with the University Grants Commission (UGC) issuing the UGC (Setting Up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations, 2023.

These regulations created a formal route for foreign universities to enter India, and have been supported by the GIFT City framework. “The regulations have come at a time of tightening visa regimes in the West, a young population hungry for global credentials, a deepening industry base, and being physically present in India simply makes more academic and commercial sense,” says Arindam Banerjee, Professor, Finance & Accounting, and Director, Master of Applied Finance and Wealth Management, SP Jain School of Global Management.

ALSO READ | Study abroad rethink: Indian students return home as visa hurdles, job uncertainty and rising costs reshape plans

“Besides, the regulations are generous to the foreign institutions, allowing them to decide fees without a government cap, recruit and pay faculty on their own terms, and repatriate the surplus, subject to our foreign exchange laws. This commercial freedom, which our own institutions don’t enjoy, is itself an attraction,” says Parekh.

Foreign university campuses operational in India

What they offer

Currently, most universities offer a very limited number of undergraduate, postgraduate, and shorter courses compared to those provided by their parent campuses, with most leaning towards STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and business or finance disciplines. For instance, the University of Southampton in Gurugram offers only 10 courses versus over 400 offered by the parent university in UK.

“Compared to the extremely expansive campuses with extensive research facilities, libraries and laboratories abroad, the Indian universities are housed in very small spaces and have very few facilities as of now,” says Mandeep Bachher, Co-founder, MindScan Education. Agrees Banerjee: “For the newly set up foreign university campuses, the program choice is narrower, faculty and research depth are nascent, and the wider campus life, alumni density and genuinely international classroom may take years to replicate.”

ALSO READ | Overseas education insurance: Why Indian student travel policies matter beyond university health cover

The faculty models may also vary. While some global universities may rotate professors across campuses or bring in visiting faculty, others may rely more on locally recruited talent. However, the degree and curriculum will mirror those of the parent campus. “Branch campuses operate under the same academic standards and quality benchmarks of their parent institutions, with curriculum, assessment frameworks, and degree structures aligned with the university’s requirements,” says Ritika Singh, Executive Director, IC3 Movement.

“Students will graduate with the same degree as those studying in Australia. The curriculum, academic standards, learning outcomes and quality assurance processes are fully aligned across campuses,” affirms Professor Jennifer Howell, Deputy Vice- Chancellor (Global Engagement) at The University of Western Australia, which is set to start its sessions in Mumbai (September 2026) and Chennai (2027).

While on paper there may be no difference in degrees and curriculum, they will lack global experience and exposure. “Studying overseas offers an immersion in a different culture, exposure to a diverse peer group, international faculty, extensive research infrastructure, experience of living and working in a global environment, and industry exposure that work to shape a student’s education,” says Praneet Singh, VP, University Partnerships, upGrad Study Abroad.

Affirms Parekh: “A leased building in Gurugram or at GIFT City, however well equipped, is not the same as a home campus spread over hundreds of acres with its libraries, laboratories, research culture and the wider university around it.”

Cost comparison: Foreign varsities’ Indian campuses are more affordable

Should you apply? Consider pros & cons
Advantages

• International degree without leaving India.
• Academic curriculum from a globally recognised top 500 institution.
• International teaching practices.
• Significantly lower cost compared to parent university abroad.
• Opportunity for global exposure through exchange programs.
• No visa uncertainty, high travel or living expenses while studying abroad.

Drawbacks

• No holistic exposure to an international ecosystem.
• Very few courses being currently offered.
• Local faculty, limited facilities, small campuses compared to parent university.
• Cost may be higher than Indian universities which may offer better career potential.
• It’s not the route to work or settle abroad. Likely to lead to placements, career options within India.

Cost differential

However, there are benefits. Besides the savings that come from staying in India, the foreign universities are clearly cheaper than their parent campuses abroad. “The biggest advantage is affordability. Students can access an international degree while avoiding major expenses such as overseas accommodation, travel, visa costs and the significantly higher cost of living associated with studying abroad,” says Maheshwari.

ALSO READ | Indian students shift from US, UK to Europe and Asia as visa hurdles rise and costs surge

However, these may cost the same as, or be more expensive than comparable Indian institutions. “Studying abroad typically costs Rs.1-3 crore depending on the country and course, while the Indian campuses may cost 30-60% less. However, they may be more expensive than most public Indian universities, while being competitive with premium private institutions,” says Alok Bansal, Delhi-based career coach and consultant.

Agrees Banerjee: “Compared with some of India’s elite institutions, the picture is mixed. A top-tier institution or private university can cost the same or even less. So, the saving is real against going abroad, but not automatic against every Indian option.”

Depending on the university and program, the Indian branch may cost Rs.20-25 lakh per year. “By comparison, the same program at the university’s UK campus could cost Rs.30-36 lakh per year in tuition fees alone, with the total annual cost rising to Rs.50 lakh with accommodation and living expenses,” says Maheshwari. At the same time, premium Indian institutions such as the Indian School of Business (ISB) also charge tuition fees ranging from Rs.39 lakh to over Rs.50 lakh for their flagship programs.

Career potential

Though the heft of a foreign degree seems promising, career outcomes are uncertain because universities will take time to establish industry linkages and build recruiter trust, or promise ‘guaranteed’ placements. Students need to understand that being physically present in another country provides access to local employer networks, recruitment events and, in many destinations, poststudy work opportunities that are difficult to replicate from India.

“The overseas campuses offer better access to global recruiters, international internships, larger alumni networks and graduate work visa opportunities. The Indian campuses will need time to establish comparable placement records,” says Bansal.

However, some of these campuses are located in industry centres—Gurugram, GIFT City, Bengaluru and Powai next to the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay— which can translate into useful internships and local hiring opportunities.

“Rather than simply replicating what works on their home campuses, several global universities are creating India-specific employability strategies, signing industry partnerships and designing internship pathways that reflect the needs of the local job market. For example, the University of Bristol has established a dedicated working group at its parent campus to help shape employability strategies for its India campus,” says Maheshwari.

Confirms Howell: “UWA India will work closely with industry to support internships, career development and employment opportunities in India, while students will also have access to UWA’s global alumni, employer and career networks that enhance international career prospects.”

Should you opt for these?

If you are looking for a foreign education and plan to work in India, these may be a good option as you get an international degree at a lower cost. However, it will not open up a foreign residency pathway through poststudy work visas that studying abroad grants. So if your intention is to gain foreign exposure, or work and settle abroad, this route may not work.

More importantly, placement and outcome data are scarce for these universities’ Indian branches, and the first few batches will carry the risk that later ones may not. “Evaluate the particular institution and program, ask hard questions about who will actually teach you and what the early cohorts’ results look like, and match the choice to your own goal,” says Parekh.