India’s international branch campus landscape has expanded rapidly since the UGC FHEI Regulations 2023 came into force. As of May 2026, 14 foreign universities have received approval or in-principle approval from the UGC or IFSCA to operate an Indian campus. Here is the complete and current list.
Operational campuses (accepting applications now)
These campuses are open and actively enrolling students for current or upcoming intakes.
| University | QS Rank | City | Framework | Programmes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southampton | #77 | Gurugram, Haryana | UGC | 10 (5 PG, 5 UG) |
| University of Liverpool (LIBI) | #164 | Bengaluru, Karnataka | UGC | 5 (2 PG, 3 UG) |
| Deakin University | #264 | GIFT City, Gujarat | IFSCA | 5 (4 PG, 1 UG) |
| University of Wollongong | #218 | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | UGC | 5 (3 PG, 2 UG) |
| University of Wollongong | #218 | GIFT City, Gujarat | IFSCA | 3 (all PG) |
| Nottingham Trent University | #601–650 | Greater Noida, UP | UGC | 4 (2 PG, 2 UG) |
| SP Jain School of Global Management | Unranked (QS) | GIFT City, Gujarat | IFSCA | 2 (all PG) |
Upcoming campuses (approved but not yet open)
These universities have received UGC or IFSCA approval and are in campus preparation phase. Some are accepting expressions of interest.
| University | QS Rank | City | Framework | Expected opening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Bristol | #54 | Mumbai, Maharashtra | UGC | 2027 |
| University of Western Australia | #90 | TBC | UGC | 2027 |
| University of Reading | #239 | Navi Mumbai, MH | UGC | 2027 |
| Coventry University | #601–650 | GIFT City, Gujarat | IFSCA | Pending (discipline review) |
| Heriot-Watt University | #351–400 | TBC | UGC | 2027 |
| Lancaster University | #209 | TBC | UGC | 2027 |
| University of Surrey | #301–350 | TBC | UGC | 2027 |
Coventry GIFT City approval is pending an IFSCA discipline-fit review — the university’s original programme portfolio included disciplines outside the IFSCA-permitted STEM/FinTech list.
How to track new approvals
The UGC updates its list of registered foreign higher education institutions periodically at ugc.ac.in. Glocampus updates its campus database monthly — browse all programmes to see the current live catalog.
Key trends to watch in 2026–27
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More Russell Group universities committing: Bristol (#54) and Lancaster (#209) announcements confirm that top-tier UK universities see IBC as viable. More Russell Group and Group of Eight (Australia) universities are expected to announce in H2 2026.
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STEM/FinTech saturation at GIFT City: Multiple GIFT City campuses now compete for the same pool of STEM/FinTech postgraduate applicants. Differentiation will come from industry partnerships and placement outcomes rather than QS ranking alone.
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Undergraduate programmes growing: Early IBCs focused on postgraduate. As campuses mature, undergraduate enrolment is growing — important for the Class 12 student market.
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Government recognition expanding: UPSC, IBPS, and PSUs are gradually updating their eligibility frameworks to explicitly address IBC degrees. Expect clearer recognition language in 2026–27 examination advertisements.
Campus list current as of May 2026. Updated monthly by the Glocampus editorial team.