Until recently, some 7 lakh students from India used to go to foreign universities every year. The United States of America, Australia, Canada, England,.and Germany were among the key destinations.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs data, the number of students going abroad from India has now decreased by about 40%. This year, only 2 lakh to 3 lakh students have gone to foreign universities.
At the same time, an increasing number of foreign universities are pitching their tents in India, opening their offshore campuses here and offering the “foreign-educated” tag. Bengaluru appears to be one of the key destinations for many of them, with two universities — one each from Australia and the United Kingdom – already opening their campuses and starting academic activities from 2026-27, while more are in the pipeline.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs data, the number of students going abroad from India has now decreased by about 40%. This year, only 2 lakh to 3 lakh students have gone to foreign universities.
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Driven by the National Education Policy (NEP-2020), foreign universities have taken steps to establish their off-shore campuses with the permission of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
While one section feels that the arrival of foreign universities will bring in foreign research, increase new innovations, enhance tourism and foster intellectual growth, there are those who argue that Indian students will be better off studying at the parent campus of foreign universities, interacting with foreign students and having multicultural exchanges. There is also a fear that foreign universities will have an impact on local universities.
How rules have changed
Earlier, foreign universities were not allowed to operate directly in India. However, many higher educational institutions were operating in collaboration with foreign universities for research activities, cultural and student exchange and other programmes.
Students who wanted a foreign university degree would go abroad, some on government and university scholarships. Many students used to find placements through educational consultancies or agencies at their own expenses.
But in recent years, countries such as the U.S. and Canada have tightened student visa rules, while Australia has increased student visa fees by a huge margin. The number of students going abroad has also fallen significantly owing to higher tuition fees, with the value of the rupee constantly falling against the U.S. dollar and education loans getting more expensive, among other reasons.
At this juncture, NEP-2020, implemented by the Union government from 2022, allowed foreign universities to operate in the country. Since then, around 18 global ranking universities have been approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to open campuses in India. Seven of them are from Australia.
Two foreign universities have already started operations in Bengaluru. Australia’s University of New South Wales (UNSW) and the U.K.-based University of Liverpool have already established campuses at Manyata Business Park and the Alembic City complex in Bengaluru.
Four other foreign institutions — Imperial College London, Lancaster University, La Trobe University and Flinders University — are planning to start operations in and around Bengaluru.
To apply at these universities, English language proficiency is a must. At UNSW the students have to prove their proficiency, if English is not their first language, and the University of Liverpool demands a minimum 70% in English language at class 12 in any board.
University of Liverpool offers BSc (Hons) and Masters in Accounting and Finance, Biomedical sciences, Computer Science, Computer Science and Software Development, Game Design and BA in Business Management.
UNSW has started Bachelor’s programmes in Business, Computer Science, Data Science and Decisions, Media, Public Relations and Advertising and Masters in Cyber Security.
What it costs
Though not comparable to what it costs to study abroad, degrees here too come with a heavy price tag. Undergraduate (UG) courses at UNSW charge around ₹15 lakh for Indian residents per year and for Masters in Cyber Security, it is around ₹19 lakh for resident Indians and ₹22 lakh for Non Resident Indians.
The annual fee structure at University of Liverpool ranges between ₹11.5 lakh for undergraduate programmes and ₹15 lakh for the postgraduate ones. However, the universities offer scholarships for eligible students.
Bengaluru, favourite destination
Many foreign universities are eager to set up their campuses in Bengaluru for many reasons, including the State government’s policies that make processes simpler, technology availability, and access to qualified human resources.
Suresh Renukappa, Director of JSS AHER-Wolverhampton Centre for Future Healthcare and Policy Innovation University of Wolverhampton, U.K., said: “The NEP-2020 created an enabling environment for internationalisation, and subsequent regulatory developments have provided clearer routes for foreign universities to establish a presence in India. International universities also see India’s demographic scale, demand for higher education, expanding middle class, rapidly growing innovation economy and increasing global importance.”
“Bengaluru is particularly attractive because it combines higher education, technology, entrepreneurship, multinational companies, start-ups, healthcare, research and a highly skilled workforce within one ecosystem. For a university, that is extremely important,” he said.
“Students can potentially receive an international education and qualification without bearing the full financial and personal cost of studying overseas. This emerging model is already visible in programmes offered in India in areas such as computer science, AI, data science, finance and business. But the benefits should go beyond the degree. A successful international campus should provide students with international curricula, global faculty engagement, industry exposure, research opportunities, and access to international networks,” he said.
Australia too is aggressively expanding its higher education footprint in India, shifting from traditional institutional alliances toward major new partnerships and dedicated physical branch campuses.
Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Philip Green, said Bengaluru has emerged as one of the primary areas for this expansion, highlighted by the UNSW securing formal regulatory clearance to open a campus in the city. “Australia is the first country to establish foreign branch campuses in India. Two Australian universities are already operational in Gujarat’s GIFT City. Following them, five more are scheduled to open across the country. Each of these universities has a unique plan regarding student intake, course offerings, and employment pipelines,’’ he noted.
When queried if Indian graduates from these local Australian campuses would secure employment directly in Australia, Philip emphasised what he called “borderless value attached to higher-education and skill sets.”
“These universities produce graduates with global-level qualifications. Where they secure employment depends on the individual. Our primary focus is delivering global-quality education for a range of jurisdictions,’’ he said.
To maximise outcomes, the Australian High Commission is linking inbound universities with Australian companies in India. “We are mapping out internships that Australian corporates in India can offer to these students, ultimately building direct pathways to employment,” he explained.
Little room for regulation
However, there have also been some concerns over how the State government cannot regulate these entities, be it in terms of fees, reservation of seats for native students or Constitution-based reservations policies.
The Higher Education Department has clarified that foreign universities are autonomous institutions and have received permission directly from the UGC. “We have provided the necessary infrastructure to operate in our State. Otherwise, all administrative decisions, including fees, curriculum, examinations are up to the respective universities,” an official said.
While the State government has withdrawn the NEP-2020 in higher education from 2025-26 and implemented the recommendations of the State Education Policy (SEP) Commission, foreign universities lie outside its purview.
The State government has decided to provide space in the KWIN City to foreign universities. To invite foreign universities to Karnataka, M.B. Patil, Minister for Large and Medium Industries, held a roadshow in the U.K. and held a series of strategic meetings, ahead of the Invest Karnataka-2025.
“Some foreign universities have sought buildings tailored to their specific requirements under a build-to-suit model. The government is considering an appropriate model to meet these requirements at KWIN City being developed between Doddaballapur and Dobbspet,” said Patil, responding to a question in the recent Legislative Council session.
Where do these developments leave private consultants? Shiva Krishna, a study abroad consultant in Bengaluru, said that entities like them continue to play an important role in enrolments. “Many of these universities invite consultancies and agencies for campus visits and explain the courses, facilities etc. But there is still confusion over whether the students should be admitted to Indian campuses or sent to foreign campuses,” he said.
He emphasised that the quality of education and experience is key. “To get admission in universities abroad, students have to face a separate exam. There is no exam for admission to foreign universities campuses in India. It is important to maintain quality. Also, foreign universities starting campuses in India should not just give degrees to students, but should give them real experience of studying abroad. If Indians are 5% of the students abroad, those from other countries form the 95%. The same kind of environment should be created here too. If 100% of the students are Indian here, the concept of a foreign university will not be fulfilled,” he stated.
Career counsellor Ameen-e-Mudassar from Bengaluru too believes that with foreign universities opening campuses in India, Indian students would miss out on the chance to immerse themselves in the multiculturalism abroad.
“When students go abroad, they spend money there, eat food there, they meet people from different countries and different cultures. For example, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft and other Indian origin CEOs went abroad, studied there and groomed themselves on the world stage. Therefore, a grooming environment is very important for students. Students may miss out on all these global opportunities here,” he said.
Students’ take
Students too have mixed opinions. Monica C.G., a student from Bengaluru who intends to pursue her Master’s degree abroad, said, “I want to pursue a postgraduate degree in the U.S. But owing to strict visa rules and high fees, my parents are suggesting that I continue my education in foreign universities that are starting in India. However, the curriculum, technology, research activities of U.S. universities are advanced compared to those in other countries. I am worried that if I study in India, I will miss all these. Higher education is not just about getting a certificate. So, I am very confused.”
Taking a different view, another student, Minarva said: “Instead of leaving my friends and family and going abroad, it is better to study in a foreign university that is starting in our country. The cost will also be less.”
Impact on local universities
A section of academics argue that while the arrival of foreign universities in India has many advantages, they could adversely impact public universities.
A.N. Prabhu Dev, former Vice-Chancellor of Bangalore University, said, “Our public universities have a 40% to 50% shortage of permanent staff. Most universities depend on guest lectures for their academic activities. In such a situation, if foreign universities come and pay higher salaries, our best faculty may leave their jobs and go to foreign universities. The number of students in universities will also fall.
He argued that the government should focus on quality education in public universities by providing necessary infrastructure and filling up vacancies. “Instead of giving permission to standalone foreign universities, it would be better to enter into joint ventures with our public universities. If they use the infrastructure of our universities and integrate the curriculum, technology and research of foreign universities here, it will be more beneficial for our students and universities. If there is a need to charge students more, the government should subsidise the additional fees of the students,” he a suggested.
