The University of Western Australia (UWA), one of Australia’s leading Group of Eight universities, has received final approval from India’s University Grants Commission (UGC) to establish its international branch campus in Mumbai, paving the way for its first cohort of students to begin studies in September 2026.
The UGC Letter of Approval marks a significant step in the expansion of Australian higher education in India and will allow students to pursue a UWA education while remaining in India.
UWA said the Mumbai campus will combine the university’s academic standards and global outlook with access to Mumbai’s business, technology, finance and innovation ecosystem.
UWA Chancellor Dr Diane Smith-Gander AO said the campus represented an important milestone for the university and the broader Australia-India relationship.
“The opening of UWA Mumbai is an important milestone for the University and for our relationship with India,” she said.
“Most importantly, it is about creating new opportunities for students, giving them access to a globally recognised UWA education while they remain connected to the opportunities, communities and aspirations of India.”
India’s High Commissioner to Australia, Nagesh Singh, said the campus was another example of the growing education relationship between the two countries.
“UWA’s Mumbai campus is another strong example of the growing depth of the Australia-India education relationship,” he said.
“It gives Indian students the opportunity to experience an Australian university education in India, while creating new connections between our two countries.”
UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Amit Chakma said the university’s immediate focus was on ensuring students received a strong experience from the beginning of their studies.
“Receiving the UGC Letter of Approval is an important step towards welcoming our first students to UWA Mumbai.”
Ahead of the September intake, students will take part in AI Jumpstart, an early learning programme designed to introduce them to artificial intelligence and its applications.
The programme will explore how AI is changing industries and the future of work, while encouraging students to consider the responsible use of AI during their university studies.
Orientation activities will also begin before classes, allowing students to familiarise themselves with the Mumbai campus, meet fellow students and faculty, and understand UWA’s learning environment.
UWA said the initiatives are intended to give students the skills, connections and confidence needed to make a successful transition into university life.
The Mumbai campus will also provide students with opportunities to engage with real-world challenges, emerging technologies and industry networks while building connections with UWA’s international academic community.
The first cohort is expected to commence studies in September, marking a new phase in the Australia-India higher education partnership.
UWA said its Mumbai offering would be guided by the university’s broader vision of developing graduates with the knowledge, skills and global perspective to contribute to a rapidly changing world.
The campus will operate under the UGC’s regulatory framework for foreign universities establishing and operating campuses in India.
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