The University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia, is planning to open an International campus in Bangalore, India, by August 2026. The setup is planned after receiving a letter of intent from the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Monday during the third Australia-India Education and Skills Council (AIESC) meeting.
Ranked 20th in the QS World University Rankings 2026, the Bangalore campus will provide undergraduate and postgraduate programs in business, computer science, media, cybersecurity, and data science. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced in a press conference following the AIESC meeting.
Australia’s Minister for Education Jason Clare highlighted the growing strength of educational partnerships between India and Australia. Seven out of the 19 international universities approved to establish campuses in India are Australian, highlighting the strong and trusted relationship between the two countries.
About Other Australian Institutions
Other Australian universities granted letters of intent to open campuses in India include La Trobe University, Victoria University, Western Sydney University, and the University of Western Australia. Meanwhile, Deakin University and the University of Wollongong have already started operations in Gujarat’s Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City).
Beyond establishing university campuses, the AIESC meeting led to multiple new collaborations. These include joint efforts in early childhood education, where CBSE is coordinating with the Australian Qualifications Framework, along with an agreement between the National Council for Teacher Education and the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership.
To meet the increasing demand for CBSE programs and particularly for STEM educational programs by members of the Indian diaspora, steps are being taken to increase the number of CBSE-affiliated schools in Australia, said Pradhan.
On sports, Mr. Dharamendra Pradhan mentioned the joint intent to collaborate on curriculum development from school to higher education levels. Australia is set to host the 2032 coming Olympics and India to pursue its bid for 2036. Both these nations see opportunities for extensive sports capacity building, with Australia positioned as a natural partner.
AIESC Strengthens India-Australia Collaboration in Education and Research
The AIESC continues to facilitate collaborations between India and Australia across education, skilling, training, and research. Monday’s meeting brought together officials, academics, and Vice Chancellors from both countries.
Research partnerships will cover fields such as artificial intelligence, biodiversity, and smart mobility. Deakin University and IIT Roorkee are partnering to create a Centre of Excellence in Disaster Resilience, while the University of Western Australia will collaborate with IIM Mumbai and IIT(ISM) Dhanbad on mining and sustainability projects.
