Illinois Tech to become first US university to set up degree campus in India
In a first for the country, Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech), Chicago's only tech-focused university, has received the green light from India's University Grants Commission (UGC) to set up a full-fledged degree-granting campus in India. The Illinois Tech Mumbai campus is scheduled to open in 2026, offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in computer science, engineering, and business.This move makes Illinois Tech the first US university to be approved for an independent degree-awarding presence in India under the UGC's latest foreign campus regulations. Courses will follow the same experiential and industry-aligned curriculum as in Chicago, with internationally recruited faculty and visiting professors from the US.WHAT WILL STUDENTS GET?Students at the Mumbai campus will have access to Illinois Tech's signature Elevate programme, which blends academic learning with real-world experience through internships, research, competitions, and industry projects.They'll also benefit from cross-campus exposure with US faculty and opportunities to study across both countries, all without needing to relocate.According to 2023 and 2025 rankings from the New York Times, U.S. News & World Report, and TFE Times, Illinois Tech consistently ranks high in earnings potential, mobility, and career outcomes -- especially for its STEM and business programmes. This makes it a strong fit for Indian students who want an international education at home.FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES IN INDIA: WHAT'S HAPPENING SO FARUntil now, no foreign university has had permission to independently offer full degrees in India. Illinois Tech is the first to achieve this milestone since UGC notified its foreign higher education institution (FHEI) regulations in May 2023, following the 2020 National Education Policy's call for allowing top global universities into the Indian system.A few other universities are in talks too. Australia's Deakin University and University of Wollongong are both setting up international branch campuses at the GIFT City education hub in Gujarat. These, however, are under the special International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) framework and not the broader UGC route.Unlike Illinois Tech's Mumbai campus, which is a direct entry into India's domestic higher education market with UGC approval, the GIFT City campuses will cater mostly to international and specialised finance programmes. Some UK universities and US institutions have expressed interest in similar ventures but haven't reached approval stage yet.This makes Illinois Tech's plan even more groundbreaking -- it's the first to offer a fully accredited US degree in India under national higher education rules and not just through joint programmes or niche finance zones.LOCAL ACCESS, GLOBAL STANDARDSMallik Sundharam, Vice President for Enrollment Management, noted that graduate student interest from India has surged over 70% in the past five years.'Our new campus responds to this extraordinary demand by delivering globally recognised Illinois Tech degrees in a highly accessible, affordable, and locally contextualised format,' he said.Students will be taught by globally qualified faculty and engage in a diverse classroom environment -- right in Mumbai. The goal is to prepare future tech and business leaders with strong career outcomes while maintaining strong industry ties, both in India and globally.ALIGNING WITH INDIA'S EDUCATION POLICYThis move supports India's National Education Policy 2020, which encourages international collaboration and envisions the country as a global education hub by 2047.Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Consul General of India in Chicago have praised the initiative as a win-win for students and employers alike.As Indian higher education moves towards more global integration, Illinois Tech's Mumbai campus is expected to be the first of several such campuses that blend international expertise with Indian opportunity. But for now, it's already made history.
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