First US University Campus In India To Be Established In Mumbai

Mumbai: The Illinois Institute of Technology, a leading university based in Chicago, is set to become the first American higher education institution to establish a physical campus in India. The university has received approval from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to open its Indian campus in Mumbai, with operations expected to commence in the autumn of 2026.

The Mumbai campus will offer a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in sought-after fields such as computer science, engineering, and business. Officials say the move is a response to the growing demand among Indian students for globally recognised degrees without the need to relocate abroad.

“Our Mumbai campus represents a bold step in expanding access to world-class education,” said Raj Echambadi, President of Illinois Tech. “It’s a continuation of our founding vision—to democratise access to technology and innovation. We’re proud to bring our immersive and industry-aligned learning model to India and nurture the next generation of global leaders.”

The curriculum will replicate the academic rigour of Illinois Tech’s Chicago campuses and include the university’s signature ‘Elevate’ programme, which guarantees hands-on experiences such as internships, research opportunities, and industry-led competitions. Faculty will be recruited globally, including visiting professors from the US.

Mallik Sundharam, Vice-President for Enrolment Management and Student Affairs, noted that the number of Indian students enrolling at Illinois Tech has surged by over 70% in the past five years. “Our new campus in Mumbai addresses this rising interest by offering globally valued degrees in a locally relevant, affordable format,” he said.

Illinois Tech was established in 1940 following the merger of the Armour Institute and Lewis Institute. The latter, founded in 1895, was one of the first American institutions to offer co-educational programmes in both liberal arts and science.

The UGC’s 2023 guidelines opened the door for foreign universities to set up campuses in India. While the UK’s University of Southampton and Australia’s Deakin and Wollongong universities have already made inroads—with campuses in Gujarat’s GIFT City—Illinois Tech’s Mumbai campus marks the first American entry into India’s domestic higher education space.