Mumbai: The Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech), is sole technology-focused universty in Chicago, has received approval from India's University Grant Commission (UGC) to open a full-fledged degree granting campus in Mumbai for the first time in the country. In 2026, the campus is scheduled to open.
This move makes Illinois Tech the first US university to gain permission to independently offer full degrees in India under the UGC’s latest foreign campus regulations, that follows the 2020 National Education Policy’s push to internationalise Indian education.
What Mumbai campus will offer
The Mumbai campus will offer undergraduate and postgraduate programs in computer science, engineering, and business. According to Illinois Tech officials, students can expect the same experiential, industry-aligned curriculum that the university is known for in Chicago. International faculty will lead the courses, and visiting professors from the US will regularly engage with students in Mumbai.
The Vice President for Enrolment Management at Illinois Tech, Mallik Sundharam, emphasised the significant demand from Indian students. Over the past five years, interest from India has grown by more than 70%. "With the added benefit of local context, our new campus will make internationally recognised Illinois Tech degrees accessible and affordable," he stated.
Students on the Mumbai campus will also gain from Illinois Tech's flagship Elevate program, which combines classroom instruction with real-world experience in the form of internships, research initiatives, and competitions.
Illinois Tech's Mumbai campus stands out with direct entry into India's higher education system, as approved by the UGC, even though some other international universities, like Deakin University and the University of Wollongong in Australia, are also establishing campuses in India, specifically in Gujarat's GIFT City, under a special arrangement.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Consul General of India in Chicago have also welcomed the move, calling it a big step towards providing international opportunities to Indian students.
