India is set to become the most strategically significant market globally for the expansion of international higher education, driven by policy reform, demographic scale and urban readiness, according to a joint report by Knight Frank India, Deloitte India and QS Quacquarelli Symonds.

Titled India’s 155 Million Student Mandate, the report notes that India is home to nearly 155 million people in the 18–23 age group, the largest such cohort globally. It highlights India’s transition from an outbound student market to a destination for offshore university campuses, enabled by the National Education Policy 2020 and subsequent regulatory frameworks.

The study finds that the success of foreign universities in India will depend less on regulatory approval alone and more on city-level readiness, including connectivity, industry depth, socio-economic maturity and access to scalable real estate. It identifies India’s higher education opportunity as city-led, with Tier-1 cities acting as anchor markets and Tier-2 cities emerging as future expansion frontiers.

Using a multi-criteria assessment of 40 Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities, the report identifies Delhi NCR, Bengaluru and Mumbai as the strongest immediate markets due to global connectivity, established industry ecosystems and mature commercial real estate. Chandigarh Tricity, Kochi and Goa are highlighted as high-potential Tier-2 cities, offering cost efficiency, scalability and suitability for residential or research-focused campuses.

Insights from QS Best Student Cities 2026 and the QS International Student Survey 2025 indicate rising global interest in Indian cities, particularly on employability and affordability. Delhi emerged as the world’s most cost-competitive student city and featured in the global top 50 for employer activity. Mumbai re-entered the global top 100, while Bengaluru and Chennai recorded strong gains in employer activity rankings.

The report estimates that demand for vertical campuses by foreign higher education institutions in India could reach 19 million square feet by 2040, underscoring the role of real estate and urban infrastructure in shaping academic outcomes and long-term institutional sustainability.

The findings conclude that India is no longer an emerging option but a strategic priority for global universities planning long-term international expansion, with city-specific strategies critical to achieving scale and resilience.

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