Western Sydney University has received formal approval from the University Grants Commission (UGC) under India’s Ministry of Education to establish a foreign branch campus in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Set to open in August 2026, the campus will offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Business, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, with future expansion into Data Science and Science disciplines.

Indian students represent 20% of the University’s international cohort, making India a consistent top-three source market for over a decade. Currently, over 1,300 Indian students study across its Australian campuses.

The Greater Noida campus will also introduce the University’s award-winning business incubator, Launch Pad, which has supported more than 1,000 start-ups and SMEs globally. Launch Pad will offer entrepreneurial education, start-up training, and research commercialisation to enhance graduate employability and support India’s innovation ecosystem.

Vice-Chancellor and President, Distinguished Professor George Williams AO, highlighted the University’s strong commitment to expanding access to world-class education in India. “Our India campus will create life-changing opportunities for students and contribute to India’s economic and social transformation, while also taking Western Sydney to the world,” he said.

The University has a long-standing presence in India through partnerships with over 30 State Agricultural Universities, ICAR, IITs, IISc, and institutions like NABARD and ICICI Bank. These collaborations include joint degree programmes, agricultural research, agri-incubation centres, and training initiatives that have impacted thousands of students, scientists, and farmers.

Chancellor Professor Jennifer Westacott AC noted, “The India campus reflects a major strategic commitment by the University to deliver education aligned with India’s skill needs and to drive innovation, sustainability, and research-led solutions.”

Western Sydney University is ranked number one globally for the fourth consecutive year in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, recognising its leadership in advancing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The state-of-the-art campus will follow the University’s ‘One University’ model, offering cross-campus mobility, industry internships, and research opportunities. Aligned with the National Education Policy, the initiative supports India’s goal of becoming a global knowledge hub while bridging workforce skill gaps.

The announcement was made at the Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam 2025 in New Delhi, in the presence of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and other senior dignitaries.

For more details, visit: www.westernsydney.edu.au/india

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