University of Western Australia to launch Mumbai, Chennai campuses by 2026

The University of Western Australia (UWA) will establish campuses in Mumbai and Chennai, expected to be operational by August 2026, officials said. A high-level delegation from the Perth-based university is currently in India to engage with government and state agencies and to foster partnerships with Indian institutions.

The UWA has received approval from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to set up multiple branch campuses across India, with Mumbai designated as the hub campus. UWA is ranked among the world’s top 100 universities and will become the first Ivy League-equivalent institution and the first from Australia’s Group of Eight (Go8) universities to establish campuses in India.

“India, home to the world’s largest youth population of over 371 million people aged 15 to 29, is a digitally native and entrepreneurial generation driving innovation,” said Guy Littlefair, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education and Student Experience), UWA. “Our expansion is designed to harness this energy and contribute through world-class research, teaching, and industry partnerships.”

The Mumbai campus will be launched first, followed by the Chennai campus. Both locations were chosen due to their status as major centres of innovation, industry, and research. Mumbai, India’s financial and corporate hub, offers access to a large professional and student ecosystem, while Chennai is a technology and educational hub with strong industrial and research networks.

The UWA delegation’s visit aims to advance campus establishment plans, engage with government and state agencies, and create an ecosystem of partnerships with Indian institutions, industry leaders, and business communities.

UWA’s recent initiatives in India include collaborations with the Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) to promote internships and research in health and medical sciences; Avid Sports, to develop pathways in sports science, business, and high-performance disciplines; and HCLTech, to integrate industry-led innovation into academic programs.

The campuses are also envisioned as hubs for innovation and entrepreneurship, featuring startup launchpads, collaborative research centres, and cross-border incubation programmes. These initiatives aim to foster bi-national ecosystems connecting researchers, students, and industry partners from India and Western Australia.

Through its School of Earth and Oceans, UWA is collaborating with Indian institutions to advance research in sustainable mining, renewable energy, climate change, and ocean sciences, officials added.

The establishment of these campuses represents a significant step in UWA’s global expansion and its commitment to strengthening research, education, and industry collaboration in India.