University of Western Australia India

Early-stage campus notice: UWA India has received UGC approval but has not yet opened. The targeted first intake is August–September 2026 for the Chennai campus, with Mumbai to follow. All program details, fees, and timelines are provisional. Verify everything directly with UWA India before making any decisions.

What University of Western Australia India is

University of Western Australia India is the planned Indian branch campus operation of the University of Western Australia (UWA), a public research university based in Perth, Western Australia. UWA is a member of the Group of Eight (Go8) — Australia’s coalition of leading research-intensive universities — and is ranked #77 globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026.

UWA received approval from India’s University Grants Commission (UGC) in June 2025 to establish international branch campuses in India under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, making it the first Group of Eight Australian university to receive such approval. Two campuses are planned:

• Mumbai campus — focused on business programmes, located in leased facilities to be retrofitted for academic use
• Chennai campus — focused on information technology, with the planned location at DLF Cybercity as reported in media

The university has appointed David Das as Chief Operating Officer for UWA India to lead campus establishment. Vice-Chancellor Professor Amit Chakma has stated that the ambition is to build campuses that function as “Indian universities first, with an Australian flavour” — emphasising locally relevant programs rather than a simple export of the Perth curriculum.

UWA has 8 Nobel Laureates among its alumni and is ranked first in Western Australia for graduate employability. Its MBA programme is ranked first in Oceania for entrepreneurship and alumni outcomes (QS World University Rankings 2025 Global MBA Rankings).

Who it’s for

UWA India targets Indian undergraduates and postgraduates who want a degree from a top-100 global university without relocating to Australia. The Vice-Chancellor has described a long-term vision of 5,000 students per campus by Year 5, growing to 6,000 per campus over 10 years.

The initial focus is undergraduate level; postgraduate and PhD programmes are planned as later additions subject to regulatory approval.

• Chennai campus suits students interested in technology, AI, cybersecurity, or engineering.
• Mumbai campus suits students interested in business, management, or an MBA.

Both campuses will be commuter-based initially, without residential facilities. Students will need to arrange their own accommodation in Mumbai or Chennai.

Programs offered

UWA India has announced the following broad programme areas. Specific degree names, credit structures, and subject lists for the India campus have not been officially published as of April 2026.

Chennai campus (IT-focused):

• BSc Computer Science / Bachelor of IT — undergraduate, targeting areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital engineering
• Partnership with HCLTech for micro-credentials in AI, cybersecurity, and digital engineering
• Research collaborations in AI and underwater domain awareness already active in Chennai

Mumbai campus (Business-focused):

• Bachelor of Business — undergraduate
• MBA — postgraduate (subject to further UGC approval)
• Business programmes with an industry-connected curriculum

Both campuses plan to eventually offer PhD programmes, preferably in partnership with Indian universities, subject to regulatory approval.

UWA has signed a partnership with HCLTech to establish innovation hubs and with Avasara Academy to offer full scholarships to girls from low-income backgrounds.

Campus and infrastructure

Mumbai: Located in leased, retrofitted commercial facilities. Exact address not publicly confirmed as of April 2026. Mumbai campus will focus on business.

Chennai: Media reports indicate a location at DLF Cybercity, positioned within a technology industrial complex to enable internships and research collaborations with IT companies in the area. Exact address not confirmed.

Both campuses are designed as commuter facilities at launch. The Vice-Chancellor has stated that residential options would be developed over a 10-year horizon as campuses reach scale.

Things to verify before applying

• Opening date: The target is August–September 2026 for Chennai, with Mumbai to follow. Timelines may shift. The Vice-Chancellor acknowledged in December 2025 that there are “a lot of hurdles to overcome.”
• Which campus you want: Chennai and Mumbai have different programme focuses. Confirm your campus preference and available programmes before applying.
• Fee structure: Fees have not been announced. The VC stated fees will align with what Australian domestic students effectively pay (government grant plus student contribution combined), and will be “higher than local universities but in line with what other international institutions charge.” Media reports suggest approximately AUD 25,000 per year (~₹14–15 lakh at current exchange rates) for the Chennai campus, but this is unconfirmed.
• Degree recognition: UWA India degrees will be awarded by the University of Western Australia, Australia. Confirm with employers and further study institutions that a degree from the India campus is treated equivalently to the Perth campus degree.
• Accreditation: Confirm current UGC approval status and any state-level regulatory requirements before enrolling.
• Faculty: UWA plans to recruit primarily Indian faculty. No details on faculty credentials or hiring status have been published.

Where to go next on this site

• MBA programs in India
• BSc Computer Science programs
• BBA programs
• BCA programs
• MSc Data Science programs

Sources Used

• UWA — UGC approval announcement, June 2025
• UWA — India visit news, December 2025
• Economic Times, December 2025
• The Print, December 2025
• The Australia Today, December 2025
• UWA — Rankings and Reputation