Indian Students Split On Studying At New Navi Mumbai Global Campuses vs Going Abroad
The state government of Mumbai on Saturday gave the University Grants Commission's (UGC) Letters of Intent (LoIs) to five international universities for the establishment of full-fledged campuses in Navi Mumbai, marking the beginning of India's first international education centre. In the presence of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, diplomats, high-ranking officials, and university representatives, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made the announcement at the 'Mumbai Rising: Creating an International Education City' event.
The Universities and EduCity Plan
The five universities—Istituto Europeo di Design from Italy, the University of Western Australia, the University of Aberdeen and University of York from the United Kingdom, and the Illinois Institute of Technology from the United States—will establish separate campuses over 250 acres in an area known as "EduCity" close to the future Navi Mumbai International Airport. These universities are expected to start operations in the next 18 to 24 months and will grant their own degrees.
According to Fadnavis, the National Education Policy 2020 is driving this historic effort, which would give Indian students access to top-notch education at a fraction of the price of studying overseas. "Here, our pupils will receive a worldwide education at a quarter of the price. With ten foreign universities planned, Navi Mumbai is being transformed into an EduCity. In addition to its current identities as a financial and entertainment hub, the goal is to turn Mumbai into a hub for global education," he stated. He added, without disclosing the names, that negotiations are already in way with five additional reputable overseas universities.
Accessibility, affordability, and global workforce readiness
He underlined that accessibility and affordability were two of the biggest obstacles facing Indian students who wanted to study overseas.
Nine international institutions are now establishing campuses in India, and six more are planned, according to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. He emphasised that Indian universities, such as Symbiosis and IITs, have already started to establish campuses across the Middle East and Africa. He described NEP 2020 as a game-changer and stated, "This marks a new phase of internationalisation in Indian education."
The University of Aberdeen was the first Scottish university to open a campus in India, and it already collaborates with more than 200 Indian universities. One of the top 100 universities in the world, the University of Western Australia, will provide STEM programmes that meet business demands. Programs in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and creative industries will be offered by the University of York. Illinois Tech will introduce its immersive "Elevate" curriculum in addition to degrees in engineering, computer science, and business. IED will focus on product design, fashion, and visual communication.
Student’s perspective
Ananya Rao, 21, an aspiring master’s student planning to study in the UK, said, “It’s exciting to see top global universities opening campuses here, but I’m still leaning toward going abroad. The experience of living in a different country, understanding new cultures, and building an international network is something a local campus may not fully offer—even if the education is world-class.”
Sahil Mehta, 24, a master’s student in Australia, said, “Studying here has been transformative—not just academically but personally. If I had the option to study at the same university in Navi Mumbai earlier, I might have considered it to save costs. But I would’ve still missed out on the cultural immersion, independence, and global exposure that comes with living abroad.”
“I’m curious about how similar the Indian campuses will be to the originals. If the degree holds equal value globally, it could be a great option for students who can’t afford to go abroad. But I would still prefer the actual US campus—for the exposure, student diversity, and opportunities that come with being there," said, Ritika Sharma, 17, a class 12 student applying for an undergraduate course in the US.
Ankita Thakker, founder and CEO of Education Street, sees this as a turning point. She said, “The Maharashtra government signing these 5 new LOI with world-class universities has embarked on the journey to establish an international-level education infrastructure right in Navi Mumbai. Indian students would gain a lot in this, as they can now afford global degrees at significantly lower costs. This also allows exchange programmes and joint degrees to run smoothly, offering a variety of learning experiences. I also feel this will also bring research and development capacity to India, as all these universities work at high capacity to innovate and experiment.”
She also highlighted the possibility of joint degrees, exchange programmes, and increased research and development capacity in India. “This provides the 5 universities the freedom to role international experience in education right here at almost 25-30% lower fees. Indian students also won't face the brunt of high living costs. This progression surely will add more international universities in the future to come to India and set up their campuses to bring high-quality education.”