University of Western Australia Gets UGC Nod for Chennai Campus, Classes from October 19
Published 11 October 2026 · TopUniversityForum news desk · 2 min read
The University of Western Australia has received final approval from the University Grants Commission for its international branch campus in Chennai. Orientation began on October 5, and regular classes start October 19.
The campus
The 70,000-square-foot campus is on the seventh floor of One National Park on Velachery Main Road in Chennai. This is UWA’s second campus in India. Its Mumbai campus in Andheri East opened on September 18, 2026, and the first batch of students is already there.
What students can study
Chennai’s focus is technology. Undergraduate courses cover business management, computer science, data science and advanced computer science with artificial intelligence; postgraduate options include a Master of Information Technology and an MBA. The two campuses have different briefs. Chennai leans toward technology, manufacturing and engineering, while Mumbai leans toward business.
UWA has committed around AUD 80 million to its wholly owned Indian campuses. It expects 100-200 students across Mumbai and Chennai by end-2026, building toward at least 10,000 over ten years. Students can also spend six or twelve months on exchange in Perth.
The bigger picture
More foreign universities are setting up in India under the UGC’s 2023 framework, and several have started teaching or taken their first students since early 2026. In a Parliament reply in August 2026, the Education Ministry said the UGC had issued 16 Letters of Intent to institutions from Australia, Italy, the UK and the US.
For students, the questions that matter are fees, recognition and outcomes. UGC approval means the degree framework is regulated. Even so, anyone joining a first batch should ask directly about faculty, placements and the full cost before signing up.
Frequently asked questions
When do classes begin at UWA's Chennai campus?
October 19, 2026. Orientation began on October 5.
What courses will UWA Chennai offer?
Undergraduate programmes in business management, computer science, data science and AI; postgraduate programmes including an MIT and an MBA.
How many foreign universities have UGC approval for India campuses?
In an August 2026 Parliament response, the Education Ministry said the UGC had issued 16 Letters of Intent to foreign institutions.
Sources: The Indian Express, The Economic Times