Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) is set to establish a campus in Mumbai, making it the first US institution to receive approval to operate in the country.?
The Chicago-based institute has announced it plans to open the new site in autumn 2026 and will offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in fields including computer science, engineering and business.
While multiple British and Australian institutions have already begun opening campuses in India, US institutions have appeared to be more cautious.?
Illinois Tech said the plans had been in the works for over two years and the institution was the first from any country to receive approval from India’s University Grants Commission to open in Mumbai.
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Several other universities have announced plans to open branch campuses in the city, including the University of Western Australia and the UK’s University of York, but both are yet to receive regulatory approval.
Illinois Tech said the number of Indian graduate students choosing the university has risen by 73 per cent over the past five years.
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“Our new Mumbai campus responds to this extraordinary demand by delivering globally recognised, US accredited degrees in a format that is highly accessible, affordable, and locally contextualised,” said Mallik Sundharam, vice president for enrollment management and student affairs at Illinois Tech.
In the US, president Donald Trump’s administration has begun terminating the visas of some international students, generating concern about whether?others?will still choose to study in the US.?
The number of Indians granted visas to study in the US also fell by 49 per cent in 2024, partially due to visa processing challenges.
Branch campuses are commonly seen as a way to shore up universities' income streams and protect against sudden changes in domestic immigration policies that impact incoming international student numbers.
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Sundharam said the university has been “closely tied” with India since 1998, when “our renowned faculty would record classroom lectures on videocassettes and have them couriered to India, where lifelong learners working in industry would take evening and weekend classes broadcast through a dedicated television channel”.?
“This early innovation reflected our deep commitment to making world-class education accessible globally – a legacy we proudly continue today with our new campus in Mumbai.”
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