Victoria University (VU) has secured formal approval to establish a campus in India, becoming the first university from the Australian state of Victoria to receive authorisation under India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The approval marks another significant step in India's higher education internationalisation agenda, which aims to attract leading international universities to establish campuses in the country. It also reinforces the growing education partnership between Australia and India, as both countries seek to deepen collaboration in higher education, research and innovation.
The new Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) campus, located in Gurugram, Haryana, is scheduled to open in August 2026.
Expanding access to Australian higher education
According to Victoria University, the Delhi NCR campus will enable more Indian students to obtain an internationally recognised Australian qualification without the financial burden associated with studying abroad.
Situated in one of India's fastest-growing commercial centres, the campus benefits from close proximity to major business districts, modern transport infrastructure and Indira Gandhi International Airport, making it accessible to students from across India and the wider South Asian region.
Beyond teaching, the university aims to strengthen academic collaboration, research partnerships and industry engagement between Australia and India.
VU Chancellor Steve Bracks said the campus would help make international education more accessible.
"Too many students face barriers to accessing an international education, whether because of limited local opportunities or the cost of studying overseas. VU's campus will bring a globally recognised Australian university experience closer to home, giving more students the opportunity to develop the skills, knowledge and networks they need to succeed."
Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker said the new campus would broaden access to global education while supporting closer cooperation between the two countries.
"VU's Delhi NCR campus is about opening doors to opportunity. High overseas study costs and limited access to institutions leave many students in India without global education options. Victoria University's education and research offerings aim to help change that."
Introducing Victoria University's teaching model to India
The Delhi NCR campus will also be the first in India to adopt Victoria University's distinctive teaching model, in which students study one subject at a time through intensive four-week teaching blocks supported by small, workshop-style classes.
The university says this approach has improved student engagement, academic performance and completion rates, particularly among first-generation university students and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. By introducing the model in India, Victoria University aims to provide a more focused and inclusive learning experience while maintaining the academic standards of its Australian campuses.
A milestone in India's higher education internationalisation
Victoria University's approval represents another important milestone in the implementation of India's higher education reforms.
Under the National Education Policy 2020, India has established a regulatory framework that enables high-performing international universities to establish campuses in the country. The policy is intended to expand access to high-quality higher education, strengthen research and innovation, and provide more opportunities for students to earn internationally recognised qualifications without leaving India.
As The Educationist discussed in its earlier analysis, "India's higher education internationalisation: A new era of opportunities for global institutions," these reforms are reshaping India's transnational education landscape and creating new opportunities for overseas universities to establish a long-term presence in the country. Victoria University's approval demonstrates that these policy ambitions are increasingly translating into tangible outcomes.
The announcement also reflects growing interest among Australian universities in India's evolving higher education market. Earlier this week, Flinders University announced that it had received a Letter of Intent from India's University Grants Commission to establish a campus in Bengaluru, an important step towards approval under the same regulatory framework.
As more international institutions seek to engage with India's higher education reforms, Victoria University's approved Delhi NCR campus highlights the country's emergence as an increasingly important destination for transnational education and reinforces the expanding Australia–India partnership in higher education.
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