As launch approaches, the focus has shifted to delivery – bringing together the systems and experiences needed to welcome the inaugural cohort in August.
We are expanding media activity, refining campaigns and strengthening industry partnerships.
Student engagement continues to build through targeted events, improved enquiry handling and streamlined application processes. The Campus Connect event on Saturday 16 May provided prospective students with the opportunity to explore the campus and connect with UNSW experts. From Wednesday 13 May, initial offers had been issued, supported by scholarships of 20–35%.
Preparation for the student experience is progressing, including wellbeing and essential services aligned with University Grants Commission of India (UGC) requirements, as well as plans for campus life, leadership, mentoring, clubs and accommodation. Supporting this, the student homepage has been updated with new webpages covering orientation, academic support, fees, results, progression and support services, alongside a policies hub bringing together 13 core policies and guidelines.
Staffing and systems
Recruitment and onboarding for academic and professional leadership roles are progressing.
As previously mentioned in Inside UNSW and on the UNSW Newsroom, Professor Payyazhi Jayashree has been appointed Rector, and the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Sujatha Kumaraswamy, commenced on 7 May.
Academic hiring is progressing, with around16 roles across Business, Computer Science & Engineering, Mathematics & Statistics, and Cyber Security. Nine offers have been accepted. Core professional roles (CFO, HR, Admissions) are in place, with Head of IT and the Registrar onboarding ahead of launch. Other roles are moving through shortlisting, interviews and final discussions, reflecting a healthy pipeline as hiring continues.
Research development is through a phased approach, initially focused on building core capability and ensuring continuity as the campus establishes. Academic staff are supported across both teaching and research through ready-to-teach programs, academic quality frameworks and research infrastructure support. This is complemented by structured onboarding and ongoing academic support, including teaching guidance, systems enablement, mentoring and active engagement with UNSW faculty networks in Australia to ensure alignment and capability development.
Core student journey processes are now in place across enquiry, application, offer and early payment, with stronger service levels and data handling established. The focus has now shifted to completing payment and enrolment, and ensuring a seamless end‑to‑end experience from acceptance through to onboarding. In parallel, key enabling capabilities — including the digital library and access systems — are being finalised to support full operational readiness.
The campus
Construction is progressing well, with key areas including the main entrance, boardroom, informal learning spaces and computer lab now taking shape. Health, safety and quality reviews have been completed, with follow-up actions underway to support site readiness.
Watch this virtual tour video to get a closer look at the campus. On 14 May, a delegation from the University Grants Commission of India (UGC) visited the UNSW Bengaluru campus, joined by representatives from UNSW Sydney, Emeritus and UNSW Bengaluru. The visit included a campus tour showcasing key teaching and learning facilities, followed by presentations covering UNSW’s vision for Bengaluru, academic programs and quality assurance, and the student experience, including wellbeing, employability and careers.
Early impact is already being felt in Bengaluru, following the successful partnership with Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd (KREDL) to support the growth of clean energy startups across Australia and India. Building on this, a Deloitte India Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a Centre of Excellence in AI and Innovation has quickly followed.
There’s a real sense of progress on the ground, with these early partnerships setting the tone and creating a strong foundation for more to come as UNSW Bengaluru continues to build its presence in the region.
What’s next?
Over the coming month, the program will focus on:
- progressing multiple academic appointments to contract finalisation
- weekly progressive student offers
- payment gateway readiness at the end of May to collect student deposits.
Want to know more?
Contact the program at: unswbengaluru@unsw.edu.au.
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