The University has reached a major milestone in establishing our Bengaluru campus.
India’s higher education regulator, the University Grants Commission (UGC), has granted the University a Letter of Approval (LOA) to operate.
This milestone reflects UNSW’s long-term commitment to India and our 10-year strategy, Progress for All, bringing globally recognised education closer to Indian students while strengthening academic and research collaboration between Australia and India. It also provides students the opportunity to experience a top ranked global university education in India.
This represents one of the most significant steps forward since the Vice Chancellor’s commitment in 2022 to establish a UNSW presence in India.
A multi-stage regulatory journey
The LOA follows a structured and highly rigorous process. After receiving a Letter of Intent (LOI) on 7 December 2025, UNSW progressed through multiple stages of submission and validation, each requiring evidence of increasing levels of readiness. Initial submissions covered the University’s policies, governance structures, academic programs and operating model, establishing the foundation for the Bengaluru campus.
Demonstrating full university readiness
The most intensive phase involved preparing a comprehensive inspection pack on 31 March 2026, demonstrating that UNSW Bengaluru could operate as a fully functioning university.
This required evidence across all aspects of the campus, including:
- governance and institutional policies
- academic delivery and course readiness
- student systems and operational processes
- campus infrastructure and safety
- workforce, technology and learning resources.
In total, close to 200 documents were submitted as part of this process.
On-site validation and final review
On Thursday 14 May, UGC representatives visited the UNSW Bengaluru campus for an on-site validation, engaging directly with senior UNSW leadership and local campus teams. The visit brought together leaders from across UNSW Sydney and UNSW Bengaluru, including the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education and Student Experience) Professor Sarah Maddison, Vice-President Operations & COO Tobi Wilson, Rector UNSW Canberra Professor Emma Sparks, Pro Vice-Chancellor International Professor Lisa Zamberlan and Pro Vice-Chancellor Student Success Leah Hill, alongside the Bengaluru Rector Professor Payyazhi Vadakkekara Jayashree and operational leads. Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Attila Brungs, joined virtually to formally welcome the UGC delegates. The program included presentations on UNSW Bengaluru’s vision and mission, academic programs and quality assurance, and the student experience, complemented by a campus tour and demonstrations of facilities and systems.
Following the visit, UGC sought further clarifications on selected areas, which were addressed as part of the final stage of the process.
Joint Secretary, University Grants Commission; Dipankar Chakraborty, Managing Director South Asia.
Approval to operate
The granting of the LOA on 9 June confirms that UNSW Bengaluru has met UGC’s stringent regulatory and quality requirements and is approved to operate as a provider of higher education in India.
Importantly, this approval follows extensive documentation, validation and scrutiny across all aspects of the campus, demonstrating full institutional readiness rather than approval through a single submission.
Looking ahead
The LOA enables UNSW Bengaluru to move into its next phase, including student enrolment, campus launch and the delivery of academic programs. It also represents an important step in strengthening UNSW’s global presence and long-term engagement in India.
In the lead-up to launch, there will be a strong focus on a staged offer release across the initial four programs, progressing enrolments for the first intake of approximately 120 students, alongside final readiness activities across systems, workforce and academic delivery. This will ensure the campus is fully prepared for the launch on Friday 31 July and commencement of teaching on Monday 10 August.
This milestone reflects the sustained effort and collaboration of teams across UNSW and partners in India over several years.
Top Image L to R: UNSW Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education & Student Experience Professor Sarah Maddison; Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Honourable Minister of Education, Government of India; Dr Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Ministry of Education and Chairman, University Grants Commission.
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