**University of Western Australia Secures UGC Approval for Mumbai Campus, Set to Open September 2026**
*Mumbai, India – August 28, 2026* – The University of Western Australia (UWA), a member of Australia’s Group of Eight and ranked among the world’s top‑100 universities, has received a Letter of Approval (LOA) from India’s University Grants Commission (UGC) for its planned international branch campus in Mumbai. The approval, announced in a press release on August 28, clears the way for the campus to admit its first cohort of students in September 2026.
In a statement, Diane Smith‑Gander AO, Chancellor of UWA, said the new campus “is an important milestone for the University and for our relationship with India… it creates new opportunities for students, giving them access to a globally recognised UWA education while they remain connected to the opportunities, communities and aspirations of India.”
UWA Vice‑Chancellor Professor Amit Chakma added that the LOA “is an important step towards welcoming our first students to UWA Mumbai” and emphasized the university’s focus on delivering “an exceptional student experience from day one,” which will combine UWA’s academic standards with the resources of Mumbai’s business and technology ecosystem.
The campus will introduce incoming students to an “AI Jumpstart” program – an early‑learning initiative designed to familiarize students with artificial intelligence and its applications – followed by an orientation period before the September intake. According to the release, these activities aim to help students “build the skills, connections and confidence that will shape their UWA journey.”
India’s High Commissioner to Australia, Nagesh Singh, welcomed the development, noting that the Mumbai campus “is another strong example of the growing depth of the Australia‑India education relationship” and will allow Indian students to experience an Australian university education without leaving the country.
The press release indicated that UWA Mumbai will offer programmes that integrate the university’s global outlook with access to Mumbai’s dynamic business, finance, technology and innovation sectors. Students will also be encouraged to engage with real‑world challenges, emerging technologies, and industry partners, while benefiting from UWA’s international network.
The university’s next steps involve finalising campus facilities, faculty recruitment, and student admissions ahead of the September 2026 launch.
Article and image source: australianherald.com
