The Illinois Institute of Technology has become the first US university to receive Indian government?s approval to open an independent, degree-granting campus in India. Scheduled to launch in fall 2026, the new Illinois Tech-Mumbai campus will offer undergraduate and graduate programs in high-demand fields such as computer science, engineering, and business.

?Illinois Tech was founded to democratize access to technology and innovation to all,? said Raj Echambadi, the university?s president, in the announcement. ?Our new campus in India represents a profound opportunity to continue that noble mission in service of millions of talented young people across India, empowering them to become global leaders ready to make a difference.?

Establishing a university branch campus overseas is a costly endeavour and requires a long-term outlook in terms of recouping investment. But as international students studying in the U.S. face increasing challenges due to the volatile immigration policies of the Trump administration, awarding U.S. diplomas offshore can be seen as a way to circumvent potential visa obstacles.

The U.S. is the world?s top study destination, hosting a record-high 1.12 million international students who contribute over $50 billion to the economy. Of that total, Indian students numbered 331,602, the largest single-country cohort, surpassing those from China for the first time since 2009. One of the reasons why U.S. universities are interested in recruiting students from India is the country?s significant youth population, with people under the age of 25 making up around half the total population of 1.43 billion.

However, the ability to the U.S. to continue to attract large numbers of students from overseas is currently being tested. After a round of international student visa revocations by the Trump administration followed by moves to restore the visas, university administrators fear that confidence in the U.S. as a study destination has been eroded. Already, there are indications that international students? interest in the U.S.?as well as in other Anglophone study destinations experiencing tightening visa regimes?is falling.

Other U.S. universities are deepening ties with India. In November last year, Purdue University announced a partnership that would include the development of new centers for education and semiconductor excellence in India. According to the announcement, these moves ?will establish a presence for Purdue University in India, laying the groundwork for joint degree programs in high-demand fields such as artificial intelligence, data science, semiconductors, and business.?

U.K. universities are also setting up branch campuses in India, with the University of Southampton opening a campus in a satellite city of Delhi while Queens University Belfast (QUB) will establish a campus in GIFT City, a business and tech hub. According to The Guardian newspaper, QUB estimates that building the branch campus will cost ?5 million to ?7 million, or approximately $6.25 million to $8.75 million. (Forbes)

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