UWA targets 200 students for new India

The University of Western Australia expects to enrol between 100 and 200 students across its new campuses in Mumbai and Chennai by the end of this year. The move marks the first teaching presence outside Australia for the Group of Eight university, testing demand for its degrees in India.

Vice-chancellor Amit Chakma told The PIE News that UWA was beginning with a relatively small cohort. The Mumbai campus opened on September 18, while the Chennai campus was scheduled to open in October, pending final approval at the time of the interview. Western Australian premier Roger Cook and Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the Mumbai site.

A more affordable pathway

Chakma positioned the campuses as a more affordable route into Australian higher education. Students could complete an undergraduate degree in India, spend time on exchange in Perth, and potentially return to Australia for postgraduate study. "This is a much more affordable option," he said, adding that students would receive the same standard of education as those in Perth.

The model arrives as Australia tightens entry requirements for international students, including limits on dependants and tighter course-transfer rules. Premier Roger Cook noted the Mumbai campus gives students another route in without requiring immediate relocation. Chakma said transnational education offers choice based on visa prospects and financial capacity. "To us, where the students study is secondary; what they study is important," he said.

Course offerings and industry links

Both campuses will initially offer the same business and technology courses. The curriculum includes computer science, data science, AI, cybersecurity and a 12-month MBA launching in November.

The campuses will develop distinct identities through local industry connections rather than major curriculum differences. Chennai is expected to forge stronger links with IT, manufacturing and engineering. Mumbai will lean more heavily towards business. The core will remain the same, but the flavour will change, Chakma said.

UWA is prioritising work-integrated learning, stating its India operations will be more career-focused than undergraduate education in Australia. The university began approaching employers 18 months before opening. HCLTech will provide a free 35-hour AI programme. Australian data-centre operator AirTrunk has agreed to support internships. Alliances are also in place with Larsen & Toubro, Tata Group, and Zoho.

Sector context and challenges

UWA's expansion occurs as India's emerging branch-campus sector faces questions over demand, pricing, and outcomes. Research cited by The PIE identified 13 international universities planning to admit students across 14 Indian campuses in the 2026/27 academic year, with a combined annual intake capacity of 2,730. Analyst Rahul Choudaha expected actual enrolment to fall below half that capacity, citing late approvals and cautious parents.

Although cheaper than studying overseas, tuition at international branch campuses in India is significant. Average annual fees stand at INR 13.3 lakh for undergraduate courses and INR 17.2 lakh for postgraduate courses. Undergraduate fees average 115% more than at selected leading Indian private universities.

UWA has announced 140 scholarships and bursaries, including three full scholarships jointly funded with the Maharashtra government. The university's AUD$80 million investment has created around 100 direct and 700 wider jobs, according to chancellor Diane Smith-Gander.

Research ambitions and future scale

The university is seeking to counter concerns that branch campuses could become teaching outposts with limited research contributions. UWA has recruited 35 academics through international searches using the same appointment criteria as in Perth. Staff have teaching, research, and service responsibilities.

Chakma said researchers would collaborate with colleagues in Australia and at Indian institutions. Early projects are being explored in agriculture, oceans, and medical technology. Sports science is likely considered for the next round of programme approvals.

The immediate test is converting interest into enrolments. UWA's 10-year plan anticipates at least 10,000 students across Mumbai and Chennai. Chakma said the university would reassess physical capacity halfway through that period before deciding whether to expand vertically or move to larger premises. He is already considering what UWA's Indian presence could become over the next two decades. When we started, it was an idea. Now we are here, he said.