The University of York has announced that it is to open its first campus in India, in Mumbai, in a major move to enhance the educational relationship between the UK and India. The new campus will deliver undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the areas of Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, Business, Economics, and Creative Industries. The move was made official through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the University of York and the Government of Maharashtra. The move was deliberated on by University Vice-Chancellor Professor Charlie Jeffery and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the current World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai and is intended to spur academic and research ties between the two nations.

The campus is likely to open its doors to its first cohort of students in 2026, pending final regulatory clearances from India’s University Grants Commission (UGC). The courses will be developed with collaboration from world-leading industry players, specifically in the in-demand areas of AI, Cybersecurity, and Creative Industries. The emphasis will be on making the student industry-ready in terms of emerging careers and preparing them to fit industry requirements. This initiative is viewed as an important measure to increase employability among Indian students so that they are able to receive world-class education in accordance with international industry trends.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed the new campus, stressing that it will assist in increasing world-class educational opportunities in India. He pointed out the importance of a Russell Group university like the University of York coming to India, citing the academic and research advantages this will have for students and scholars. Fadnavis also emphasized the need to tie educational efforts to national development priorities and encourage an international exchange of ideas, which will be central to moving India’s education sector forward.

University of York Vice-Chancellor Professor Charlie Jeffery said this new initiative is an exciting move that will deepen the university’s relationships with India. He underlined York’s dedication to making a positive contribution to the education of India’s entrepreneurs and next generation of leaders. Renowned for its academic distinction, York is one of just four UK universities, along with Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial College London, ranked within the top 10 for both teaching and research quality. York’s research strength in fields like digital technologies, creative industries, and AI will be matched with India’s research and education priorities. Jeffery also highlighted the university’s commitment to working with its Indian partners to create new research opportunities for both countries.

The initiative also seeks to enhance research collaboration between India and the UK, especially in the creative industries. The University of York is set to open its Co-Star Live Lab, a research and development center based in Yorkshire that specializes in technological solutions to improve live performance experiences. The lab will offer UK and Indian researchers the chance to work together on innovations in the gaming, TV, film, and performance industries. This partnership will lead to the development of multisensory, immersive, and interactive technologies that will benefit the industries and open up new avenues for talent in the field.

The state-of-the-art campus in the new campus will host startup incubators, training leaders of the future, and enabling emerging voices and fresh talent across creative industries. The university plans to offer its courses in accordance with its academic requirements, making the students graduating from the Mumbai campus receive a University of York degree. The university’s global class academic model will be directly transplanted into one of the world’s most rapidly growing education markets.

British Council India’s Country Director, Alison Barrett, hailed the announcement, welcoming the University of York’s new campus in Mumbai. Barrett praised the strong research focus, innovation, and high-quality teaching, that would promote research collaborations between India and the UK. She especially highlighted the emphasis laid on creative industries, as also on Computer Science, AI, Cybersecurity, Business, and Economics courses, which are all high-growth fields with the potential to fuel growth in both nations.

The University of York already has strong connections with India in the form of a dynamic alumni community, collaborative research, and co-research work. These partnerships have contributed to innovation in fields like conservation, health resource distribution, and crop resistance. The university plans to further expand its presence in India by establishing a campus in Mumbai, which will further augment the country’s education and research efforts while also exposing students to advanced programs and global industry knowledge.

In conclusion, the launch of the University of York’s first campus in India is a significant milestone in UK-India educational collaboration. Through the provision of a variety of high-demand programs and collaborative research, this new initiative will contribute to the academic, research, and economic development of both nations, setting the stage for a new generation of leaders and innovators.