HYDERABAD: The University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) has received a letter of intent from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to establish a campus in Hyderabad, making it the first public American university to establish a degree-granting location in India and the first foreign university overall in Telangana.The Hyderabad location is expected to welcome its first cohort of students in August 2027, with programmes in business, computing, engineering and analytics. The campus will draw on CU Denver’s strengths as a public urban research university, with a focus on academic quality, student outcomes, applied learning, social mobility and workforce relevance.“Expanding access to high-quality education has long been central to CU Denver’s vision and goals. Our plans in Hyderabad build on that commitment, as well as our longstanding connection with students from India who have been part of the CU Denver community for decades,” said Kenneth T Christensen, chancellor of CU Denver.He added, “We now have an opportunity to extend that connection and bring our unique experience to students in India—combining rigorous academics, career-aligned learning and real-world experience that prepare students for meaningful careers and contributions to their communities.”The Hyderabad campus will offer an academically rigorous, career-focused education, with courses in fields such as business, computing, engineering and analytics, while encouraging interdisciplinary thinking and problem-solving.The campus will be set up with CU Denver’s strategic joint venture partner, global education company Emeritus.“The proposed University of Colorado Denver, Hyderabad marks an important step in bringing globally relevant education closer to students in India. CU Denver’s focus on applied learning, interdisciplinary education and career readiness is particularly relevant to the aspirations of today’s students and the needs of a rapidly evolving workforce. The initiative will create opportunities for students and provide greater access to an education that is both academically rigorous and closely connected to the world of work,” said Ashwin Damera, co-founder and CEO, Emeritus.Established in 1973 and governed by the University of Colorado Board of Regents, CU Denver serves approximately 14,000 students and has a global alumni network of more than 100,000 graduates across more than 100 countries.
