Mumbai: The Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech), Chicago, has received the Letter of Approval (LoA) from the University Grants Commission (UGC), becoming the first US university to receive approval to establish a campus in India and offer US degrees from the country.
The approval enables Illinois Tech Mumbai to commence student enrolment for its inaugural academic session beginning in September 2026. Admissions for the first batch are now open.
The Mumbai campus will offer undergraduate programmes in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Business and Engineering, along with postgraduate programmes aligned with the needs of India’s growing technology and innovation ecosystem.
Commenting on the development, Mallik Sundharam, Vice President of Illinois Institute of Technology, said the Mumbai campus marks a significant step in expanding access to globally recognised American education in India.
“As India emerges as one of the world’s leading innovation and technology hubs, students increasingly seek an education that combines global standards with India’s dynamic innovation ecosystem. By bringing an American, technology-focused education to India, we are enabling students to earn a globally recognised US degree while benefiting from interdisciplinary learning, experiential education and close collaboration with industry,” Sundharam said.
According to the university, the curriculum will emphasise project-based learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and industry engagement. The campus will feature technology-enabled learning spaces designed to foster innovation and prepare students with technical, leadership and problem-solving skills for global careers.
The approval comes as India opens its higher education sector to leading international universities under the UGC’s regulations for setting up campuses by foreign higher educational institutions. Illinois Tech joins a growing list of global universities establishing a presence in India as the country seeks to expand access to international-quality education without requiring students to study abroad.
The university said the Mumbai campus reflects its commitment to expanding access to globally recognised US education while supporting India’s technology and innovation ecosystem. Applications for the inaugural Fall 2026 intake are currently open.
