UNSW Sydney opens doors to Bengaluru campus

UNSW Bengaluru will welcome students and staff to campus and begin teaching from 10 August.

UNSW Sydney has officially opened its Bengaluru campus, marking a significant milestone in the University's history and the opening of its first campus in India. Located in Bengaluru, India's technology and innovation capital, the UNSW Bengaluru campus will welcome its first students in August and expand access to a UNSW education for students seeking globally recognised qualifications in high-demand fields.  

The opening ceremony brought together senior leaders from Australia and India, including UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs; Assistant Minister for International Education, Julian Hill; Australian High Commissioner to India, Philip Green OAM; MB Patil, Minister of Large Industries and Infrastructure Development for the state of Karnataka; academic partners; alumni; and members of the broader UNSW community.  

Professor Brungs said the launch represented the culmination of several years of planning, collaboration and commitment across Australia and India. 

“The opening of our Bengaluru campus reflects both our confidence in India's extraordinary talent ecosystem and our long-term commitment to strengthening the Australia–India education partnership through our Progress for All strategy,” Professor Brungs said.

“India is home to one of the world's most dynamic innovation landscapes, underpinned by exceptional research capability, entrepreneurial ambition and a rapidly growing knowledge economy. Through UNSW Bengaluru, we look forward to partnering with students, researchers, industry and government to advance world-class education, foster impactful research and co-create solutions to the complex challenges facing our societies. Together, we will prepare graduates with the knowledge, skills and global outlook needed to thrive in an increasingly interconnected and technology-driven world.” 

Garima Lohan, who is enrolled in the Bachelor of Business, said the location of the campus and its proximity to technology and industry leaders was a major drawcard.

“I chose UNSW Bengaluru because first it matches with my interests in business,” she said. “When I explored the curriculum, I could see that it was providing me with a case-based education and the practical exposure to companies in India’s Silicon Valley that anybody interested in business would want to be a part of.”

Expanding access to world-leading education

UNSW recently placed first in Australia and 19^th globally in the 2027 QS World University Rankings. Recognised globally for excellence in research, teaching, graduate employability and sustainability, UNSW now brings that globally respected academic ecosystem directly to India.

The Bengaluru campus will initially focus on areas aligned with India’s National Education Plan 2020, skills and future workforce demand while addressing global research priorities – including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital technologies, advanced manufacturing and sustainability. Students will benefit from an education model that combines academic rigour with industry engagement, preparing them for strong graduate outcomes, as well as access to UNSW’s global network of more than 400,000 alumni.

The campus opening is the result of a journey that began in 2022, when UNSW committed to exploring opportunities to establish a campus in India. Since then, the University has progressed through a series of significant milestones, including business case approval, establishment of the UNSW-Emeritus joint venture, campus development in Bengaluru, regulatory approval from India's University Grants Commission (UGC), and the recruitment of the inaugural academic and professional workforce.  

Assistant Minister for International Education, Julian Hill, said the opening of the campus highlighted the growing strength of the Australia-India relationship. 

“Education has long been one of the defining pillars of Australia’s bilateral relationship with India, fostering enduring people-to-people connections, research collaboration and innovation. The launch of UNSW's Bengaluru campus marks another significant milestone in the deepening Australia-India partnership and comes at a time where UNSW is the globally highest-ranked Australian university – providing greater access to Australia’s high-quality education to India,” Assistant Minister Hill said. “This new campus in Bengaluru will create exciting opportunities for students, researchers and industry to work together, advancing knowledge, strengthening skills and preparing the next generation of leaders to address shared global challenges.” 

For Nabhay Singh Hada, the opportunity to join the first cohort was a major draw to the campus.

“Being part of the opening batch means that I get to help shape a campus rather than just inherit it. That's rare,” said Singh Hada. “I wanted to be a part of building something and having a university of this calibre, bridging Sydney and India's tech capital, Bengaluru, means that I get to have a world-class education without leaving the country. So, I'm really excited.”

A campus connected to industry

Located at Embassy Manyata Business Park, UNSW Bengaluru has been designed to connect students with one of the world's most dynamic technology and innovation ecosystems. The campus will initially offer programs in business, computational data science, computer science and cyber security, with all programs delivered under UNSW's academic governance framework and quality standards. Students will receive the same UNSW degrees as graduates studying in Australia.  

Professor Payyazhi Jayashree, Rector of UNSW Bengaluru, said the campus combined academic excellence with the dynamism of one of the world's leading technology and innovation hubs.

“This is an exciting moment for our students, staff and partners. We have built a campus that combines UNSW's academic excellence with the energy and opportunities that Bengaluru offers,” Prof. Jayashree said. “We look forward to welcoming our first students and creating a learning environment that supports academic success, personal growth and meaningful industry engagement.”

The event also recognised the contribution of government agencies, strategic partners, industry organisations, alumni and academic institutions that have supported the campus's journey from concept to reality. Representatives from the Australian High Commission, Austrade, Investment NSW, leading employers, higher education institutions and the wider UNSW community attended the celebration.  

Chief Minister, Shri DK Shivakumar, said: “Karnataka has established itself as one of Asia's foremost hubs for technology, research and innovation, making it a natural destination for globally recognised institutions such as UNSW. We welcome this partnership and the opportunities it will create for our students, researchers and industry through world-class education, collaborative research and innovation. We look forward to seeing UNSW contribute to Karnataka's vision of building a globally competitive knowledge and innovation ecosystem.”

In recent months, prospective students and their families have engaged with the campus through information sessions, experience days and guided tours, providing opportunities to explore the campus, meet staff and learn more about studying at UNSW Bengaluru.  

Classes at UNSW Bengaluru are scheduled to start on 10 August 2026, marking the beginning of teaching and student life at the University's newest campus.