UNSW to Open Campus in India: Everything That Came Out of the India-Australia AIESC Meeting

On December 8 and 9, 2025, India's Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Australia's Education Minister Jason Clare met in New Delhi for the 3rd Australia-India Education and Skills Council meeting, the AIESC. The meeting brought together key ministers, senior officials, and vice-chancellors from both nations to review ongoing cooperation in school education, higher education, research, skills, and workforce development. 

What came out of those two days was a concrete set of agreements, approvals, and partnerships that directly expand what is available to Indian students on both sides of the border. Minister Pradhan called it a remarkable opportunity to build upon progress made since the inaugural AIESC, emphasizing that education, skills, and research form the key pillars of the India-Australia Strategic Partnership. 

Here is what was announced and what it actually means for you.

What the AIESC Is and Why It Matters

The AIESC is the formal bilateral mechanism through which India and Australia align their education and skills agendas at the highest level. Each meeting produces binding agreements, formal approvals, and funded initiatives that change what students and institutions on both sides can access. The 3rd edition, held in New Delhi, was the most substantial yet, building on the first two meetings, which were held in Gandhinagar in 2023 and Sydney in 2024. 

The Headline: UNSW Gets Approval to Open a Campus in India

The University of New South Wales, ranked #20 globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026, received a Letter of Intent to establish a campus in India. Ministers jointly handed over the LoI, formalizing UNSW's entry under the UGC's 2023 regulations permitting foreign institutions to set up campuses in India.

The campus will be at Manyata Tech Park, Bengaluru, opening August 2026. It will offer undergraduate degrees in business, media, computer science, and data science, plus a postgraduate program in cybersecurity. All programs mirror UNSW Sydney's offerings, with quality assurance overseen by joint governance structures and the UNSW Academic Board.

With UNSW's approval, seven Australian universities are now permitted to operate eight campuses across India, making Australia the largest foreign educational partner under India's international universities framework.

What this means plainly: a top-20 global university will offer its degrees inside India, removing the financial barrier of studying abroad for students who want UNSW-quality education without international tuition, airfare, or the cost of living abroad.

The MoUs Signed: What Was Actually Agreed

Beyond the UNSW campus announcement, the 3rd AIESC produced a series of formal agreements across multiple sectors that directly affect students, researchers, and skilled professionals.

The two nations exchanged multiple MoUs covering agritech innovation, marine sciences, teacher training, disaster resilience, global job readiness, mining, and skills development.

The key agreements in detail:

• Marine Ecological Research Centre: James Cook University and the Odisha government signed an MoU to establish a joint marine research center, creating formal research opportunities for Indian students and faculty in marine sciences and coastal ecology within India
• SPARC-Funded Joint Research Projects: 10 new SPARC-funded joint India-Australia research projects were announced in frontier areas, including artificial intelligence, energy, MedTech, sustainability, and space. India sanctioned Rs 9.84 crore for the projects. Of the 865 SPARC-funded international collaborations so far, 129 are with Australian universities, making Australia India's single largest research collaboration partner
• Mutual Recognition of Qualifications: Both sides agreed to accelerate the operationalisation of the MRQ mechanism; this directly helps Indian graduates whose qualifications need to be formally recognised when they move to work in Australia, reducing delays and conversion costs
• Bridge Courses for Skilled Professionals: Co-designed bridge courses to help Indian professionals transition into Australian sectors, making the pathway from an Indian qualification to Australian employment considerably smoother and faster than it currently is
• Teacher Training Pathways: Structured programs giving Indian teachers access to Australian professional development frameworks, opening up a category of mobility that has not previously been formalised between the two countries
• Early Childhood Care and Education: A new cooperation framework spanning the preschool level, extending the partnership far beyond its traditional higher education focus, down to the earliest stages of learning

The India-Australia education partnership now spans early childhood education, school education, higher education, vocational skills, research, and sports initiatives. 

What This Means for Indian Students Right Now

• If you are planning to study in Australia: The MRQ mechanism, once fully operational, means your Indian degree is formally recognized there, strengthening your post-study work and immigration pathway.
• If you want an international degree but plan to stay in India: UNSW Bengaluru, opening August 2026, offers a top-20 global degree in business, media, computer science, data science, and cybersecurity without relocating abroad. With eight campuses from seven Australian universities now approved, this category of option is expanding faster than at any previous point.
• If you are a researcher or postgraduate student: 129 SPARC-funded collaborations with Australian universities represent funded research pathways accessible through your own institution. The 10 new projects announced at this meeting expand those further, with funding already sanctioned by the Indian government.

What Comes Next

Australia has invited India to the 4th AIESC meeting, which will take place next year.

The 4th AIESC will be held in Australia, continuing the alternating host structure. Based on the trajectory of the first three meetings, Gandhinagar 2023, Sydney 2024, and New Delhi 2025, each successive meeting has been more substantive than the last.

The 4th meeting is expected to build further on the MRQ operationalization timeline, the UNSW campus development, and the skills mobility agenda. 

Want to Know How These Developments Affect Your Study Abroad Plans?

At Leap Scholar, our Australia counsellors stay across these developments, which agreements are operational, which campuses are open, which qualification pathways are recognized, and how to position your application to take full advantage of a bilateral relationship that is strengthening every year.

Book your free counseling session with Leap Scholar today for personalized guidance on how the India-Australia education partnership opens up your study abroad and career options in 2026 and beyond.

Sources: PIB India, 3rd AIESC Meeting Announcement | The Australia Today. AIESC Partnership Expansion | Official UNSW Newsroom Announcement  | Official UNSW Bengaluru page | Add for QS World University Ranking 2026