The University of Aberdeen is set to become the first Scottish university to establish a branch campus in India, following official approval from the Indian government. The international campus will be located in Mumbai and is scheduled to begin operations by 2026, marking a major milestone in UK-India educational cooperation.
The new campus will initially offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in high-demand fields such as computing, data science, artificial intelligence, business management, and economics. An MBA program will also be part of the launch. The university has outlined plans to gradually expand its academic offerings to include disciplines like mathematics, public health, international business management, psychology, information systems, and film studies—areas that align with mutual priorities for both India and Aberdeen.
Siladitya Bhattacharya, Vice-Principal for Global Engagement at the University of Aberdeen, said the initiative reflects the university’s long-standing focus on India as a key partner for global outreach. “With a population of over 1.4 billion and half under the age of 25, India represents a vital part of our global strategy. The new campus supports our mission to expand access to education while deepening research ties and fostering innovation,” Bhattacharya stated.
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He emphasized that the branch campus will serve not only as a hub for student education but also as a platform for collaborative research, faculty exchanges, and engagement with India’s dynamic innovation landscape. “By linking our academic excellence with India’s energy and innovation, we hope to address pressing global challenges and create a rich environment for knowledge exchange.”
The development has been hailed as a landmark in the evolving UK-India educational partnership. Alison Barrett MBE, Country Director for India at the British Council, described the announcement as a “significant step forward” in advancing the goals outlined in India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. “This reflects a shared vision between our two nations to enhance international collaboration in higher education and research,” she noted.
Founded in 1495, the University of Aberdeen is the fifth oldest university in the United Kingdom and hosts more than 14,500 students from over 130 countries. Its academic and research activities are spread across 12 schools, with a strong focus on global engagement and interdisciplinary innovation.
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As 2026 approaches, the establishment of the Mumbai campus signals not just a geographical expansion for Aberdeen but a deeper commitment to fostering international education, research, and development in one of the world’s fastest-growing knowledge economies.
