India Makes GIFT City Its Launchpad For World-Class Degrees

 Currently, two Australian universities are operational at GIFT City, with three UK-based universities set to launch their campuses there soon.

According to Sandip Shah, head of IFSC and Strategy Department at GIFT City, the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) introduced its IFSCA (Setting up and Operation of International Branch Campuses and Offshore Education Centres) Regulations in 2022, allowing prestigious foreign universities to establish international branch campuses (IBCs) or offshore education centres within GIFT IFSC.

Only universities ranked in the QS Global Top 500 will be allowed to set up campuses here. These universities can offer full-time degree and diploma programmes in fields such as finance, science, technology, and engineering, with all degrees set to be recognised by the university’s home country.

Starting in 2024, Australia’s Deakin University (QS Rank: 197) and University of Wollongong (QS Rank: 167) have launched academic programmes in GIFT IFSC. Deakin has introduced postgraduate courses in specialised subjects like Business Analytics and Cybersecurity — specifically designed to meet the demands of sectors like banking, insurance, fintech, capital markets, ship and aircraft leasing, etc.

Three UK Universities To Start In 2026

Siddharth Tyagi, assistant manager at GIFT City, said Deakin's first student placement drive took place in May 2025, with promising results. Meanwhile, the University of Wollongong has begun courses in business, computing, and IT.

Three UK universities — Coventry University (renowned for design and health), Queen’s University Belfast (leader in interdisciplinary learning), and University of Surrey (known for engineering and health) — are set to commence programmes from 2026.

Academic Infrastructure Support

Academic infrastructure service providers (AISPs) play a key role in enabling foreign university operations in GIFT IFSC. UK-based Global University Systems (GUS) and GEDU Education, along with the Education Centre of Australia, are helping with infrastructure, regulatory compliance, faculty onboarding, and student services.

Direct Industry-Education Link

Students at GIFT IFSC will gain access to internships and job opportunities with top global financial institutions like HSBC, JP Morgan, EY, PwC, and KPMG. The universities are developing curricula in collaboration with industry, incorporating live projects, mentorship, and training programmes.

Urban And Lifestyle Development

GIFT City aims to offer more than just academics — it’s being developed as a complete urban experience. Facilities like restaurants, cafés, the GIFT Club, riverfront promenades, and a central park will enrich students’ academic and social life.

Additionally, nearby institutions within the Gandhinagar-Ahmedabad Knowledge Corridor — like IIT Gandhinagar (IITG), Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU), and Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology (DAIICT) — are available for collaboration.

Foreign Universities Approved At GIFT City:

Australia (Started in 2024):

• Deakin University
• University of Wollongong

United Kingdom (Starting from 2026):

• Coventry University
• Queen’s University, Belfast
• University of Surrey

Why Choose GIFT IFSC?

The GIFT City IFSC will have a single-window clearance with 100 per cent profit repatriation. It will maintain tax neutrality, while offering a special regulatory framework, global-standard infrastructure, industry collaboration and job opportunities, besides promising lower tuition fees and living costs.

Other International Universities in India:

Already, Lancaster University and the University of Southampton from the UK, as well as Lincoln University College, Malaysia, have established campuses in India. While Lancaster University has an undergraduate pathway programme in collaboration with Amity University, Noida, in Management Studies, the University of Southampton has opened a campus in Gurgaon, and Malaysia's Lincoln University College has applied to the UGC to set up its campus in Telangana.

In Progress/Under Discussion:

Several top institutions are in various stages of establishing campuses in India, ranging from proposal and MoU to formal approval:

United States

• University of California System: Exploratory talks underway
• University of Chicago: Interested in setting up a research-led campus

United Kingdom

• King’s College, London: Academic collaboration is under planning
• University of Birmingham: Exploring standalone programmes with Indian partners

Australia

• Monash University and University of Sydney: Considering independent or partnered campuses outside Gujarat

Singapore

• INSEAD Business School: Potential executive education programmes in Mumbai or Bengaluru