Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) is set to become the first US university to be approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to establish an independent degree-granting campus in India. Opening in fall 2026, the new Illinois Tech – Mumbai campus will offer a range of undergraduate and graduate programmes in fields such as computer science, engineering, and business.

“Illinois Tech was founded to democratise access to technology and innovation to all,” said Raj Echambadi, president of Illinois Institute of Technology. “Our new campus in India represents a profound opportunity to continue that noble mission in service of the millions of talented young people across India, empowering them to become global leaders ready to make a difference. We are honoured to bring Illinois Tech’s rigorous, immersive experiential learning pedagogy designed for relevance to new students and to cultivate global leaders prepared to navigate the complexities of today’s world.”

“Having begun my educational journey in Chennai and later earning a PhD in the United States, I’ve witnessed firsthand the unparalleled opportunities offered by both education systems,” said Echambadi. “Partnering across these systems will leverage the best of both and uniquely prepare students to thrive in a global economy. We can’t wait to extend this transformative opportunity for many more students through our new campus in Mumbai.”

Illinois Tech’s Mumbai campus will provide the same academically rigorous, experiential, and industry-aligned curriculum as the university’s Chicago campuses. This will include offering Illinois Tech’s renowned Elevate program, which guarantees all students access to real-world experiences such as internships, research, competitions, and other opportunities that are proven to uniquely prepare graduates for successful careers in global markets.

Courses will be delivered by an internationally recruited faculty, including visiting professors from Illinois Tech’s US campuses and faculty with global academic credentials.

According to an agreement signed earlier this year, India and the United States have agreed to ramp up collaboration between higher education institutions, facilitate student exchange and explore setting up of offshore campuses of leading US institutions in India. Initiatives such as joint and dual degree programmes, twinning arrangements, and the establishment of joint Centres of Excellence have been discussed during the meeting between Trump and Modi.