Following its operations in Dubai, Malaysia, and Hong Kong, the University of Wollongong (UOW) is set to commence its presence in India from 2024, making it one of the first institutions to provide foreign degrees on Indian soil.
UOW unveiled its Indian identity at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), Gandhinagar, on Tuesday, in the presence of UOW’s global brand ambassador and renowned cricketer Adam Gilchrist, as well as the university’s vice chancellor and president Prof. Patricia M. Davidson.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Davidson said she was excited to see what this cooperation brings.
“India is an important partner for UOW, as we have extensive links with the country through our alumni networks, and government and industry partnerships,” Prof. Davidson said.
“Drawing from our experience in international markets, we look forward to serving India’s young population through our world-class education.
“We are excited for the future as we deepen our ties with India and its people while contributing to the growth of GIFT City.”
UOW received in-principle clearance to construct the international branch campus in India after the university vice chancellor Prof. Davidson held a roundtable discussion with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May 2023.
The university has said it will set student fees at 50 per cent of what foreign students pay at the UOW’s Australian campus.
However, Indian students will still need to pass English language tests such as IELTS, PTE or TOEFL to fulfil entry requirements, the vice chancellor confirmed with The Indian Express.
“The admission criteria and requirements will be the same as Australian campuses as the degrees will be awarded as per TEQSA (Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency) guidelines,” she said.
“I also think we really want students to know that they’re being accepted with exactly the same standards that would be expected if they came to Australia.”
The institution will commence its India operations with a Graduate Certificate in Computing and a Masters in Computing (Data Analytics), followed by other undergraduate programs.