Australia’s Victoria University begins teaching in Gurugram with first India cohort

Australia’s Victoria University has started academic operations at its Delhi NCR campus in Gurugram, bringing its Australian higher education model directly to Indian students.

The university welcomed its first undergraduate cohort in August 2026 after receiving approval from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to operate in India. Its postgraduate programmes are scheduled to begin on September 28. The campus is located in Gurugram and marks Victoria University’s first academic campus in India.

The move is part of a wider expansion of international universities into India following changes under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. These reforms have created a framework for selected foreign universities to establish campuses in the country and offer internationally recognised degrees without requiring students to move overseas.

Victoria University is introducing its VU Block Model at the Gurugram campus. Under this system, students study one subject at a time in intensive four-week blocks rather than handling several subjects simultaneously. Classes are designed around workshops, regular interaction with teachers and practical learning.

The university says the model is designed to improve student engagement and help learners focus more closely on each subject. It has also been used in Victoria University’s campuses in Australia and other countries.

The Gurugram campus is offering programmes across areas including business, information technology, data science, cyber security and management. Students will also have access to international mobility opportunities, including pathways to study at Victoria University’s Melbourne campuses.

Affordability is another part of the university’s India strategy. Studying at an international university in India can reduce expenses associated with overseas education, including international travel, accommodation and living costs.

Victoria University has also introduced scholarships for students at its Delhi NCR campus. More than 30 students from the inaugural undergraduate cohort have received the VU Block Model Scholarship, with tuition fee support of up to ₹3 lakh per year for eligible undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

The campus is positioned close to Delhi NCR’s major business and technology hubs, which could also support the university’s focus on industry-linked learning. Victoria University says its programmes are designed to combine academic study with practical projects, work placements and professional connections.

The development comes as Indian students increasingly look for international qualifications without necessarily leaving the country. Foreign university campuses can offer another option between studying at a domestic institution and paying the much higher costs associated with moving overseas.

Victoria University’s arrival also adds another international player to India’s expanding higher education market. Several foreign universities have received regulatory approval to establish campuses in India, particularly in Mumbai and the Delhi NCR region.

For students, the growing presence of international universities could increase competition between institutions and give them more choices in terms of curriculum, teaching methods, international mobility and industry exposure.

For the Indian education sector, the bigger question will be whether these campuses can maintain international academic standards while remaining affordable and relevant to local students and employers.

Victoria University’s first academic year in Gurugram will therefore be closely watched as India’s international higher education landscape continues to develop.