Illinois Tech Mumbai brings US academic standards and experiential learning to India

Illinois Tech Mumbai is launching with eight programmes and an intake of 30 in each. But the long-term goal is to offer interdisciplinary learning, allowing a variety of combinations of subjects.

Vice-president for enrolment management and student affairs Mallik Sundharam explains why Illinois Tech chose to set up a campus in India; its approach to curriculum design and admissions; and why it won’t be another tech school in an already-crowded field but one that offers access to a “global academic network” and “career resilience”. Edited excerpts:

What inspired the decision to set up a campus in India?

Illinois Tech’s founding mission has always been to expand access to quality STEM education for students from all walks of life. Extending that mission globally means meeting learners where they are and serving employers where they are, too. As the workforce becomes more globalised and entrepreneurship crosses borders, education must become more connected, accessible, and industry-aligned.

India is one of the world’s most important talent hubs in technology, engineering, business, and applied sciences. Illinois Tech has a long history of educating Indian students in Chicago; the Mumbai campus brings that same academic quality, industry-connected learning, and global degree experience closer to students in India.

India’s education system already produces students with strong analytical rigour and technical foundations. What Illinois Tech Mumbai adds is an experiential, globally-connected layer helping students translate strong academic preparation into innovation, leadership, entrepreneurship, and international career readiness.

India already has many engineering colleges. What does Illinois Tech Mumbai bring that’s different?

Illinois Tech Mumbai is not another conventional engineering college. Our focus is on globally-benchmarked, industry-aligned education with a strong emphasis on applied learning, interdisciplinary programmes, innovation, entrepreneurship, and emerging technologies. Students receive the same academic standards and degree quality as those at Illinois Tech in the US.

The philosophy is best described as a bridge between the strengths of Indian education and the demands of the global economy. Indian students already bring strong conceptual and analytical training; Illinois Tech adds experiential learning, industry integration, project-based education, research exposure, and a global perspective, helping students move from classroom excellence to real-world leadership and innovation.

Are you seeing students apply who might have otherwise gone abroad?

Yes. We have seen applications from students who had considered studying in the US but now see this as a high-quality alternative. Illinois Tech Mumbai offers a US academic model in India , with pathways for global exposure, potential mobility, and connection to our Chicago campus.

For many families, this means a globally recognised education closer to home and at a lower overall cost than studying fully overseas. Living expenses abroad, including housing, healthcare, transportation, and daily costs, can equal or exceed tuition costs, so a global-quality education in India can significantly reduce the total financial burden.

At the same time, aspirations for international exposure continue to grow among Indian students. Opportunities such as Illinois Tech Mumbai help democratise access to global education, making it available not only to a small elite but also to talented students from all walks of life. Our philosophy is to meet learners where they are: geographically, and in terms of affordability, accessibility, and opportunity.

What programmes are you offering? How is the curriculum being designed, and what are its distinguishing features?

The initial programmes focus on high-demand, future-oriented areas where Illinois Tech has strong academic and industry expertise: computing, artificial intelligence, data science, and business. Over time, we expect to expand into cybersecurity, engineering, and other interdisciplinary STEM fields.

In India, students often choose their academic track right after Class 10, which can narrow flexibility by Class 12. Illinois Tech’s philosophy is designed for greater interdisciplinary flexibility and career adaptability. As the campus evolves, students will increasingly be able to combine disciplines, for example, Engineering + Business, AI + Design, AI + Architecture, Computing + Healthcare, or Technology + Entrepreneurship, reflecting how industries and careers are changing globally.

The curriculum is built around technical depth, experiential learning, innovation, problem-solving, communication, and leadership, with labs, applied projects, internships, research, and industry collaboration throughout. AI and digital technologies are not isolated subjects; they are embedded across disciplines, so students understand how technology is transforming business, design, engineering, healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and society. Students will not only learn AI tools, but also build strong foundations in machine learning methodologies, computing, data, algorithms, and problem-solving, while understanding how AI is transforming industries globally.

The programmes will also emphasise:

• Industry-integrated learning
• Applied projects and labs
• Internships, work, and learning opportunities
• Research exposure
• Career readiness and leadership development
• Communication and teamwork skills
• Entrepreneurship and innovation

Students may also have opportunities over time to engage with Illinois Tech’s Chicago campus and the broader global academic ecosystem through collaborative learning, faculty interaction, research, and potential mobility pathways.

Career preparation will be embedded throughout the student experience through Illinois Tech’s Elevate Program, which helps students build both technical and professional skills from the beginning of their educational journey rather than waiting until the final year before graduation.

The initial intake is proposed at 30 seats per programme, with an estimated total enrollment capacity of approximately 250–270 students across all programmes during the initial phase. Enrolment will be intentionally moderated to maintain academic quality, personalised learning, and close student engagement as the Mumbai campus establishes its academic foundation.

Are you planning job placements for graduates, especially given the current scenario in the tech industry?

Yes. Career outcomes and employability are central to Illinois Tech Mumbai. From the start, the campus is designed with strong industry engagement internships, applied projects, capstone experiences, employer interaction, research collaboration, and professional networking.

Career preparation does not begin in the final year. Our Elevate Program builds both the hard and soft skills students need for lifelong success. A resume cannot simply be written in a dorm room during senior year; it must be guided and strengthened throughout the student journey. Elevate supports career exploration, communication, leadership, teamwork, industry readiness, mentoring, experiential learning, and exposure to multiple career pathways, alongside work-and-learn opportunities, internships, and cooperative education models.

The outcomes in the US have been encouraging. Due to Illinois Tech's high number of STEM majors, the mean starting salary of our 2025 graduates within six months of graduation was well above the national average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Illinois Tech is ranked #1 in Illinois for Best Salaries for Graduates (Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026), and the mean starting salary of 2025 graduates was significantly above the national average. Illinois Tech is also one of only five technology, engineering, and science-focused institutions in the US to receive the “Opportunity College and University” designation from the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation, the highest recognition for student access and graduate earnings outcomes.

While AI and automation are disrupting the technology sector, we believe these changes are redefining opportunity rather than eliminating it. The future workforce will value graduates who combine technical depth with adaptability, interdisciplinary thinking, creativity, communication, and the ability to work effectively alongside AI systems. Our approach prepares students not for a single first job, but for long-term career resilience. We also intend to build the same kind of employer partnerships in India that Illinois Tech has long maintained in the US, and we recognise that future careers extend beyond traditional employment into startups, entrepreneurship, global remote work, consulting, and innovation-led pathways.

What is the admission process?

Admissions to Illinois Tech Mumbai are subject to Illinois Tech’s academic standards and applicable regulatory requirements in India. Students apply through a formal process that includes academic records, supporting documents, and program-specific requirements.

The process is designed to be accessible and equitable. Our goal is to identify talent, potential, curiosity, and motivation, not to evaluate students through a single, narrow framework. Academic performance matters, but so does problem-solving ability, leadership potential, creativity, and readiness to thrive in a rigorous, globally connected environment. As the campus evolves, we hope to create flexible pathways that support interdisciplinary learning and broaden access for students from diverse backgrounds.

Students can find program details, eligibility requirements, and applications at the official admissions website: https://mumbai.iit.edu.

Will the programmes be affordable for Indians? Are there stipends or scholarships?

Affordability is central to our India strategy. Illinois Tech’s founding mission is to expand access to high-quality STEM education for students from all walks of life, and that extends to Mumbai as well.

For many families, costs go beyond tuition . Studying abroad adds living expenses, housing, healthcare, transportation, and daily costs that can equal or exceed tuition itself. A globally-recognised education model based in India enables students to access international-quality education at a significantly lower overall cost.

We expect to offer merit-based scholarships and are exploring additional financial support as the campus develops, along with industry engagement and work-and-learn models that provide both professional exposure and financial support. This reflects Illinois Tech’s broader commitment to opportunity. Tuition details, scholarships, and application requirements are available at https://mumbai.iit.edu.

Do you see yourself competing with the Indian Institutes of Technology, IIT Bombay especially, given the location?

India’s IITs and NITs are outstanding institutions that have transformed the country’s engineering and technology talent ecosystem, and we have tremendous respect for institutions such as IIT Bombay.

Our objective is not to replicate or compete with the IIT model, but to add a complementary approach. Illinois Tech Mumbai offers a US university model, a globally integrated academic framework, interdisciplinary pathways, strong industry engagement, and experiential education aligned with the future of work. There is a growing demand in India for multiple models of high-quality higher education. Students increasingly want flexibility, global exposure, innovation ecosystems, and entrepreneurship opportunities.

Are you setting up industry partnerships for research or consultancy projects with domestic or international firms?

Yes. Industry engagement is core to the Illinois Tech model, and we have already begun building partnerships in India.

We have signed and are expanding partnerships with leading Indian organisations, including Godrej and Reliance Jio Creatives, while extending Illinois Tech’s long-standing US industry relationships with companies such as Amazon, Google, and Steelcase into India. These partnerships are expected to support internships, applied research, consultancy projects, innovation initiatives, industry-sponsored learning, executive education, and collaborative problem solving.

Illinois Tech’s global alum network, including distinguished leaders of Indian origin such as Sanjay Kirloskar of the Kirloskar Group, and senior leaders from organizations such as Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, further strengthens mentorship, employer partnerships, and research collaborations.

The campus location adds a unique advantage: situated in the Godrej Business District in Vikhroli, it is surrounded by more than 100 employers across multiple sectors.

Where are you drawing your faculty from?

Faculty for Illinois Tech Mumbai will come from a combination of Illinois Tech’s global academic network, internationally experienced faculty, and accomplished faculty and industry experts from India, including the Vice Provost and selected seconded faculty from our Chicago campus, working alongside established Indian academics and professionals.

Our philosophy is not to import a U.S. model without an Indian context. We believe in the glocalisation of education, combining global academic excellence with strong local relevance, so learning is internationally benchmarked yet deeply connected to India’s culture, industries, and talent ecosystem. Illinois Tech will second-select Chicago faculty to Mumbai for defined teaching terms, typically one to two semesters, contributing to teaching, curriculum development, mentoring, academic oversight, and research while collaborating with locally appointed faculty. The goal is equivalence in academic rigor and student outcomes across campuses, with strong relevance to the Indian context.

Initial academic leadership already includes senior Illinois Tech faculty and administrators from engineering, mathematics, communications, and applied sciences, many with decades of teaching and research experience. By learning in an environment shaped by both Indian and international faculty, students gain exposure to diverse approaches to research, innovation, leadership, and global problem solving.

Tell us about the campus in Mumbai.

Illinois Tech Mumbai is being developed as a modern, globally-connected, student-centered campus designed around the future of education, innovation, and work. It is located in the Godrej Business District in Vikhroli, one of Mumbai’s emerging innovation and commercial ecosystems, home to more than 100 employers across technology, engineering, finance, Healthcare, design, consulting, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship.

That location lets students engage directly with industry through internships, applied projects, mentorship, research collaborations, and future work-and-learn models, moving seamlessly between classroom learning and professional exposure. The campus is designed not just as a teaching space but as a collaborative ecosystem with modern classrooms, student collaboration spaces, technology-enabled learning environments, advising and career services, and innovation-focused activities. A key principle is the “glocalization” of education: global academic standards combined with strong local relevance.

Disclosure: A third party associated with the University of York Mumbai is a Careers360 client. This has been published as part of a wider marketing initiative.