UGC notifies guidelines on setting up of foreign university campuses in India

NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has notified the regulations on setting up of foreign university campuses in India. The Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India regulations 2023 will apply to such foreign universities which seek approval to conduct certificate, diploma, degree, research, and other programmes.

The foreign university campus regulations include details on eligibility, procedure for approval, admission, fee structure, appointment of faculty and other staff, and more.

As per the eligibility criteria, the foreign institutions in order to establish campuses in India should fulfill the following:

• Should have secured a position within the top five hundred in the overall category of global rankings at the time of application
• Should have secured a position within the top five hundred in the subject-wise category of global rankings at the time of application

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For getting approval on the application, the HEIs will have to pay a non-refundable fee and provide information on the proposed location, infrastructural facilities, fee structure, academic programmes, courses, curriculum, availability of faculty and financial resources for setting up the campus.

UGC's role in approving foreign university campus

The commission will form a standing committee to examine the applications on merit, credibility of the institutions, programmes to be offered, academic infrastructure, and thus make recommendations.

“Based on the recommendations of the standing committee, the commission may within a period of sixty days initially grant in-principle approval and issue a Letter of Intent to the Foreign Higher Educational Institution to set up campuses in India within two years from the date of approval,” said the regulations.

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UGC asked foreign institutions to set up a “transparent and reasonable” fee structure. The HEIs will have to provide prospectus on their websites including fee structure, refund policy, number of seats, eligibility, and admission process. They may provide scholarships from funds such as endowment funds, alumni donations, and more. The institutions may also give tuition fee concessions.

About the staff, UGC regulations said that the institution may decide the qualifications, salary structure, and other conditions for the staff. The international faculty appointed to teach at the campus will have to stay in India for at least one semester.