Why global universities are expanding into India: University of Aberdeen’s Mumbai strategy

As demand for international education continues to grow among Indian students, universities across the world are expanding their engagement with India. This expansion is taking shape through collaborative programmes, academic partnerships, and transnational education initiatives. The focus is increasingly on improving access to globally recognised qualifications while enabling students to pursue international academic experiences closer to home.

This shift also reflects broader changes within the higher education sector, where institutions are responding to evolving industry requirements, global mobility trends, and the need for interdisciplinary learning. With policy support and increased openness towards foreign university participation, India is emerging as a key market for institutions seeking to build long-term academic and research collaborations.

Founded in 1495, University of Aberdeen is Scotland’s third oldest university and the UK’s fifth oldest1. Ranked 121st globally in the TIME World’s Top Universities 2026 rankings and among the world’s top 250 universities in THE World University Rankings 20262, the university is now bringing its global academic model to Mumbai.

In this interaction, Megan McFarlane, Deputy Director of Global Engagement, Marketing & Recruitment, University of Aberdeen, discusses the university’s plans for India, its approach to international education, and how the institution aims to address the evolving academic and professional aspirations of Indian students.

Q: For a student or parent choosing between an established Indian private university or heading to Scotland, what is the definitive ‘University of Aberdeen Mumbai’ pitch?
A: It comes down to global recognition, mobility, and value. For students who want to stay close to home while earning a degree from a university with over 530 years of heritage, University of Aberdeen Mumbai offers a compelling middle ground.

Founded in 1495, the University of Aberdeen has built a global reputation for rigorous scholarship and real-world impact. Today, our community spans more than 130 nationalities, with over 100,000 alumni across 180 countries1. Students in Mumbai receive a globally recognised qualification with significantly stronger international visibility than most private Indian universities, without the immediate financial and logistical leap of relocating overseas for four years. It is an opportunity to access an international education experience while remaining connected to home and the Indian market.

Q: What are your expectations for the inaugural cohort? And considering cost is a major factor for Indian families. Could you elaborate on the fee structure and scholarships?
A: For the September 2026 intake, the university is accepting applications for six programmes, including four 4-year bachelor’s (honours) degrees and two 1-year master’s programmes.

This intentionally measured approach allows us to prioritise academic quality and student experience from the very beginning. Our ambition is not simply to establish another international campus in India, but to build a long-term academic institution that reflects the same standards, values, and global outlook that have defined the University of Aberdeen for more than five centuries.

For the September 2026 intake, we have set tuition fees at ₹12 lakh/year for a four-year undergraduate degree like the MA (Hons) Economics, ₹14 lakh/year for the MSc in Artificial Intelligence, and ₹17 lakh/year for the 1 year MBA. To expand access, we have introduced the Aberdeen Pioneer Scholarship for all students enrolling in the 2026–27 intake. The scholarship provides a ₹2,00,000 tuition fee reduction per year of study and is automatically applied at the point of admission and reflected in your fee statement; it ensures immediate financial support without a separate application. Our objective is to provide families with both transparency and long-term financial predictability.

Q: Why are undergraduate programmes such as MA (Hons) Economics and MA (Hons) Business Management at the University of Aberdeen Mumbai called ‘MA’ when they are undergraduate degrees?
A: The undergraduate programmes MA (Hons) Economics and MA (Hons) Business Management at the University of Aberdeen’s Mumbai campus are called ‘MA’ because they follow the long-standing Scottish university tradition in which ancient institutions like Aberdeen award a Master of Arts (MA) as their standard undergraduate degree in arts, social sciences, and related fields; despite the title, these are not postgraduate degrees but are instead equivalent to a BA (Hons) in most other countries, with the ‘Honours’ indicating a higher level of undergraduate specialization, and the Mumbai campus uses the same degree titles to maintain consistency with the University of Aberdeen’s academic system in Scotland.

Q: Your initial programmes focus heavily on Business, AI, and Data Science. Is this a commercial decision?
A: Our launch priorities are driven by academic quality and student outcomes. We chose Business, Computing, Data Science, and AI because these fields align with Aberdeen’s core strengths and current employer demand in India. They also fit within the UGC’s regulatory framework for new campuses. This isn’t a short-term commercial play; it’s about starting where we can provide the most immediate value. As the campus matures and our faculty depth grows, we will progressively introduce a broader range of disciplines from our portfolio, including humanities and sciences.

Q: If a student starts in Mumbai but eventually wants the ‘Scotland experience,’ is there a provision for mobility?
A: Absolutely. Students remain fully integrated into the wider University of Aberdeen ecosystem from day one. Undergraduate students will have the opportunity to spend a semester at the Aberdeen campus in the UK during the second year while continuing to pay the same Mumbai tuition fee, with no additional tuition charge for the mobility semester.

Q: Admissions in India are often defined by exams like JEE or CUET. What are the parameters for selecting students?
A: We follow a holistic, merit-based admissions process. Rather than relying solely on a single high-pressure examination, we place greater emphasis on a student’s overall academic consistency, subject preparedness, and long-term potential. As a result, exams such as JEE or CUET are not mandatory for admission. We want to create a more inclusive admissions pathway for students from diverse educational backgrounds.

Q: How do you guarantee that a degree earned in Powai carries the same weight as one earned in Scotland?
A: Academic standards are non-negotiable for us. University of Aberdeen Mumbai operates under the same academic policies, quality assurance systems, curriculum oversight, and faculty standards as our home campus in Scotland. Importantly, the degree awarded is exactly the same. There are no markings or distinctions identifying whether a student studied in Mumbai or Aberdeen. A graduate from the Mumbai campus is a University of Aberdeen graduate.

Also, Powai was a deliberate choice because it sits at the intersection of industry, innovation, and accessibility. Being located in one of Mumbai’s leading corporate and technology hubs creates opportunities for internships, experiential learning, and industry engagement. The campus is being developed with purpose-built classrooms, collaborative learning spaces, and technology-enabled labs. Students will also have access to facilitated residential-style accommodation close to campus, while the location itself is well connected through public transport and the upcoming Metro Line 6.

Reference/s:

1. https://www.abdn.ac.uk/about/facts-figures/
2. https://www.abdn.ac.uk/mumbai/about/

Disclaimer: This article has been produced on behalf of Eruditus by Times Internet’s Spotlight team.
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