Mumbai, Feb 26: Deloitte India and Knight Frank India announced the launch of their collaborative study, ‘Global Universities Eye India Opportunity: The Next Big Leap in Higher Education’ in December 2025. Presented to the Hon’ble Union Minister of Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, the report outlines a “once-in-a-generation” window for Foreign Higher Education Institutions (FHEIs) to establish a presence in India.
Driven by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, India is undergoing a monumental transition from a student-exporting nation to a global knowledge hub. This shift is fuelled by a massive surge in demand, with 53 million students currently enrolled in tertiary education. To meet the government’s target of a 50% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) by 2035, this figure is expected to climb to 72 million. This demographic pressure is compounded by a critical shortage of opportunities in elite education, making it essential to address this gap for future success. For instance, in 2025, while approximately 54,000 students successfully cleared all levels of the JEE for engineering, the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) could only offer 18,000 seats, highlighting a stark mismatch between student aspirations and available high-quality infrastructure.
The economic and structural implications of localising global campuses are equally profound. By establishing a stronger domestic presence for foreign universities, India could retain an estimated USD 113 billion in foreign currency by 2040, significantly reducing the remittance outflows currently lost to overseas education. This expansion will also necessitate a massive investment in physical infrastructure, with Foreign Higher Education Institutions (FHEIs) projected to require 19 mn sq. ft. of vertical campus space by 2040. This evolution not only promises to elevate India’s academic standing but also serves as a critical driver for urban development and economic stability.
Strategic Pillars for Success
The consolidated findings suggest that long-term sustainability for foreign campuses depends on three strategic pillars:
- Academic portfolio over enrolment volume, financial viability is driven by the programme mix rather than volume. High-demand, industry-aligned disciplines such as STEM, AI, Data Science, and Management are identified as the most sustainable anchors. Technical course enrolment in India has already seen a 39% increase in just five years
- City ecosystem readiness location choice is a strategic academic decision, not just a real estate call. The report’s “India Cities Playbook” identifies Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, and Mumbai as high-readiness hubs due to their corporate depth. Emerging Tier-2 cities like Chandigarh, Kochi, and Jaipur are also highlighted for their strong governance and infrastructure
- Talent and governance success depend on building robust faculty pipelines and governance models that preserve academic autonomy while aligning with Indian regulations. Attracting international faculty remains a critical execution challenge
Shishir Baijal, International Partner, Chairman and Managing Director, Knight Frank India, said,
“India’s education sector is undergoing a historic transformation. With 18 international universities already receiving approvals or commencing operations, the momentum is visible. Our data-driven ‘Cities Playbook’ serves as a compass for these institutions to identify locations that combine academic vibrancy with real estate excellence.”
The ‘Global Universities Eye India Opportunity’ report serves as a comprehensive roadmap for foreign institutions to navigate the complexities of the Indian market. By aligning academic offerings with industry needs, selecting cities with deep innovation ecosystems, and building resilient governance models, global universities can play a pivotal role in India’s journey toward becoming a global knowledge superpower. This collaborative effort by Deloitte and Knight Frank underscores the critical intersection of policy, academia, and real estate in shaping the future of higher education in India.