List of Indian Universities Tie Up with Foreign Universities: Complete Details Here

Academic collaborations between Indian and foreign universities have a long history and continue to grow in significance. Many institutions actively partner with their international peers for research, innovation, faculty exchange, and joint degree programs. These partnerships not only enhance global exposure for students but also help universities strengthen international relations and pursue common academic and research interests.

With the updated 2025–26 guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC), academic collaborations have become more structured and easier to implement, ensuring quality, recognition, and compliance with Indian educational standards. In this blog, we explore the latest academic tie-ups between Indian and foreign universities, their types, advantages, and what students need to know before enrolling.

How Does an Academic Tie-Up Work? (2025–26 Update)?

In 2022, the University Grants Commission (UGC) formally allowed academic collaborations between Indian and foreign higher education institutions. Since then, these collaborations have been continuously updated and regulated for the 2025–26 academic year to ensure quality, recognition, and compliance with Indian education standards.

Under this framework, Indian universities can collaborate with foreign partners to offer three main types of programs:

1. Dual Degree Program

In a dual degree program, a student studies a subject according to a curriculum jointly approved by both universities. Upon completion, both the Indian and foreign universities award degrees in the chosen subject. Recent updates ensure that dual degrees are fully recognized by UGC and relevant professional councils in India.

2. Joint Degree Program

A joint degree program is designed collaboratively by both institutions. Students typically complete a portion of the course overseas, with the foreign study component capped at 30% of total credits. For 2025–26, UGC guidelines emphasise proper credit transfer documentation and recognition of coursework to maintain validity in India.

3. Twinning Programme

In a twinning programme, students complete part of the course at an Indian university and the remaining part at a foreign partner university. As per UGC regulations, no more than 30% of the credits can come from a foreign institution. Twinning programs now also include enhanced reporting requirements for both universities to ensure transparency and recognition of degrees.

2025–26 Key Updates for Students

• All collaborations must be formally approved by UGC; unapproved tie-ups will not be recognised.
• Online or distance learning components from foreign universities are not automatically recognised unless specifically approved.
• Students are advised to verify the status of the MoU before enrolling to ensure their degrees are valid for higher studies, government jobs, or professional licensure.
• The UGC encourages collaborations that focus on research, innovation, and global skill development, reflecting India’s broader internationalisation goals.

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List of Indian Universities in Tie-Up with Foreign Universities

Many Indian universities, both public and private, have contributed to internationalising higher education. Tie-ups with foreign universities provide students with global exposure, research opportunities, and new career paths. Here is a list of some Indian universities and their key international collaborations:

Indian University	Affiliations / Accreditations	Foreign Collaborations	Study Areas
Indian Institute of Science	ACU, UGC, AIU, MISA	University of Adelaide, University of Melbourne, Nagasaki University	M.Tech (Research), Ph.D. in Science and Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur	N/A	University of California, Santa Cruz	Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Bioinformatics
Ashoka University	UGC, ACU	University of British Columbia, University of Cambridge, Yale University	Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Psychology
Shiv Nadar University	UGC	Babson College, Mondragon University	Engineering, Humanities, Management, Natural Science
Chitkara University	UGC, COA, PCI, NCTE	Deakin University, George Brown College	Engineering, Health Sciences, Management, Education
BML Munjal University	N/A	Imperial College London, University of Warwick, London School of Economics & Political Science	Economics, Psychology, Business Analytics, Engineering
Indian School of Business (ISB)	AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA	Wharton, Kellogg, MIT Sloan	Postgraduate Programs in Management
Pondicherry University	UGC, BCI, PCI, AICTE	University of Tours, University of Warsaw	Biochemistry, Ecology, Biotechnology, Computer Science
Manipal Academy of Higher Education	UGC	General Medical Council, Australian Medical Council	Dentistry, Nursing, Architecture, Engineering

Advantages of Foreign Tie-Ups and MoUs

Collaborations between Indian and foreign universities benefit not only the students but also the institutions involved. International academic tie-ups provide students with global exposure and open up new avenues for learning and research. Key advantages of these collaborations include:

• Keeping up with global trends: International partnerships help Indian universities stay aligned with global educational standards, providing students with a broader range of learning experiences.
• Industry-relevant courses and research opportunities: Collaborations with foreign universities and businesses make academic programs more relevant, enhance research capabilities, and improve students’ employability.
• Specialised research initiatives: Joint labs, faculty exchanges, industry positions, and guest lectures enable students and researchers to engage in cutting-edge projects and innovation-driven learning.
• Enhanced student exchange and cultural understanding: Such tie-ups promote student mobility, foster cross-cultural understanding, and increase the international recognition of Indian universities.

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Latest Indian Universities’ Tie-Ups with Foreign Universities (2025)

India’s higher education landscape is witnessing rapid internationalisation, with universities forming new global partnerships to enhance research, innovation, faculty exchange, and student mobility. In 2025, several new collaborations were announced while many existing ones were strengthened under the updated guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC). The section below highlights the most important and officially verified academic tie-ups for the year.

1. University of Southampton to Establish Campus in India

The University of Southampton has officially established its campus in Delhi NCR, becoming one of the first globally ranked UK institutions to operate in India under the University Grants Commission’s regulations for foreign universities. This marks a breakthrough in India–UK education ties and supports UGC’s vision of enabling world-class international institutions to offer degrees directly in India.

The new campus aims to deliver globally benchmarked programs, joint research opportunities, and faculty exchange initiatives while giving Indian students access to British-quality education without the cost of studying abroad.

2. IIT Kanpur–University of California Collaboration

IIT Kanpur signed a new MoU with the University of California system to boost joint research in areas such as:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Computer Science and emerging technologies
• Bioinformatics and computational research

The partnership includes faculty exchange and co-supervised research projects.

3. Growing India–Israel Research Partnerships

Several Indian higher education institutions have expanded research collaborations with Israeli universities and research organisations. These tie-ups focus on:

• Defence technology
• Agricultural innovation
• Cyber security
• Advanced scientific research

These partnerships have deepened since 2024–25 as institutions focus on joint lab development and innovation-driven projects.

4. Over 400 Active Foreign Collaborations with Indian Universities

As per the latest UGC updates, more than 400 foreign higher education institutions currently have active collaborations with Indian universities. These include credit transfer agreements, joint degrees, exchange programs, and research partnerships.

5. Karnataka Universities Receive Approval for International Programs

UGC has officially approved 18 universities in Karnataka to collaborate with foreign institutions under:

• Twinning Programmes
• Joint Degree Programmes
• Dual Degree Programmes

This is one of the largest state-level clusters to receive such approval.

6. Multiple Overseas Universities Express Interest in Joint Programmes

Dozens of reputed global universities have shown interest in working with Indian institutions to launch:

• Joint degrees
• Dual degrees
• Twinning programmes

This rise in interest is directly linked to India’s updated internationalisation policies and global demand for Indian research ecosystems.

7. US Research Consortium Plans Collaboration with India

A leading consortium of top research institutions in the United States has expressed interest in creating multi-university partnerships with Indian institutions. The proposed collaborations focus on:

• Climate and sustainability research
• Quantum technologies
• Advanced biomedical sciences
• Data sciences and engineering

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