UWA Chennai campus starts classes on October 19 after UGC approval: AI, data science courses on offer

The University of Western Australia (UWA) has received the University Grants Commission’s final approval to run its international branch campus in Chennai, and the first batch of students is already here. Orientation began on October 5, and daily classes are set to start on October 19.

The news matters for Indian students because a world-ranked Australian university degree is now available without leaving the country. The Chennai campus is only the second foreign branch campus that UWA has opened in India, after Mumbai.

What the Chennai campus will offer

The campus will run undergraduate programmes in business management, computer science, data science, and advanced computer science with artificial intelligence. Students who want to study further can take the Master of Information Technology or the Master of Business Administration (MBA).

The initial focus is clear. Data science, artificial intelligence, information technology, and business are the areas the campus is building first. These are also the fields where Indian students are searching for seats every year, including through the CUET UG admission route that feeds universities across the country.

The campus itself is spread across 70,000 square feet on the seventh floor of One National Park on Velachery Main Road in Chennai. It is a city-centre campus, not a sprawling greenfield site, and it is built to hold the first batches as they settle in.

A second India campus within a month

UWA opened its Mumbai campus in September 2026, just weeks before Chennai. The university has said it plans to invest about AUD 80 million in its wholly owned campuses in India. That is not a short-term experiment. It is a long-term plan to build a permanent presence in the country.

This is part of a bigger shift in Indian higher education. Under the UGC’s regulatory framework for foreign universities, several international institutions have started teaching in India or welcomed their first students since the beginning of 2026. UWA is one of the early movers, and its two campuses put it ahead of most competitors.

For students, this means more choice at home. A student in Tamil Nadu can now earn a UWA degree from Chennai instead of flying to Perth. The teaching, the curriculum, and the university’s international academic and industry networks travel with the brand.

How to find out more

Students interested in the programmes should check the details on UWA’s official website. The university lists its course pages, eligibility, and intake information at uwa.edu.au. Admissions details and fee structure are announced by the university itself, so the official site is the most reliable source.

Foreign branch campuses in India operate under the UGC’s approval and monitoring. The UGC publishes its regulations and approved institutions on its portal at ugc.gov.in, where students can verify the status of any foreign university before applying.

“The Chennai campus is part of UWA’s AUD 80 million long-term commitment to wholly owned campuses in India, giving students in Tamil Nadu and beyond access to an Australian university degree at home.” (paraphrased from the university’s announcement)

What this means for 2026 admissions

The timing is tight. Classes begin in less than two weeks, so the first batch has largely been filled. But the opening signals that UWA will run regular intake cycles from its Indian campuses, including Chennai.

Students planning for 2027 intakes should keep a few things in mind:

• Check the UGC’s list of approved foreign universities before applying to any branch campus.
• Compare the Chennai and Mumbai programme lists, since course offerings can differ between campuses.
• Look at the total cost carefully. A foreign university degree in India usually costs more than a domestic one, though less than studying abroad.
• Watch for scholarship announcements from the university and the government, which often follow new campus launches.

This is a fast-moving space. More foreign universities are expected to announce India campuses in the coming months. Students who keep track of the education news section on this site will catch these updates early.

The broader point is simple. Indian students no longer have to choose between staying home and studying at a foreign university. With UWA now running two campuses in India, that choice is real, and more universities are likely to follow.

Frequently asked questions

When do classes start at the UWA Chennai campus? Orientation for the first batch began on October 5, 2026. Regular classes are scheduled to start on October 19, 2026.

Which courses are offered at UWA’s Chennai campus? Undergraduate programmes include business management, computer science, data science, and advanced computer science with artificial intelligence. At the postgraduate level, the campus offers a Master of Information Technology and an MBA.

Is the UWA Chennai campus approved by the UGC? Yes. The University Grants Commission has given final approval for UWA to operate its international branch campus in Chennai.

Does UWA have another campus in India? Yes. The Chennai campus is UWA’s second in India. The university opened its Mumbai campus in September 2026 and plans to invest around AUD 80 million in its wholly owned Indian campuses.