Australia's Victoria University gets formal approval for Gurugram campus

The Letter of Approval, permitting the VU to establish and operate its campus in Gurugram, was handed over during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Australia as part of the outcomes announced by the two countries on Thursday.

The new campus is expected to deepen India-Australia cooperation in higher education by expanding academics, research and industry collaboration while making internationally recognised Australian degrees more accessible to Indian students.

Located in Gurugram, the campus will cater to students from across India and the wider South Asian region. The university said the campus had been strategically located near major business hubs and is well connected through the Delhi Metro and the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

A distinctive feature of the Gurugram campus will be the introduction of Victoria University's Block Model, making it the first institution in India to adopt the teaching format under which students study one subject at a time in intensive four-week blocks through small, workshop-style classes. The model is designed to improve student engagement and has been recognised for supporting first-generation and disadvantaged learners.

The university said the campus would offer students access to internationally recognised qualifications at a lower cost, reducing the financial barriers associated with studying overseas.

"Too many students face barriers to accessing an international education, whether because of limited local opportunities or the cost of studying overseas. The VU's campus will bring a globally recognised Australian university experience closer to home," Victoria University Chancellor Steve Bracks said.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker said the Gurugram campus would widen access to global education opportunities while strengthening educational and research links between India and Australia.

The approval comes as India continues to encourage leading foreign universities to establish campuses under the National Education Policy, with the aim of internationalising higher education and expanding access to world-class academic programmes within the country.