Prestigious UK Russell Group University to Offer Degrees in AI, Cybersecurity, Business, Economics & Creative Industries
Marking a bold new chapter in UK-India research opportunities, the University of York—one of the UK’s most prestigious research-intensive institutions and a member of the elite Russell Group—has announced plans to open a new campus in Mumbai. University of York Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charlie Jeffery, discussed the initiative with Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the ongoing World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai. A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, paving the way for the new campus.
The proposed campus, expected to welcome its first cohort in 2026, pending final regulatory approvals from the University Grants Commission (UGC), will offer cutting-edge undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security, Business, Economics, and the Creative Industries. Programmes in emerging fields – AI, cybersecurity, creative industries – will be designed with global industry input, boosting job readiness in high-demand sectors and opening career pathways for Indian learners.
Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, said: “It is a privilege to welcome the University of York to Mumbai as we expand world-class educational opportunities in India. The opportunity to connect our students with the academic excellence of a Russell Group institution is particularly valuable and will offer significant academic and research benefits to students and scholars alike, while further enriching the educational landscape. Built on a strong foundation of shared innovation and aligned priorities, we remain dedicated to advancing a relationship that reinforces national development objectives and enriches the global exchange of knowledge.”
Vice-Chancellor of the University of York, Professor Charlie Jeffery, said: “This is a truly exciting new venture, and we are committed to building and strengthening our connections in India and contributing to the education of its future leaders and entrepreneurs. York's global reputation rests on its outstanding achievements in teaching and research and is one of only four universities in the UK – alongside Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College London – which is both in the top 10 in the UK for the quality of its research and has a gold ranking for the quality of its teaching. We have research strengths that align with India’s priorities, especially in the areas of digital technologies, creative industries and the real-world applications for AI systems. We look forward to working with our partners in India to welcome students and establish new research opportunities.”
The initiative also deepens research collaboration between India and the UK. Research and teaching in the creative industries is a key part of the plans for the University of York, Mumbai, and follows the launch of the University’s Co-Star Live Lab, a research and development facility based in Yorkshire which offers technological solutions to enhancing live performance experiences. CoStar Live Lab will present new opportunities for researchers in the UK and India to collaborate on new technologies that will enhance the gaming, TV, film, performance and entertainment sectors. The high-tech facilities will create immersive, multisensory and interactive technologies, incubate startups, train future leaders in the industry while empowering diverse voices and new talent across the sector.
Initially housed in a prominent business district in Mumbai, the University of York plans to develop a state-of-the-art campus over the coming years. All programmes will be delivered in line with York’s academic standards, with students graduating with a University of York degree, enabling York to bring its world-class academic model directly to one of the fastest-growing education markets in the world.
Alison Barrett, Country Director British Council India, added: “It is exciting to hear that the University of York is planning to open an international campus in Mumbai, India. The strong emphasis on research and innovation alongside high-quality teaching and learning will catalyse research partnerships between innovators from India and the UK. It is especially good to see the focus on the creative industries as well as courses in computer science, AI, cyber security, business and economics, all high potential sectors which will support India and UK growth. This new venture will be testament to the shared commitment between India and UK towards the internationalisation of education.”
Founded in 1963, the University of York has consistently ranked among the top 150 universities worldwide (Times Higher Education World University Rankings), renowned for its pioneering work across the sciences, humanities and social sciences, and globally renowned for its excellence in teaching, research, and innovation. With Nobel Prize-winning alumni, award-winning faculty, and interdisciplinary research centers tackling global challenges – from sustainability and digital futures to public health and conflict resolution – York is uniquely positioned to offer Indian students a transformative learning experience aligned with the needs of the 21st century.
The University of York has strong and enduring ties with India through a vibrant alumni network, academic collaborations, and joint research initiatives. The University of York’s research collaborations with India have led to enhancement of talent in conservation, better allocation of health resources, improvements to resilience of edible crops, among others. The University is also working with Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), where researchers and York and experts at KIIT are focused on the study of food sustainability in Odisha. The Mumbai campus intends to extend research partnerships further, as York actively engages with Indian academic partners, regulators, and industry leaders to shape a campus that meets national and global standards of excellenc