IIT Bombay will open its first overseas sub-campus in the US with SUNY Old Westbury, beginning certificate courses in 2027 and later full degree programmes.
IIT Bombay Takes a Historic Global Step
The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay has announced its first-ever sub-campus outside India, marking a historic expansion for one of the country’s premier technology institutions. The new initiative will come up in the United States in collaboration with the State University of New York at Old Westbury. With this move, IIT Bombay is extending its academic reach beyond national borders for the first time and entering a new phase of global engagement.
The plan begins with certificate courses from 2027, followed by full-fledged degree programmes in the future. These programmes will be open to students from across the world, including those in the US and India. The development reflects IIT Bombay’s growing international ambitions and its intent to expand its presence in advanced engineering education and research.
Partnership with SUNY Old Westbury
IIT Bombay and SUNY Old Westbury formalized the collaboration through a Letter of Intent signed by IIT Bombay Director Prof Shireesh Kedare and SUNY Old Westbury President Dr Timothy E Sams. According to the institute, the two institutions will work together to develop new educational and research opportunities at the Long Island, New York campus.
The collaboration is designed to create academic offerings in science and engineering, with a special focus on emerging fields such as artificial intelligence. It also includes plans for joint research activities, which could strengthen academic exchange between Indian and American institutions. The partnership gives IIT Bombay a direct physical presence on US soil while allowing it to work within an established university structure.
Why the Collaboration Matters
Speaking at a virtual press conference, Prof Kedare called the development a major milestone for the institute. He emphasized that this initiative differs from existing joint-degree or exchange programmes because IIT Bombay will now offer courses on US land itself. That distinction makes the partnership more significant than a typical academic tie-up.
The sub-campus will focus on areas such as artificial intelligence, sustainability, and clean technology. These fields align with both global demand and India’s own priorities in innovation and advanced education. According to the institute, the first courses will be certificate programmes that can begin in 2027, while complete degree programmes will follow later.
Prof Kedare also clarified that admissions to the sub-campus programmes will not happen through JEE-Advanced. That makes the initiative more accessible to a wider international student pool and gives the sub-campus flexibility to design its own admission pathway.
Strategic Reason for a Joint Model
When asked why IIT Bombay chose to collaborate with an existing university instead of building an independent campus, Prof Kedare pointed to practical considerations. He explained that setting up a new campus would have required acquiring land and obtaining multiple approvals. By partnering with SUNY Old Westbury, IIT Bombay can avoid those complications and focus on academic design, course development, and programme quality.
This approach gives the institute a faster and more efficient route into overseas education. It also allows IIT Bombay to build on the infrastructure and local presence of SUNY Old Westbury while bringing its own academic reputation and research strengths to the collaboration. Such a model could become a template for future international academic partnerships involving Indian institutions.
The partnership reflects a careful balance between ambition and practicality. Instead of starting from scratch, IIT Bombay has chosen to enter the US education landscape through cooperation, which may help it scale more quickly and sustainably.
SUNY Old Westbury Welcomes IIT Bombay
SUNY Old Westbury President Timothy Sams welcomed the partnership and described IIT Bombay as a world-class institution. He said the collaboration would advance teaching, innovation, and excellence in disciplines such as physics and engineering. He also said the goal is to create a strong IIT Bombay presence on campus and prepare the next generation of leaders.
His remarks underline the mutual benefits of the partnership. For SUNY Old Westbury, the collaboration brings in one of India’s most respected technical institutions. For IIT Bombay, it opens a pathway to international visibility, cross-border research, and broader student engagement. Together, the two institutions aim to strengthen academic excellence in a way that serves both local and global communities.
What the Move Means for Indian Higher Education
IIT Bombay’s overseas sub-campus marks an important moment for Indian higher education. It signals that Indian institutions are no longer only sending students and faculty abroad; they are also beginning to establish a formal academic presence overseas. That shift could improve India’s reputation as a global education provider and create new opportunities for international collaboration.
The decision also reflects the increasing importance of interdisciplinary, future-oriented fields such as AI, clean technology, and sustainability. As industries and governments worldwide seek skilled professionals in these areas, Indian institutions are positioning themselves to play a larger role in global talent development. IIT Bombay’s US sub-campus could become a significant channel for that expansion.
At the same time, the initiative may help Indian students who want access to IIT-level education in an international setting. With future degree programmes planned, the sub-campus could attract students from both countries and build a truly global academic community.
IIT Bombay’s first overseas sub-campus represents a bold and practical step in international higher education. By partnering with SUNY Old Westbury, the institute is creating a new platform for teaching, research, and global engagement that begins with certificate courses in 2027 and may eventually grow into full degree programmes for students across the world.
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