Deakin University GIFT City Campus Welcomes Third Cohort
On July 9, 2026, Deakin University announced that its GIFT City Campus in Gandhinagar has admitted its third cohort of students, marking a key milestone for India’s first international university branch campus. The campus, part of Deakin’s 32‑year partnership with India, has in just over two years welcomed three student cohorts, celebrated its first graduates, completed an inaugural placement cycle, and built an ecosystem of more than 60 industry partners.
The new cohort is enrolled in Deakin’s globally recognised postgraduate programmes in Business Analytics and Cyber Security, fields identified as critical for India’s rapidly growing digital economy. Enrollment shows gender parity and draws students from across the country, with the majority hailing from Gujarat, reflecting growing trust in the campus’s innovative education model.
Ravneet Pawha, Vice President (Global Engagement) and CEO (South Asia) of Deakin University, said the intake demonstrates that international education can combine global quality with Indian relevance, aligning with the objectives of NEP 2020. Dr Deepak Bajaj, Academic and Campus Director, highlighted the campus’s role in shaping the next generation of professionals for India’s knowledge economy and emphasized the blend of globally benchmarked education, immersive industry experiences, and collaborative learning.
Located within GIFT City – India’s premier international financial and innovation hub – the campus offers an industry‑integrated learning experience. Every student undertakes live industry projects, internships, masterclasses, mentoring and career‑readiness initiatives. The campus’s industry network now includes more than 60 organisations, among them National Australia Bank (NAB), HSBC, ANZ, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Macquarie, EY, BHP, ICICI Bank, India INX, Adani Group and Forensic CyberTech. Graduates from the inaugural cohort have already secured roles with leading Indian and multinational firms, and several employers have returned to recruit from subsequent cohorts, underscoring confidence in the talent pipeline.
Student Diya Rajesh Jimuliya, pursuing a Master of Business Analytics, described the orientation as highly motivating, noting the emphasis on agility and future‑relevant skills. IBM Technical Leader Shefali Gaur praised the students for their awareness of industry disruption, artificial intelligence and ethical AI use, highlighting their curiosity and willingness to engage.
As India continues to open its higher‑education ecosystem to global participation, Deakin’s GIFT City Campus serves as a demonstrable model of how international universities can broaden access to world‑class education while directly contributing to national priorities in workforce development, innovation and economic growth.
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