Australia’s University of Wollongong (UOW) is gearing up to open its India campus in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) on November 4, 2024, becoming the second Australian university to establish an offshore presence in India.

Following Deakin University, which started operations in July, UOW will offer two postgraduate programs specializing in Computing and Financial Technology. UOW India will provide degrees such as the Master of Computing with a Data Analytics specialization, Graduate Certificate in Computing, Master of Financial Technology, Extended Master of Financial Technology, and Graduate Certificate in Financial Technology.

Since launching its application process in February, UOW India has received over 700 applications for its programs, which have a capacity of 50 seats each. To qualify, applicants need an undergraduate degree or relevant work experience and must meet English language proficiency requirements.

UOW India has introduced scholarships to support students for the November intake, including the ‘Women Leaders in FinTech’ and the ‘Inaugural Scholarship.’ The ‘Women Leaders in FinTech’ scholarship aims to boost female representation in India’s fintech industry, providing a 50% fee waiver. The ‘Inaugural Scholarship’ offers a 50% tuition reduction for all Master’s programs and a 25% discount for Graduate Certificate programs for the first trimester.

Nimay Kalyani, Director of UOW India, emphasized the university’s goal of delivering quality international education and said, “Our vision at UOW India is to make top-tier international education accessible to all, and the Inaugural Scholarship aligns perfectly with our vision.”

Additionally, UOW India has partnered with IBM, giving students access to IBM’s Innovation Centre for Education, where they can gain hands-on experience with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and blockchain. This collaboration also opens doors for placement opportunities for UOW India students.

The launch of the UOW campus was initially planned for July but was postponed due to severe monsoons and waterlogging, which affected the setup of essential services. However, UOW has conducted events to introduce prospective students to campus life ahead of the November opening.