The University of Aberdeen has formally opened admissions for its upcoming Mumbai campus, marking the entry of the first Scottish university in India. Announced during vice chancellor Professor Peter Edwards’ visit to Mumbai on Tuesday, the inaugural intake is scheduled for September 2026. Alongside the admissions launch, the university has also introduced the ‘Aberdeen Pioneer Scholarship’, offering a Rs 2 lakh tuition fee waiver to all eligible undergraduate and postgraduate students who apply by the round 1 deadline of January 31.Founded in 1495, the University of Aberdeen “brings over five centuries of academic heritage to India, with UK-accredited degrees, a four-year Scottish undergraduate model, and postgraduate offerings.” The Mumbai campus will initially offer undergraduate programmes in Business Management, Economics, Data Science, and Computing Science, along with a one-year MSc in Artificial Intelligence and a one-year MBA.In an interview with the indianexpress.com, Professor Peter Edwards, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, spoke in detail about the rationale behind the India campus, academic parity with Scotland, India-relevant fee structures, scholarships, and more.Why would Indian students choose Aberdeen in Mumbai over an established Indian private university or go all the way to Scotland?For students who want to stay close to home while earning a globally recognised degree from a top-250 ranked university, Aberdeen Mumbai offers far greater international recognition and mobility than a typical private Indian university, at only a modestly higher investment.How do you ensure a non-negotiable guarantee that academic standards in the Mumbai campus will match those in Aberdeen?At a university with more than five centuries of academic heritage and global recognition, standards are never an afterthought — they are fundamental. Aberdeen Mumbai will operate under the same academic policies, quality assurance processes, and faculty hiring standards as the home campus, fully aligned with both the University of Aberdeen governance and India’s UGC regulations, ensuring students receive the same academic rigour and global credibility.Story continues below this adYou say fees will be “competitive” and “transparent” in India. Can you elaborate on the numbers and how they compare with Scotland and leading private universities in Maharashtra?All tuition fees for round 1 applicants are now available for interested candidates on the university’s website. For the September 2026 intake, fees are Rs 12 lakh for a four-year honours degree, Rs 14 lakh for the one-year MSc in Artificial Intelligence, and Rs 17 lakh for the one-year MBA.There was a mention of a Rs 2 lakh scholarship. What are the parameters, and who is eligible?To further expand access to Aberdeen’s global degrees in India, all students who apply by the round 1 deadline of January 31 and are admitted for September 2026 will automatically receive the Aberdeen Pioneer Scholarship, which reduces tuition by Rs 2 lakh. No separate scholarship application is required. The scholarship covers all degree programmes, including four-year undergraduate honours degrees in Business Management, Economics, Data Science, and Computing Science, along with one-year MSc in AI and one-year MBA.Story continues below this adWill you commit to a hard cap on annual fee hikes once a cohort is admitted?Our long-term vision and success in India is tied directly to the success of our students and to the needs of the Indian economy. Any annual fee adjustments will be moderate and linked to inflation and prevailing economic conditions, ensuring predictability and fairness for each incoming cohort.How will the academic experience in Mumbai differ from what a student would see on day one in Aberdeen?The academic experience in Mumbai will deliver the same globally designed curriculum and academic rigour as Aberdeen, while being distinctly shaped by the Indian context. Students will benefit from learning that is closely aligned with India’s fast-growing economy through local industry engagement, applied projects, and career pathways that are highly relevant to the region and country.Story continues below this adWhat programmes are being offered initially, and will national entrance exams like JEE or CUET be required?For the upcoming intake, Aberdeen Mumbai will offer a number of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes aligned with the local needs of the growing economy of the country. Admissions follow the University of Aberdeen’s holistic, merit-based approach, which looks primarily at a student’s academic background and subject readiness rather than relying on a single standardised test or subjective personal interviews.As a result, entrance exams such as JEE or CUET are not mandatory for admission; instead, eligibility is assessed based on academic qualifications and programme-specific requirements, ensuring fair and inclusive access for students from diverse educational pathways.Is the Mumbai campus a permanent site?Yes, the Mumbai campus site has already been finalised, and development and fit-out are underway. We choose Powai to ensure integration with industry, giving students access to experience-based learning, live projects, and professional networks throughout their academic journey.Story continues below this adFrom the first intake, students will have access to purpose-built classrooms, technology-enabled learning spaces, and specialised labs aligned to their programmes, with further infrastructure being added as the campus and programmes expand.Are high-demand fields like AI and business being prioritised for academic or commercial reasons? When will other disciplines be introduced?Our programme launch priorities are driven by academic quality and student outcomes, and not short-term commercial considerations. We are starting with areas such as business, computing, data science, and artificial intelligence because these fields align strongly with Aberdeen’s academic strengths, employer demand, and what the UGC regulatory framework allows for a new campus.As the Mumbai campus matures and infrastructure and faculty depth expand, we will progressively introduce a broader range of disciplines in line with the University of Aberdeen’s academic portfolio and long-term commitment to India.Story continues below this adWill a degree earned entirely in Mumbai be identical to one awarded in Scotland?Yes, students who study in Mumbai will receive the same University of Aberdeen degree as those who study in Scotland. In line with UGC regulations and the University’s global standards, the degree parchment will carry no markings or codes that distinguish a Mumbai-based student from a Scotland-based graduate, ensuring full international recognition and parity with the home campus.Is there a provision for students to move from Mumbai to Aberdeen midway through their degree?The Mumbai campus is being established under UGC regulations with the authority to award the same globally recognised degrees as the home campus, and it is therefore not structured as a “2+2” transfer or twinning programme.Story continues below this adHowever, students will have access to approved academic mobility and study-abroad pathways. Eligible undergraduates may spend a semester at the Aberdeen campus, subject to academic performance, payment of the applicable tuition and living costs, and compliance with UK visa requirements, allowing them to gain an on-campus Scotland experience while remaining enrolled in their Mumbai degree.How will faculty appointments and academic oversight work at the Mumbai campus?The teaching team will be a blend of faculty permanently based in Mumbai, internationally recruited academics, and visiting or seconded faculty from the UK campus. Regardless of where they are based, all faculty will operate within the University of Aberdeen’s academic standards and quality assurance processes to ensure parity with the home campus.Given Mumbai’s space constraints, what kind of campus life can students expect?Story continues below this adStudents will have the option of living in facilitated accommodation located within five kilometres of the campus, providing a residential-style experience for those who choose it. This is not mandatory, and students may also live independently and commute. The campus is connected by public transport, including Metro Line 6, ensuring easy access across the city while still offering a strong on-campus student community and experience.