Stanford University, Georgia Tech University, British Columbia University, McGill University, Simon Fraser University, Cubec University, and Montreal University are some of the international universities awaiting the government's nod to set up campuses in India.

As many as 40 international universities have sought land from the Maharashtra government in the Mumbai-Pune-Nashik belt for the purpose.

The investments lined up by these institutions are substantial. For instance, the UAE-based Higher Colleges of Technology's Centre of Excellence for Applied Research and Training plans to pump in around $300-350 million to establish a campus in India.

The institution is looking for a huge plot of land in Maharashtra or Karnataka.

Georgia Tech University of the US also wants to set up a global research hub and is keen on land in Maharashtra.

The university is said to have made a presentation to Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.