Get financial backing. You will need money to secure the necessary government permits, buy land, construct buildings and hire faculty and staff. Many of the most successful international universities are backed by an endowment or existing university. If you are opening a for-profit university, make sure to attract qualified investors.
Write up a business plan. This should lay out your entire vision for the university, including your mission statement. Decide what type of educational model you want to follow and what kind of academic experience you want your students to have. Include a plan for change and growth over the next five or 10 years. A solid business plan is essential to attracting donors or investors to your project.
Find experts. Opening a university requires knowledge of real estate, financial planning and legal issues. It is very important to know the laws of the country you wish to build in. If nobody in your organization has specialized knowledge in these areas, you may have to hire somebody to manage these issues for you.
Find a campus. You may decide to lease an existing site or build from scratch. If you build from scratch, you will need to hire a construction crew and purchase the necessary materials. You will also need to know the zoning and construction laws of the location you wish to build in. You may also need to purchase permits or get approval from a government official.
Hire your staff. Attracting quality teachers is important in any educational venture, as is having top-notch administrators. Many international schools succeed or fail based on the quality of the teaching and support staff.
Market your university. You need to show potential students what your university has to offer compared to other schools, especially if you are trying to attract students from all over the world. They need to see the benefits of going to your university rather than attending one closer to home. A marketing professional or consultant could be very helpful in this regard.