Today, Monday 26 May, the Indian Minister of Education has formally awarded the University of Liverpool permission to open a campus in Bengaluru, India at a high-profile event in New Delhi.
The University of Liverpool, Bengaluru will open for its first intake of undergraduate and postgraduate students in August 2026. Initial subject options will include Business Management, Accounting and Finance, Computer Science, Biomedical Sciences and, a first for UK campuses in India, Game Design, with a wider range to follow.
Students enrolling at the University of Liverpool, Bengaluru will benefit from the curriculum of a world-leading Russell Group University which is fast rising through all major national and global rankings. The University’s well-established links to employers, successful alumni and enhanced support for enterprise and entrepreneurship activities, will ensure students develop the skills they need to go on to successful careers or further study.
As a truly international university, Indian students will also have access to a stellar global mobility scheme, providing important opportunities for academic, professional and personal development both in Liverpool and across the world. The new campus will also provide a new, exciting study abroad opportunity for UK students.
The University of Liverpool already has strong links with Bengaluru and the wider State of Karnataka, including a long-standing research partnership with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences. The impact of this over 20-year partnership includes informing World Health Organisation vaccine guidelines for Japanese Encephalitis, saving more than 200,000 lives. Further important collaborations in Karnataka include the Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru and companies such as Hindustan Unilever.
Beyond Bengaluru, Delhi University is one of a number of important partners alongside the All India Institute for Medical Sciences, where only last year the University launched an initiative to tackle head and neck cancer.
Whilst launching the campus, University of Liverpool senior leaders also signed memoranda of understanding (MoU)s to explore future collaborative opportunities with companies and organisations including the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited, YouWeCan and Dream11. Wipro Limited and Axis Bank will sign MoUs at a celebration event in Bengaluru this week.
The Bengaluru campus will create the research-intensive environment befitting of a Russell Group university. Important fundamental, applied and industry-driven research will be based on the Bengaluru campus, providing solutions to a range of global and local challenges and needs.
Professor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, said: “We are delighted to have received approval from the University Grants Commission to open Bengaluru’s first international campus. The Indian government’s ambition to significantly increase enrolment in higher education is visionary and we are excited to be developing plans to play our part.
“Opening a campus in the State of Karnataka and Bengaluru feels like the next natural step, building on the fantastic partnerships and collaborations we already enjoy there. We look forward to providing talented students with access to an exceptional learning experience and a range of fantastic opportunities to develop their skills and employability. We are also committed to embedding a strong research culture to the benefit of industry, the region and the wider world.”
The British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron said: “Young people are at the heart of the UK-India partnership, and education is one of our most powerful tools unlocking opportunities for growth and innovation across both our countries, shaping a shared future. The University of Liverpool’s new campus in Bengaluru is a landmark achievement, deepening the links between our innovators and academics for years to come. The UK and India are working together to inspire, empower and connect the next generation of leaders and changemakers.”
Alison Barrett MBE, Country Director India, British Council said: “The University of Liverpool’s decision to open the first UK university campus in Bengaluru marks a major step forward in the UK-India education partnership. It demonstrates a shared vision for expanding access to world-class education and driving research collaboration that addresses global challenges. This development supports the goals of India’s National Education Policy 2020, which emphasises the internationalisation of higher education. It will help strengthen academic ties, encourage cross-cultural exchange, and open up transformative opportunities for students in both countries.”
Professor Tariq Ali, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Global Engagement and Partnerships at the University of Liverpool said: “This new campus is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen and deepen our ties with India, creating exciting opportunities for greater collaboration in education and research, connecting business and innovation ecosystems and opening up the potential for wider benefits to our respective regions and cities.”
Global engagement and partnerships are a key focus of the University’s Strategy 2031 and the University, and the City of Liverpool, are recognised globally for successfully delivering innovative international partnerships. Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University (XJTLU), which was established in 2006 through a partnership between Xi’an Jiaotong University and the University of Liverpool, has grown rapidly to become the largest international joint venture university in China and perhaps the most successful anywhere in the world.