Bengaluru welcomes Liverpool: UK university’s Indian debut set for 2026

The University of Liverpool on Tuesday announced its intention to launch its first India university campus in Bengaluru by 2026. This proposal received a warm welcome from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and senior officials from the Karnataka government.

This announcement, made at a high-profile event in Bengaluru and attended by key state ministers, marks a significant step forward in the growing collaboration between the UK and India in higher education.

“Karnataka has always been at the forefront of education and innovation. The University of Liverpool’s decision to set up its first foreign campus in Bengaluru reinforces our status as a global knowledge destination. We welcome them wholeheartedly and are committed to extending all support to make this venture a grand success,” CM Siddaramaiah said.

The Bengaluru campus will reflect the university’s emphasis on research and globally recognised academic practices, it said. It is also expected to strengthen links with Karnataka’s innovation sector, creating opportunities for students and researchers to engage with evolving industry demands in India and the UK.

“We are proud to take this significant step in our long-standing relationship with India by opening a world-class campus in Bengaluru. The state of Karnataka’s reputation as a knowledge and technology powerhouse makes it an ideal home for the University’s campus in India,” said Professor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool.

“We are committed to delivering transformative education and research in partnership with local communities, institutions and industries,” Jones added.

The initial academic offerings at the University’s Bengaluru campus will include programmes in business management, accounting and finance, computer science, biomedical sciences, and game design—marking the first time these subjects will be delivered by a UK university campus in India. Additional disciplines are anticipated to be introduced in later phases.

As part of its efforts to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry, the university signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bengaluru-based Wipro Limited, Axis Bank, and TiE Bangalore—an organisation part of the global TiE network that supports entrepreneurship.

The university has established strong collaborations in Karnataka, including a 20-year research partnership with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences. It also maintains ongoing relationships with institutions like the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru and corporate partners such as Hindustan Unilever.

The university’s leadership is seeking to expand collaborations with Indian companies and international organisations to support innovation, entrepreneurship, and skills development.

Established in 1881, the University of Liverpool, a research-focused higher education institution and a part of the UK’s Russell Group, is regularly ranked among the top 175 universities globally.