University of Liverpool unveils plans for India campus

The University of Liverpool has received approval from India’s University Grants Commission to open an international branch campus in Bengaluru, India.

The University of Liverpool, Bengaluru will open for its first intake of undergraduate and postgraduate students in August 2026 with initial subject options including 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.  

Tim Jones, vice-chancellor of the University of Liverpool, described the Indian government’s ambition to significantly increase enrolment in higher education as “visionary” and said the university is “excited” to be developing plans to play its part. 

Global engagement and partnerships are a key focus of the university’s Strategy 2031 and Jones said that opening a campus in the state of Karnataka “feels like the next natural step,” building on the partnerships and collaborations the university already enjoys 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,” he said.

The University of Liverpool follows in the footsteps of a number of UK universities who have chosen to set up campuses in India. The University of Southampton recently became the first UK university to be granted a licence by the Indian government to create a branch campus in the country. Others have opted to set up in GIFT City – India’s special economic zone, where institutions are free from the regulations that govern the rest of the country.

Through the new campus, the University of Liverpool said it is set to offer Indian students access to a global mobility scheme and open doors to academic, professional, and personal growth in Liverpool and worldwide. UK students will also be provided with exciting study abroad opportunities, a statement by the university laid out.

The university has deep ties with Bengaluru and Karnataka, including a 20-year research partnership with the Natinal Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, which helped shape WHO vaccine guidelines for Japanese Encephalitis. Other key collaborations include the Indian Institute of Science and Hindustan Unilever. Nationally, the university partners with institutions like Delhi University and AIIMS.

The new campus will is set to foster a research-rich environment, supporting fundamental, applied, and industry-led projects aimed at addressing both local and global situations, a statement explained.

Tariq Ali, pro-vice-chancellor global engagement and partnerships at the University of Liverpool described the planned campus as “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.”  

The British high commissioner to India, Lindy Cameron, commented: “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 UK and India are working together to inspire, empower and connect the next generation of leaders and changemakers
_{Lindy Cameron, the British High Commisioner to India}

Meanwhile, Alison Barrett MBE, country director India, British Council, said the university’s decision to open the 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,” she said.

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