The University of Liverpool, part of the UK’s prestigious Russell Group, has received formal approval from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to open the first foreign university campus in Bengaluru at an event attended by the Hon’ble Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan today.

Scheduled to welcome its inaugural cohort of undergraduate and postgraduate students in August 2026, the University of Liverpool, Bengaluru will initially offer programs in Business Management, Accounting and Finance, Computer Science, and Biomedical Sciences. Notably, it will also introduce a program in Game Design—a unique offering for a UK university campus in India to offer this innovative subject. The new campus will also create enriching global exchange opportunities, providing UK-based students with an exciting new destination for international study.

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. The Hindustan Unilever relationship builds on a long-term partnership between the University and UK Unilever, who jointly established the Materials Innovation Factory, a world-class centre of materials chemistry expertise and facilities with one of the highest global concentrations of materials science robotics.

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.

University of Liverpool senior leaders also signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to explore future collaborative opportunities with companies and organisations including the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited, Wipro Limited, YouWeCan, and Dream11.

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.

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, and international perspective needed to succeed in today’s interconnected world. With a curriculum designed to meet global industry standards and taught by a diverse faculty, students will graduate ready to compete in the international job market and contribute meaningfully to the global workforce.

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.