The University of Liverpool today officially opened its Bengaluru campus, making it the first Russell Group university campus in Karnataka. Located in Bengaluru’s Alembic City, Whitefield, the campus welcomes nearly 300 students in its inaugural cohort.

Guests heard from the M. B. Patil, Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development, Steve Rotheram Mayor of the Liverpool City Region and Liverpool Football Club (LFC) legend and University of Liverpool alumnus, Robbie Fowler to celebrate this landmark moment in India-UK higher education cooperation.

Also present to celebrate this significant milestone in India-UK higher education collaboration were Harshbir Sangha MBE FRSA, British Deputy Commissioner to Karnataka; Alison Barrett, Director, British Council India; academic partners; and a range of industry leaders.

First cohort of students celebrated
The opening celebrations also marked the beginning of an academic journey for the University of Liverpool Bengaluru’s inaugural cohort, with nearly 300 students commencing their studies at the campus.

The University of Liverpool Bengaluru is offering an initial portfolio of programmes in Computer Science, Game Design, Business Management, Accounting and Finance, and Biomedical Sciences. Situated in Alembic City, Whitefield, the purpose-built campus provides a flexible and integrated learning environment featuring smart classrooms, research and innovation spaces, collaboration hubs, specialised laboratories and access to Bloomberg terminals.

Students will benefit from a learning experience that combines academic excellence with industry engagement, experiential learning and global exposure. Designed to prepare graduates for the future workforce, the University’s programmes emphasise practical application, critical thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration and opportunities to engage with industry leaders and researchers.

Liverpool and India links celebrated
The celebrations saw Shilpa Nag, Special Commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority and Tim Games, Executive Director for Investment and Delivery of Liverpool City Region, mark the intention to build on collaboration between their regions through a Joint Declaration of Intent signing. An economic panel session explored opportunities for growth following the India-UK Free Trade Agreement.

The opening celebrations highlighted the strong and enduring links between Liverpool and India. Guests celebrated the legacy of Indian-born Nobel Laureate, Professor Har Gobind Khorana, who completed his PhD at the University of Liverpool in 1948, with a lecture theatre named in his honour. His original PhD manuscript was also displayed during the event.

Liverpool Football Club legend and University of Liverpool alumnus Robbie Fowler joined discussions on community impact and social development and met with representatives from Bengaluru’s Liverpool Supporters Club.

Research and industry collaboration explored
The opening included a showcase exhibiting the University of Liverpool’s long-standing research collaboration with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) and a new seed fund with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru.

University leaders signed new strategic agreements with the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bell Integration and Sai Life Sciences. They join a host of companies and organisations committed to exploring collaborations with the University of Liverpool Bengaluru, including Wipro Limited, TiE Bangalore, Axis Bank, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), YouWeCan, Dream11 and AstraZeneca.

These partnerships reinforce the University’s ambition to drive meaningful impact through research, innovation and knowledge exchange. By working closely with leading academic institutions, industry partners and organisations across sectors, the University aims to contribute to skills development, technological advancement and economic growth while strengthening collaboration between India and the UK.

Into the evening, the celebrations saw a symbolic ribbon cutting followed by music and cultural performances.

Hon’ble Shri D. K. Shivakumar, Chief Minister of Karnataka said, “The University of Liverpool Bengaluru campus is a fantastic addition to our thriving knowledge and innovation ecosystem, providing a world-class teaching and learning experience for students. The University has carefully considered the graduate-level skills required here in Karnataka and I have no doubt that the campus’ graduates will go on to enjoy highly successful careers.

“The University of Liverpool’s wider ambition to contribute economically, socially and culturally is also clear. They are building on strong foundations with existing long-standing research partnerships already delivering impactful outcomes and I look forward to seeing the positive wider impacts of the campus over the years to come.” 

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said, “Universities are one of the North of England’s greatest assets. They bring together some of our brightest minds, attract talent from around the world, help turn great ideas into real opportunities and create the businesses of tomorrow.

“This is a massive moment for the University of Liverpool and for our relationship with India. To see a university that means so much to our city opening a campus in Bengaluru is something to be proud of, and it gives us a real opportunity to build even stronger links between our two regions.

“India is a country with huge ambition, and there’s a lot we can achieve by working more closely together. From research and innovation to trade and investment, I want to make sure we’re building relationships that deliver real benefits for people and businesses back home.

“For me, this is what international partnerships should be about: opening doors, creating opportunities for the next generation and making sure Liverpool City Region is right in the mix as the world moves forward.”

Professor Tim Jones, Vice Chancellor of the University of Liverpool said, “We are incredibly proud to have officially opened our first international campus in over 20 years in Bengaluru and to have done so in such distinguished company. As a university community we are firmly committed to the places we call home and we look forward to working in partnership with fellow universities, industry and the not-for-profit sector to create positive impact for communities both locally and globally.

“We are delighted to have recruited close to 300 talented students to study our research-connected, employer-informed curricula this year. We have carefully planned all aspects of their learning experience to ensure they receive the support they need to reach their full potential, and I look forward to their matriculation ceremony tomorrow.”