The University of Liverpool has received formal approval from the University Grants Commission to establish its first overseas campus in Bengaluru, Karnataka. This initiative marks a significant milestone in India’s higher education sector, aligning with the National Education Policy 2020’s vision to internationalize education and provide students with access to world-class academic opportunities within the country.

Scheduled to commence operations in August 2026, the Bengaluru campus will offer a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs, including business management, accounting and finance, computer science, biomedical sciences, and game design. This development positions the University of Liverpool as the second institution from the prestigious Russell Group to establish a presence in India, following the University of Southampton’s campus in Gurugram.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, during the formal handover of the Letter of Intent (LoI) to the university’s administration, emphasized the significance of this collaboration. He stated that the establishment of the University of Liverpool’s campus in Bengaluru would “push the boundaries of research and innovation and foster a scientific temper for contributing to global welfare and prosperity.”

The University of Liverpool’s decision to expand into India is bolstered by its existing partnerships with prominent Indian institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru. These collaborations have laid a strong foundation for the university’s engagement with India’s academic and research communities.

Professor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, expressed enthusiasm about the new venture, stating, “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.”

The establishment of the University of Liverpool’s campus in Bengaluru is part of a broader trend of international universities setting up operations in India. The UGC has approved campuses for five foreign universities, including the Illinois Institute of Technology (USA), Victoria University (Australia), Western Sydney University (Australia), and Istituto Europeo di Design (Italy). These initiatives aim to enhance the Indian academic landscape by integrating global educational standards and providing students with greater access to world-class education domestically.

As India continues to position itself as a hub for global education, the University of Liverpool’s Bengaluru campus represents a significant step towards achieving this goal. By offering high-quality programs and fostering research collaborations, the university aims to contribute to the development of a robust and internationally competitive higher education ecosystem in India.