University of Liverpool to open Bengaluru campus by 2026, becomes second Russell Group Institution to set up in India – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The University of Liverpool has received formal approval from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to establish its first overseas campus in Bengaluru, Karnataka on Monday. Scheduled to commence admissions by the 2026–27 academic year, the UK-based institution becomes the second member of the prestigious Russell Group to launch a campus in India, following the University of Southampton in Gurugram.The announcement was made in New Delhi, where union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan officially handed over the Letter of Intent (LoI) to the university’s leadership.Pradhan emphasised the significance of such collaborations in advancing India’s educational goals under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. “Today, India has over 40 million students in higher education across 1,200 universities and 50,000 colleges. Yet our Gross Enrolment Ratio remains around 27%. NEP aims to push this to 50%,” said Pradhan. “To achieve this, we need global partnerships. I hope Liverpool’s campus will not only serve Indian students but emerge as a truly global university.”The Bengaluru campus will offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in business management, accounting and finance, computer science, biomedical sciences, and game design — the latter a novel offering among UK institutions operating in India. The curriculum will align with global industry standards and feature mobility opportunities between India and the UK.The University of Liverpool’s expansion into India comes as part of a broader trend. According to Pradhan, 15 foreign universities are expected to establish campuses in India by 2025–26. Two Australian universities — Deakin and Wollongong—have already commenced operations in Gujarat’s GIFT City.The university’s vice-chancellor, Professor Tim Jones, welcomed the development, stating: “We are delighted to have received UGC’s approval to establish Bengaluru’s first international campus. Our aim is to offer an exceptional learning experience while embedding a strong research culture that serves both regional and global needs.”The campus will also serve as a hub for research, innovation, and industry collaboration. MoUs were signed at the launch with several organisations, including Wipro, AstraZeneca Pharma India, Dream11, and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, highlighting the university’s focus on integrating academic excellence with practical outcomes.Established in 1881, the University of Liverpool is known for its research-led teaching and global partnerships. It already has longstanding ties with India, particularly with institutions in Karnataka, such as the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). Its research contributions in collaboration with NIMHANS have informed World Health Organization guidelines, underscoring the depth of its engagement in the region.With the Bengaluru campus, Liverpool joins a growing roster of international institutions responding to India’s invitation to help reshape its higher education landscape.