University of Liverpool to Open Bengaluru Campus: Second UK University in India

Overview

On May 26, 2025, the University of Liverpool became the second UK university to receive formal approval from India’s University Grants Commission (UGC) to establish a campus in India. The new campus, located in Bengaluru, Karnataka, marks a significant milestone in UK-India educational collaboration. The Letter of Intent (LoI) handover ceremony, held in New Delhi and presided over by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, underscores India’s commitment to globalizing its higher education system under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Key Details

• Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India’s tech and innovation hub.
• Timeline: Admissions expected to begin in August 2026.
• Programs: Undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Business, Finance, Computer Science, Biomedical Sciences, and a pioneering Game Design program.
• Significance: Second UK university campus in India, following the University of Southampton’s Gurugram campus (set to open in August 2025).
• Collaborations: Builds on existing partnerships with institutions like the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, NIMHANS, and industry leaders such as Unilever.

Strategic Importance

• NEP 2020 Alignment: The campus aligns with India’s goal to internationalize education, allowing top 500 globally ranked universities to operate autonomously.
• Bengaluru as a Hub: The choice of Bengaluru leverages the city’s status as a global tech and innovation center, fostering economic and educational impact.
• UK-India Ties: Strengthens academic and research collaboration between the two nations, with the UK leading the way in transnational education in India.

Leadership Statements

• Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor, University of Liverpool: “This vision has become a reality with unwavering support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose commitment to promoting high-quality higher education continues to inspire us.”
• Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Education Minister: “India jumped from 81st to 39th in research, but we need to jump further. The UK has always favored Indian students, and I am happy to hand over the MoU.”

Broader Context

The University of Liverpool is the fourth foreign university to announce its India campus, following the University of Southampton (UK), Illinois Institute of Technology (USA), and others. By the 2025 academic session, around 15 foreign universities are expected to establish campuses in India, focusing on STEM and business disciplines. This initiative is set to enhance access to world-class education, reduce barriers for Indian students, and position India as a global education hub.