University of Liverpool UK to open first international campus in Bengaluru, admissions start 2026

In a significant development for India’s higher education sector, the University of Liverpool is set to establish its first international campus in Bengaluru, with the inaugural batch of students expected in August 2026.

The announcement was made on May 26 by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who formally handed over the Letter of Intent to the university's leadership.

The University of Liverpool, a member of the UK’s elite Russell Group, recently received the green light from the University Grants Commission (UGC), making it the first foreign university to open a campus in Bengaluru.

“Delighted to hand over the Letter of Intent to the University of Liverpool, one of the UK's premier academic institutions, for setting up a campus in India. Today's development is another milestone in India's journey of deepening academic partnerships with leading global universities and also a reaffirmation of India's emergence as a trusted partner in global higher education,” said Pradhan during the ceremony.

He added, “The University of Liverpool is the fourth foreign university to publicly announce its presence in India. This is just a beginning. By this academic year, 15 foreign universities will be coming to India, especially in STEM. I am confident Liverpool's campus in Bengaluru will be a global campus that will push the boundaries of research and innovation and foster scientific temper for contributing to global welfare and prosperity.”

The Bengaluru campus will launch with undergraduate and postgraduate programs in business management, accounting and finance, computer science, and biomedical sciences.

It will also feature a course in game design — a first-of-its-kind offering by a UK university in India.

The new campus aims to strengthen global academic ties by offering study-abroad opportunities for UK-based students, positioning Bengaluru as an emerging hub for international education.

As part of its India expansion, University of Liverpool senior leadership also signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with a diverse set of Indian and international organizations, including the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited, Wipro Limited, YouWeCan, and Dream11.

“We are delighted to have received approval from the University Grants Commission to open Bengaluru’s first international campus. 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,” said Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool.

He continued, “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.”