New Delhi: The University of Liverpool has been officially approved by the Indian Ministry of Education to establish a campus in Bengaluru, marking a major milestone in UK-India education collaboration. The announcement was made at an event in New Delhi on Monday, signalling the first time the UK-based Russell Group university will open an international branch in India.

Set to welcome its first batch of undergraduate and postgraduate students in August 2026, the Bengaluru campus will offer a range of programmes including Business Management, Accounting and Finance, Computer Science, Biomedical Sciences, and Game Design—the latter being a first-of-its-kind offering from a UK university operating in India.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Tim Jones said the university was proud to receive the green light from the University Grants Commission to set up Bengaluru’s first international university campus. “The Indian government’s vision to significantly expand access to higher education is bold and inspiring, and we are pleased to be part of that journey,” he stated.

Jones added that the move builds upon the University of Liverpool’s longstanding academic relationships in Karnataka, particularly its over two-decade-long research partnership with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS). That collaboration notably contributed to the World Health Organisation’s vaccine policy on Japanese Encephalitis, saving more than 200,000 lives.

The university also keeps close ties to firms like Hindustan Unilever and the Indian Institute of Science. University leaders also inked agreements exploring academic and research partnerships with companies including AstraZeneca Pharma India, Dream11, YouWeCan, and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists during the event. Wipro and Axis Bank are expected to follow with formal MoUs during an upcoming event in Bengaluru.

The facility is a "landmark achievement" that will strengthen intellectual links between the two countries, according to Lindy Cameron, the British High Commissioner to India. The move is in line with India's National Education Policy 2020, which promotes the internationalisation of higher education, according to Alison Barrett MBE, Country Director India at the British Council.

With its sights set on becoming a hub for high-impact research and learning in South Asia, the University of Liverpool’s Bengaluru campus is poised to offer Indian students a global education experience without having to leave home.