The University of Liverpool officially opened its Bengaluru campus , marking a new milestone in India–UK higher education collaboration. Located at Alembic City in Whitefield, the campus is the university’s first in South India and the first Russell Group university campus in Karnataka.

Nearly 300 students have joined the inaugural cohort, beginning studies across five subject areas: Computer Science, Game Design, Business Management, Accounting and Finance, and Biomedical Sciences. The campus brings UK university programmes to students in India and supports industry engagement and research.

The purpose-built facility includes smart classrooms, research and innovation spaces, collaboration hubs, specialised laboratories and access to Bloomberg terminals. The university says its programmes combine academic learning with practical application, critical thinking and interdisciplinary collaboration to build employment-relevant skills.Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar welcomed the campus as an addition to the state’s education and innovation ecosystem.

“The University of Liverpool Bengaluru campus is a fantastic addition to our thriving knowledge and innovation ecosystem, providing a world-class teaching and learning experience for students”

He added that the university had considered the graduate-level skills needed in Karnataka and expressed confidence that graduates would build successful careers.University of Liverpool Vice-Chancellor Professor Tim Jones said the opening marked the institution’s first international campus in more than 20 years.

“We are delighted to have recruited close to 300 talented students to study our research-connected, employer-informed curricula this year,” adding that the university had planned the learning experience to support students in reaching their potential.

Research partnerships are central to the campus’s plans. The opening highlighted the university’s long-standing collaboration with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) and a new seed fund with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. The university also signed strategic agreements with the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bell Integration and Sai Life Sciences to explore collaboration in research, innovation and knowledge exchange.

These agreements join developing links with organisations including Wipro, TiE Bangalore, Axis Bank, AstraZeneca, Dream11 and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. The university said these partnerships would support skills development and connect research with practical challenges.

The inauguration also recognised historic links between Liverpool and India. A lecture theatre has been named after Nobel laureate Har Gobind Khorana, who completed his PhD at the University of Liverpool in 1948. His original doctoral manuscript was displayed during the celebrations.

The opening coincided with a visit by Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram and a trade mission focused on strengthening links with India. Discussions considered opportunities for cooperation in research, innovation, trade and investment following the India–UK Free Trade Agreement.

The Bengaluru campus gives students access to an international university experience without initially having to relocate to the United Kingdom. Its longer-term impact will depend on teaching quality, outcomes and partnerships across India. For the university, the opening establishes a new base for education and research collaboration in one of India’s major technology and business centres, creating opportunities for students across southern India.