Liverpool Mayor Opens University of Liverpool Bengaluru Campus 2026

Key Points

• Steve Rotheram, the Mayor of Liverpool City Region, has formally opened the University of Liverpool Bengaluru Campus in Karnataka State, India.
• The opening took place on 15 October 2026 and this is the first Russell Group university campus in Karnataka.
• Almost 300 students enrolled in the first batch.
• This campus is situated at Alembic City, Whitefield, Bengaluru.
• Some of the initial courses available are Computer Science, Game Design, Business Management, Accounting and Finance, and Biomedical Sciences.
• According to Business Standard, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tim Jones said that the university plans to enroll up to 10,000 students within 10 years.
• The opening ceremony witnessed Joint Declaration of Intent between Greater Bengaluru Authority and Liverpool City Region.
• Some of the new strategic partnerships signed were with National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bell Integration and Sai Life Sciences.
• Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar, Industries Minister M. B. Patil, Robbie Fowler, British Deputy Commissioner Harshbir Sangha and British Council India Director Alison Barrett were some of the key persons associated with this event.
• The University of Liverpool got India’s Letter of Approval for operating the branch campus after receiving Letter of Intent in May 2025.

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) October 16, 2026 — Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram has formally opened the University of Liverpool’s new Bengaluru campus, marking the university’s first international campus in more than 20 years and making it the first Russell Group university to establish a campus in Karnataka.

As reported by The PIE News, Rotheram celebrated the opening of the University of Liverpool’s Bengaluru campus in a video marking the development. The university said the campus began operating with nearly 300 students in its first cohort, based at Alembic City in Whitefield.

What Did Steve Rotheram Say About the Bengaluru Campus?

Rotheram described the opening as a significant moment for both the University of Liverpool and the Liverpool City Region’s relationship with India. As reported by the University of Liverpool, he said: “This is a massive moment for the University of Liverpool and for our relationship with India.”

He said universities were among the North of England’s greatest assets because they attracted global talent, developed ideas and helped create future businesses.

“To see a university that means so much to our city opening a campus in Bengaluru is something to be proud of, and it gives us a real opportunity to build even stronger links between our two regions,” Rotheram said, according to the University of Liverpool.

He added that India’s ambition created opportunities for closer cooperation in research, innovation, trade and investment, saying he wanted such relationships to deliver benefits for people and businesses in the Liverpool City Region.

Why Is the Bengaluru Campus Significant?

The University of Liverpool said the Bengaluru campus is its first international campus in more than 20 years. It is also the first Russell Group university campus in Karnataka, according to the university’s announcement.

The campus is located in Alembic City, Whitefield, and includes smart classrooms, research and innovation spaces, collaboration hubs, specialised laboratories and Bloomberg terminals.

The university said its programmes are designed to combine academic study with industry engagement, practical learning and global exposure.

Which Courses Are Available at the Campus?

The initial portfolio includes Computer Science, Game Design, Business Management, Accounting and Finance, and Biomedical Sciences.

Business Standard reported that the campus opened with six undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, listing software development alongside the subjects named by the university. The publication said Biomedical Sciences was the most popular programme in the first cohort, reflecting Bengaluru’s life-sciences sector.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Tim Jones told Business Standard that the university planned to add two or three courses each year and that psychology was among the subjects being considered, although no final decision had been made.

How Many Students Has the Campus Enrolled?

The University of Liverpool said nearly 300 students had commenced studies at the Bengaluru campus. Professor Jones said the university had recruited close to 300 “talented students” for the first year.

Business Standard reported that about half of the first cohort were from Karnataka, while students had joined from 21 Indian states. It also reported that nearly 12 international students from around 11 countries had enrolled.

Professor Jones told Business Standard: “Our aim is to have 10,000 students in 10 years. So we start with 300, and that’s the growth trajectory.”

What Agreements Were Signed at the Opening?

The University of Liverpool said the opening included a Joint Declaration of Intent between Shilpa Nag, Special Commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority, and Tim Games, Executive Director for Investment and Delivery of Liverpool City Region.

The university said the declaration was intended to build collaboration between the two regions. An economic panel also discussed growth opportunities following the India-UK Free Trade Agreement.

New strategic agreements were signed with the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bell Integration and Sai Life Sciences. The university said organisations including Wipro Limited, TiE Bangalore, Axis Bank, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, YouWeCan, Dream11 and AstraZeneca were among those exploring collaborations.

Who Attended the Opening Ceremony?

The University of Liverpool said the event was attended by Karnataka Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development M. B. Patil, Mayor Steve Rotheram and former Liverpool FC player and university alumnus Robbie Fowler.

Other attendees included Harshbir Sangha, British Deputy Commissioner to Karnataka, and Alison Barrett, Director of the British Council India.

Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar said the campus was a “fantastic addition” to the state’s knowledge and innovation ecosystem. He said the university had considered the graduate-level skills needed in Karnataka and expressed confidence that its graduates would build successful careers.

What Research Links Were Highlighted?

The university said the opening showcased its long-standing research collaboration with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences and a new seed fund with the Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru.

Professor Jones told Business Standard that Bengaluru was chosen because of its technology and life-sciences ecosystem, as well as the university’s existing research relationships with NIMHANS and IISc.

He said the university also wanted to develop further research links with Indian institutions and companies.

How Does the Campus Connect Liverpool and Bengaluru?

The opening also highlighted historical and cultural connections between Liverpool and India. The University of Liverpool said a lecture theatre was named after Indian-born Nobel laureate Professor Har Gobind Khorana, who completed his PhD at the university in 1948.

His original PhD manuscript was displayed during the event.

Robbie Fowler joined discussions on community impact and social development and met representatives from Bengaluru’s Liverpool Supporters Club.

What Is the Background of the Development?

The University of Liverpool announced plans for its first international campus in Bengaluru in May 2025. India’s Ministry of Education handed the university a Letter of Intent on 26 May 2025 under the University Grants Commission’s regulations for foreign higher education institutions operating campuses in India.

The university later announced Alembic City in Whitefield as the campus location ahead of its planned 2026 opening. A ground-breaking ceremony was held at the site in December 2025.

India’s Press Information Bureau said the Ministry of Education subsequently issued a Letter of Approval to the University of Liverpool, allowing it to begin operations after an assessment of its readiness and compliance with the regulations.

The opening followed Liverpool City Region’s first trade mission to India, which the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said was intended to promote investment, jobs and trade following the new UK-India Free Trade Agreement.

How Could This Affect Students and UK-India Education?

For prospective students in Karnataka and elsewhere in India, the campus provides an opportunity to study for a University of Liverpool degree without relocating to the UK. The Economic Times reported that Karnataka Industries Minister M. B. Patil said the campus would allow local students to pursue international degrees without leaving the state.

For students already enrolled, the university said it planned opportunities for semester placements at its Liverpool campus, while also encouraging more British students to study in India.

For employers in Bengaluru, the university’s partnerships with companies and research institutions could create additional routes for internships, placements and industry-led teaching. Business Standard reported that Professor Jones said agreements had been signed to support internships, placements and industry exposure, with industry professionals also expected to teach students.

For the Liverpool City Region, the development may strengthen academic, cultural and business links with Bengaluru. Rotheram said he wanted the partnership to create opportunities for the next generation and ensure Liverpool City Region was “right in the mix” as the world moved forward.