University of Liverpool opens first South India campus in Bengaluru

The University of Liverpool inaugurated its first campus in South India in Bengaluru on Thursday, with nearly 300 students beginning their studies there, news agency Press Trust of India reported.

The Bengaluru campus will initially offer programmes in Computer Science, Game Design, Business Management, Accounting and Finance, and Biomedical Sciences.

The campus, located at Alembic City in Whitefield, was jointly inaugurated by Karnataka Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil, University of Liverpool Vice-Chancellor Tim Jones, Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram, British Deputy High Commissioner to Karnataka Harsh Vardhan Shringla and British Council of India Country Head Alison Barrett, officials told PTI.

Patil said the idea of setting up the campus took shape during discussions with the Russell Group of universities when he visited London in November 2024. The visit was aimed at attracting investment in Karnataka's research, higher education and industrial sectors through a roadshow.

He said the Bengaluru campus had been established in a remarkably short period, setting a record. The initiative would allow young people in Karnataka to pursue globally recognised courses and earn degrees without leaving the state, he added.

Patil also recalled the contributions of former British Deputy High Commissioner Chandru Iyer, Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Tariq Ali and others who helped establish the campus.

According to a statement from the minister's office, Karnataka has 2.7 million students pursuing higher education across 4,500 colleges and produces 160,000 engineering graduates every year. The state also has more than 24,000 start-ups and over 50 unicorn companies.

Patil urged the University of Liverpool to build partnerships with these institutions and enterprises. "Such collaborations would strengthen the links between education, research, innovation and industry," he said.

He said Karnataka offered significant opportunities for collaborative research and innovation in artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, clean energy, urban innovation and sustainable development. Such initiatives would benefit the state's industrial ecosystem, making it essential to build strong capabilities in these areas, he added.

'OVER 14 UNIVERSITIES EXPRESSED INTEREST'

More than 14 universities from different countries have expressed interest in setting up campuses in Karnataka, according to Patil. Leading institutions from Karnataka and elsewhere in India have also shown interest and signed agreements.

"The campuses and research laboratories of these institutions are expected to come up in KWIN City in the coming years. The government will provide the necessary support and facilities to institutions interested in establishing a presence in the state," Patil said.

Jones said, "We are incredibly proud to have officially opened our first international campus in over 20 years in Bengaluru and to have done so in such distinguished company."

"We are delighted to have recruited close to 300 talented students to study our research-connected, employer-informed curricula this year. We have carefully planned all aspects of their learning experience to ensure they receive the support they need to reach their full potential, and I look forward to their matriculation ceremony tomorrow," he told PTI.

The inauguration marked the opening of the University of Liverpool's first South India campus and the start of classes for its inaugural group of nearly 300 students in Bengaluru.