Prestigious UK University Brings World-Class Education to India's Tech Capital
In a significant development for India's higher education landscape, the University of Liverpool has announced it will establish its India campus in Bengaluru's Whitefield area by September 2026. The prestigious UK-based institution aims to make international education more accessible by offering identical UK degrees at less than half the cost charged at its home campus.
Lucy Everest, Chief Operating Officer at the University of Liverpool, confirmed the exciting news in an exclusive interview, revealing that the campus will welcome its first cohort of approximately 250 students in 2026. "They will really be our very special year one cohort that we'll look after very well," Everest emphasized, highlighting the personalized attention inaugural students will receive.
Strategic Location in India's Technology Hub
The chosen location in Alembic City, Whitefield represents a strategic decision to embed the university within Bengaluru's thriving technology ecosystem. The campus is being developed in a converted glass factory complex that will also house Google's new building, scheduled to open in autumn 2026.
Everest described Bengaluru as "the world's tech capital" and explained that the city's global connectivity and concentration of multinational companies made it the ideal choice. The location will enable the university to create "interactive immersive tech enabled classrooms" mirroring the facilities available at their UK campus.
The university will offer six undergraduate programs and two postgraduate courses spanning computer science, business management, accounting and finance, game design, and biomedical sciences. The biomedical science program is particularly noteworthy, featuring comprehensive laboratory facilities and deep collaborations with industry and research companies.
Identical UK Degrees at Affordable Costs
One of the most compelling aspects of this initiative is the cost advantage for Indian students. Everest confirmed that fees will be "under half of the fee that you would typically pay in the UK," with the lower cost of living in India making this financially viable. The degree certificates awarded will be identical to those received by students at the Liverpool campus, providing graduates access to the university's global alumni network.
The curriculum will mirror what's taught in the UK, delivered by an international faculty comprising both Indian and UK academics working collaboratively. The university has tailored its application process to suit the Indian market, accepting qualifications from various examination boards including Cambridge, IGCSE, and CBSE.
Industry Integration and Career Opportunities
The Bengaluru campus will emphasize industry-integrated learning rather than conventional lecture-based formats. The game design course directly caters to the city's growing gaming industry, while the biomedical science program targets pharmaceutical companies based in Bengaluru.
Regarding placement opportunities, Everest revealed that the university plans to leverage existing relationships with multinational companies like Hindustan Unilever, with whom they already partner in the UK and Europe. "We offer probably a wider range of embedded industry opportunities for students and we plan to offer those here as well," she stated.
Student mobility options will include exchange opportunities during their studies, which Everest noted could appeal to parents who prefer their children to study locally initially before potentially progressing to the UK later.
Faculty Recruitment and Scholarship Programs
The university has begun the process of hiring academic staff with a focus on candidates who have PhDs from international institutes or demonstrate high standing in India. Faculty selection criteria include evidence of "global research and teaching collaborations" and strong industry engagement experience.
To ensure diversity in the first student cohort, the university will offer both merit-based and needs-based scholarships, with detailed information to be released in due course. Residential quarters will be added as student numbers grow in subsequent years.
Construction progress is reportedly on schedule for the September 2026 launch, with the university planning to begin campus tours from March-April 2026. Online applications are currently ongoing through the university's website, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in international education accessibility in India.
