UK’s College of Liverpool is coming to Bengaluru: VC Tim Jones shares what’s forward for Indian college students

In a landmark improvement for India’s greater training sector, the College of Liverpool has acquired formal approval from the College Grants Fee (UGC) to open the nation’s first overseas college campus in Bengaluru. The announcement was made at an occasion attended by Union Training Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday, 26 Could.
A part of the UK’s prestigious Russell Group, the College of Liverpool will welcome its first batch of undergraduate and postgraduate college students in August 2026. Chatting with HT Digital on the launch occasion, Vice-Chancellor Professor Tim Jones shared the imaginative and prescient behind the initiative, what Indian college students can count on, and the way the brand new campus suits into the college’s international enlargement plans.
What motivated the College of Liverpool to ascertain a partnership with India, significantly in Bengaluru?
We’re a worldwide college, and forming worldwide partnerships is integral to our DNA and technique. We have had an abroad campus in China—XJTLU—for practically 20 years, which now serves 27,000 college students. So, we’ve a confirmed monitor file of launching and sustaining profitable worldwide campuses.
In India, we have been deepening collaborations, particularly in analysis, with a number of establishments over time. The College of Liverpool can also be one of many largest recruiters of Indian college students amongst Russell Group universities, with round 1,000 postgraduates enrolling yearly.
With latest coverage modifications enabling worldwide universities to ascertain campuses in India, we noticed an excellent alternative to strengthen our footprint. Bengaluru was a pure alternative as a consequence of our current partnerships and town’s dynamic ecosystem.
How does this initiative align together with your Imaginative and prescient 2031 technique?
Imaginative and prescient 2031 marks our a hundred and fiftieth anniversary, and our ambition is to turn out to be a High 100 international college by then. Worldwide partnerships—whether or not in analysis, training, or educational collaborations—are key pillars of that technique.
India, with its vibrant financial system and demographic benefit, presents immense potential. Our elevated engagement right here helps our globalisation objectives and opens actual alternatives for impactful collaborations.
How will the brand new campus contribute to the area’s improvement?
Bengaluru stood out as a result of lots of our current collaborations are based mostly right here, resembling with IISc, NIMHANS, and corporations like Unilever. It is a tech-driven metropolis with a big, younger inhabitants in search of high quality training.
We have now robust strengths in science, engineering, life sciences, and medication—disciplines that align nicely with town’s wants. By working with native industries, we goal to equip college students with related abilities, help job placements, and contribute to fixing real-world challenges via analysis.
Educational Choices and Construction
Might you elaborate on the character and scope of the Letter of Intent?
The Letter of Intent lays the groundwork for our Bengaluru campus, which is able to open in August 2026 and start educating in September. We goal to develop the campus to 10,000 college students inside 10 years.
Preliminary programmes will embody laptop science, knowledge and AI, enterprise administration, accounting and finance, biomedical sciences, and sport design. These will mirror what we provide in Liverpool however be tailor-made to native trade calls for.
Will the curriculum be equivalent to that in Liverpool?
Sure, the curriculum will preserve the identical educational requirements, with contextualisation to go well with the Indian and regional ecosystem.
What about school—will they be from Liverpool or recruited regionally?
Will probably be a hybrid mannequin. Just a few school members will come from Liverpool, however the majority can be recruited regionally. All school will meet our excessive educational requirements.
Will native school obtain coaching to match Liverpool’s educating requirements?
Completely. Simply as we do in Liverpool, we’ll implement a complete coaching programme. A Provost will lead the Bengaluru campus and oversee school recruitment, coaching, and high quality assurance.
Will there be dual-degree choices or pupil trade alternatives?
Sure. We intend to supply versatile pathways, together with alternatives for college students to spend a part of their course at our Liverpool campus. This has labored nicely at our China campus, and we goal to copy it right here.
So, pupil transfers between campuses can be attainable?
Sure, pupil mobility is a key a part of our international training mannequin.
Will the Bengaluru campus welcome worldwide college students too?
Whereas most college students are anticipated to be from India, we envision this as a worldwide campus. Range is vital to us, and we goal to draw college students from completely different components of the world.
How do you intend to help a various pupil physique?
We have now expertise doing this globally—whether or not in Liverpool or in China. The Provost can even be chargeable for fostering an inclusive and welcoming surroundings for all college students.
Alternatives for Indian College students
What benefits will Indian college students achieve by enrolling on the Bengaluru campus?
They’ll entry a world-class, research-intensive training at a extra inexpensive value. The diploma can be equivalent to what college students obtain in Liverpool, and we’ll supply robust trade linkages, internships, and analysis alternatives.
Will college students in Bengaluru be related to Liverpool’s analysis ecosystem?
Sure. The 2 campuses can be deeply built-in. School and researchers will collaborate throughout places, and Bengaluru will turn out to be a hub for joint analysis actions.
Will there be a distinction in payment buildings between the 2 campuses?
Sure, charges in Bengaluru will replicate native financial situations. The complete payment construction can be introduced quickly.
Are there plans to collaborate with Indian analysis establishments?
Undoubtedly. We’re already working with IISc, NIMHANS, AIIMS, and corporations like Unilever. We’ll proceed increasing these collaborations throughout disciplines.
What internship and placement alternatives can be accessible?
Employability is a high precedence. We’ll leverage our Liverpool expertise to supply internships, placements, and trade publicity. We’ve signed MoUs with a number of organisations and can construct a powerful help system for pupil careers.
Trying Forward: Amenities, Development and Scholarships
What’s your five-year imaginative and prescient for the campus?
We count on to have 5,000 college students by 2030, increasing to 10,000 by 2036. We’ll supply a variety of programmes, collaborate intently with trade and academia, and create a globally related, thriving training and analysis surroundings in Bengaluru.
What amenities can college students count on on the campus?
The campus will characteristic fashionable educational buildings, analysis centres, pupil residences, and important facilities. It’ll have the look, really feel, and educational rigour of our Liverpool campus. Extra particulars can be shared quickly.
Will scholarships be accessible, particularly contemplating affordability considerations in India?
Sure, we plan to supply scholarships. Specifics can be introduced nicely earlier than admissions open so college students can plan forward.