University of Liverpool ties up with Wipro, others for its first Indian campus in Bengaluru

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, along with senior ministers, attended an event organised by the University of Liverpool — part of the UK's Russell Group — which announced its intent to open its first India campus in Bengaluru.

The University of Liverpool, which plans to open its first Indian campus in Bengaluru, has partnered with IT major Wipro Limited, TiE Bangalore, and Axis Bank to create industry-academic collaboration.

While university officials declined to reveal the exact location for the campus, sources said Azim Premji University and other places are being considered for the initial phase. The Karnataka government also offered land within the proposed 5,800-acre Knowledge, Wellbeing, and Innovation (KWIN) City, located between Dabaspet and Doddaballapur. However, the development of KWIN City is expected to take another two to three years.

Also, read: Karnataka plans KWIN City as education hub for premium institutions, global universities

The Bengaluru campus, scheduled to open in August 2026, will initially offer undergraduate programmes in Business Management, Accounting and Finance, Computer Science, Biomedical Sciences, and Game Design. Over the next decade, the university aims to accommodate up to 10,000 students.

“We started thinking seriously about an India campus around 18 months ago,” Professor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, told Moneycontrol. “The launch is scheduled for August 2026, and we’ll announce the location very soon.”

In addition to Wipro, Axis Bank, and TiE Bangalore, the university has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with AstraZeneca and is in talks with several other industry players. “Our goal is to align academia with sectors such as technology and life sciences. While we retain full control over the curriculum, we’re incorporating industry feedback to ensure it remains relevant,” Jones said.

“Employability is a major focus,” he added. “Our MoUs will provide students with access to internships, work placements, and guest lectures. Industry engagement will be embedded in our programmes from day one.”

Jones said the university plans to start with a modest intake, offering six or seven undergraduate programmes, and expand gradually. “Students will also have opportunities to study at the Liverpool campus for a term, a year, or more” he said.

He added that Bengaluru was a natural choice given the university’s long-standing partnerships with institutions such as NIMHANS and IISc, and its collaborations with companies like Hindustan Unilever. “We’ve had a 20-year research partnership with NIMHANS. The city’s vibrant tech and innovation ecosystem makes it an ideal base.”

The campus will reflect the university’s research-intensive ethos and include student accommodation. “Faculty will be a mix of Liverpool-based and locally hired educators, with the latter forming the majority — replicating our joint venture model in China (Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University), which currently serves 27,000 students,” he said.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said Liverpool University’s move reaffirms Karnataka’s status as a global knowledge hub. British Deputy High Commissioner Chandru Iyer called it a testament to deepening UK-India ties in technology, education, and green energy.

Industries Minister MB Patil said the initiative would strengthen academia-industry links and support MSMEs and startups. "I invite the University to explore KWIN City, our upcoming innovation hub, as a base for such partnerships. This is more than just a milestone—it's a strategic alliance to co-create the industries and talent of the future," said Patil.

Also, read: UK’s University of Liverpool Gets UGC Nod to Open First Foreign University Campus in Bengaluru by 2026