Liverpool’s Bengaluru Campus to Enroll 10,000 Students by 2036, Starting 2026: Prof. Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor

In a detailed conversation with Shiksha.com, Vice-Chancellor Professor Tim Jones speaks about the strategic choice of Bengaluru, deep-rooted collaborations with institutions like NIMHANS and IISc, plans for faculty hiring, a global student intake, and the university’s long-term vision.

As India opens its doors to top global universities under its new internationalization drive, the University of Liverpool is set to become one of the first UK institutions to establish a fully-fledged campus in the country. Slated to commence operations in Bengaluru by August 2026, the new campus will initially offer programmes in computer science, business, biomedical sciences, and more. In a detailed conversation with Shiksha.com, Vice-Chancellor Professor Tim Jones speaks about the strategic choice of Bengaluru, deep-rooted collaborations with institutions like NIMHANS and IISc, plans for faculty hiring, a global student intake, and the university’s long-term vision to scale the campus to 10,000 students—drawing on lessons from its highly successful joint venture in China.

Q. To begin with, could you give us a brief overview of the upcoming campus in Bengaluru?

Prof. Tim Jones: Yes, of course. The campus is scheduled to open in August 2026, in time for the 2026–27 academic year.

We chose Bengaluru because we already have strong collaborations in the region. For instance, we’ve had a 20-year research partnership with NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences). We also collaborate with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in the biosciences and life sciences fields, and we work with Hindustan Unilever, one of India’s major corporates. So, establishing our campus there is a natural progression.

Initially, we will launch with a relatively small number of degree programmes, but we plan to expand over time.

Q. What will be the initial programmes offered? Will they be at the undergraduate or postgraduate level?

Prof. Tim Jones: We’ll offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The initial portfolio will include courses in computer science, artificial intelligence, data science, business management, accounting and finance, biomedical sciences, and games design. We’ll continue to broaden the range of courses as the campus develops.

Q. Will faculty be from the UK campus or hired locally?

Prof. Tim Jones: Both. Some of our faculty from Liverpool will teach at the Bengaluru campus, but we’ll also recruit local academic staff. Over time, the majority of the faculty will be locally hired, which is the right approach. However, we’ll always maintain a core presence of faculty from the University of Liverpool as well.

 Q. Will it be a residential campus?

Prof. Tim Jones: That depends on the students. For those living nearby, on-campus accommodation may not be necessary. But yes, there will be student housing available for those who need it.

Q. How will admissions be conducted?

Prof. Tim Jones: We will announce the detailed admission criteria over the coming weeks and months. Applicants will have all the information they need well before applications open for the 2026 intake.

Q. Will the fee structure be aligned with Indian universities or closer to what you charge in the UK?

Prof. Tim Jones: That’s still under consideration. We’ll finalise and announce the fee structure soon.

Q. Many foreign universities are now setting up campuses in India. How do you view this opportunity?

Prof. Tim Jones: For us, this is a part of our global vision. We’re a global university and want to strengthen our presence in India.

For nearly 20 years, we’ve run a major international campus in China—Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU)—which now has 27,000 students. It’s widely considered one of the most successful international joint venture campuses in the world. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved there and would like to build something equally impactful in India.

Of course, the context in India is different from China, so the model will be different. But our goal is to grow the Bengaluru campus to around 10,000 students over the next decade. We also look forward to collaborating with other Indian and international institutions that are establishing campuses here.

Q. Will scholarships be offered to students?

Prof. Tim Jones: Yes, we intend to offer scholarships, but the details will be shared in due course.

Q. Given the recent developments in international student mobility—such as changes in U.S. policies and student sentiment—do you see this as an advantage for the UK and for institutions like the University of Liverpool?

Prof. Tim Jones: While I’m no expert in geopolitics, what I can say is that the University of Liverpool warmly welcomes international students. Around 25% of our student population in Liverpool comes from outside the UK. We are currently the second-largest recruiter of Indian students among UK universities, especially for postgraduate courses.

So yes, I do believe there are significant opportunities. As we establish our campus in Bengaluru, we aim to attract not only Indian students but a global cohort. We want the campus to be a vibrant, multicultural space, which is essential to building a world-class academic environment.

Q. So the Bengaluru campus will also host international students?

Prof. Tim Jones: Absolutely. While we expect Indian students to make up the majority, the campus is open to talented students from across the globe. We want students from diverse backgrounds and countries—it’s that mix that fosters innovation and creates great universities.

Read More:

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• University of Liverpool announces Campus in Bengaluru; To commence Academic Session by 2026