University of Manchester Plans Bengaluru India Centre

BENGALURU: The University of Manchester has announced plans to open a major new centre for education, research and innovation in Bengaluru, its first permanent base in India, aimed at helping Indian students find jobs and internships back home. The announcement was made on October 15 during the first-ever Great North Mayoral Mission to India, which brought universities, businesses and civic leaders from northern England to the country from October 12 to 16. The mission, led by mayors from northern England, is the first coordinated push of its kind to build education and business ties with India.

Vice-Chancellor Duncan Ivison, who was in Bengaluru for the mission, told The Hindu that the proposed University of Manchester centre would "facilitate the academic journey for aspiring Indian students" to study at the UK campus. "We also aim to help those currently studying at our university find jobs and internships back in India," he said, adding that the centre would build connections with industry partners, educational institutions and government bodies.

What the University of Manchester Bengaluru Centre Will Do

The Bengaluru centre will build on the university's Partner-Enabled Learning model, which weaves real-world work experience into degree programmes through internships, work placements and industry-led projects. The University of Manchester already has relationships with leading Indian businesses including Reliance, Tata and Infosys, and the new base is expected to deepen those ties while creating fresh openings for students and researchers. Ivison said the university also wants to connect students who aspire to be entrepreneurs with people who can fund their start-ups. The PEL approach embeds credit-bearing projects and micro-internships with employers, public bodies and community organisations into degree programmes, aiming to close skills gaps before graduation. University officials say the centre will adapt that template to Indian industry needs, with projects co-designed by local partners.

Indian Students Jobs Link Gets Stronger

For Indian students, the jobs angle is the centre's biggest draw. Engineering, computer science and business studies are the most popular courses among Indians at Manchester, followed by social sciences and humanities programmes. Ivison noted that of the university's 50,000 students, about one-third already have some form of work experience or an internship, or run a business — a culture the Bengaluru centre aims to extend to India returnees. The university has existing centres in China, Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong; the Indian students jobs push, backed by the University of Manchester, marks its first structured attempt to place graduates within India's own labour market. Returnees, the university hopes, will carry those employer links into Indian workplaces, strengthening an alumni network that already spans Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.

Why the University of Manchester Chose Bengaluru

The announcement reflects a broader UK universities India push, as British institutions compete for Indian students amid tightening immigration debates abroad. The UK universities India race is intensifying, and early movers are betting that a physical presence will matter more than marketing. Bengaluru was chosen for its dense network of universities, research institutes and technology firms. Alongside the centre, the University of Manchester is also planning a museum in the city in partnership with the Science Gallery Bengaluru, bringing art, culture and STEM education together for students and researchers.

University officials say the new base will provide a permanent platform to deepen engagement with one of the world's most dynamic education and innovation ecosystems. For the University of Manchester, the bet is clear: India's students are not just a recruitment pool but a bridge — and whether the University of Manchester centre opens on schedule, helping them find work at home may be the strongest pitch of all.