Students will be able to enrol onto four different programmes from September this year, which will allow them to “progress seamlessly” to a degree at Gloucestershire.

The joint venture will offer international students courses in business, management and law; accounting and information systems; hospitality, events and tourism; and art, design and media.

It is hoped that the arrangement will “transform international student recruitment at the university,” according to a statement from Gloucestershire, which has a £21 million historic debt.

INTO’s offices across the world will “promote the university’s entire range of degrees to a global audience,” it continues.

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The firm has a number of partnerships with other UK universities in which it offers pre-degree pathways to international students.

According to figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, the number of students accepted at Gloucestershire in 2012 was 2,215, down from 2,403 the previous year.

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In the statement, the university’s vice-chancellor, Stephen Marston, said that the partnership would allow the university to achieve its “strategic goal of expanding our student numbers in a way that capitalises on the university’s strengths in excellent teaching, the wider student experience we offer, and our attractive location”.

Andrew Colin, chairman of INTO, said: “We are delighted to welcome the University of Gloucestershire to the INTO family. Its well-earned reputation for delivering remarkable student experiences and the innovative range of degree programmes are enormously attractive to international students.”

david.matthews@tsleducation.com