International study should count towards degree, says minister

More students should gain recognition for study abroad, and British universities should be encouraged to 'develop a presence' overseas, according to the Universities Minister David Willetts.

Speaking at a Westminster Education Forum, Mr Willetts said: 'I would like to see British universities ...  able to raise enough funds to set up more operations abroad.

'I would like to see greater mutual recognition of qualifications so that a student born in Britain can build up credits for a British degree while studying abroad.'

If this were to happen many more students could be working towards their degree while studying at a foreign university or an overseas campus of an English institution.

Martin Davidson, chief executive of the British Council, said the reality of globalisation was that education was borderless.

Consult the Complete University Guide's Overseas pages for lots of useful information about studying abroad.

More on this story from the BBC website