UK e-Universities Worldwide (UKeU) is a joint initiative between the UK Government, 12 universities and private industry.

The company has £62m of funding from the government and has created a set of online courses for students around the globe.

Undergraduate, post-graduate and life-long learning courses will be offered in subjects such as English language, science and technology and business.

There is also an ongoing project with three Chinese universities to offer teacher training resources online.

Hot topic

It opens up new opportunities that aren't possible by traditional delivery John Beaumont, UKeU

Initially the courses will be offered by Cambridge University, the University of York and Sheffield Hallam University.

"It will attract students that recognise the quality of a UK education but cannot access it," said Chief Executive of UKeU John Beaumont.

Students can complete some of the courses wholly online while others require them to take a traditional exam in a location near to their homes.

Study seminars can be held as online chats with tutors monitoring individual input to such discussions.

E-learning is a hot topic in the UK at the moment with schools being encouraged to adopt a digital curriculum and the BBC recently winning a lucrative contract to supply resources for online learning.

Mr Beaumont believes that online learning can play a crucial role in education.

"It opens up new opportunities that aren't possible by traditional delivery," he told the BBC programme Go Digital.

"If the courses are well designed and well supported the learning can be a quality experience for individuals," he added.