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It is one of 17 universities that have been unveiled as the latest institutions to sign up to the platform, which allows people to access courses on the internet.

The new additions mean that more than 30 universities are now offering content through Coursera, which has around 1.3 million registered students. Previously, the only UK institution to do so was the University of Edinburgh.

London will offer courses from its International Programmes, which is already the world's oldest provider of degrees through distance and flexible learning, and was established in 1858. It currently offers more than 100 study programmes and serves more than 52,000 students in 180 countries.

Initially, the university will offer five courses online, covering topics including psychology, computer programming, and English common law.

Jonathan Kydd, dean of the University of London International Programmes, said the move would provide high-quality education to "people who might not otherwise not have had the opportunity to study at all".

Daphne Koller, co-founder of Coursera, added: "We are delighted to see the University of London International Programmes, with its long standing tradition of delivering flexible and distance education around the world, offer a taste of its programmes through our online platform."

Among the other universities being announced as Coursera partners today are Brown, Columbia and Emory universities in the US, along with the University of Melbourne and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

chris.parr@tsleducation.com