The University of London's external programme, where students can study for a degree from anywhere in the world, has had a 52 per cent increase in enquiries following a brief advertising campaign.

The response, which took the university by surprise, follows a 15 per cent increase in students on the programme last year, bringing the total to just over 21,000.

Judith Brooks, head of policy and development on the programme, said: "There is a lot of competition to get into the taught programme. The external programme allows students who cannot study in the traditional way to get a degree." A quarter of students on the programme are resident in the United Kingdom.

Students are sent a subject guide and introduction, and are then left to study on their own. Some choose to have tuition at a local university, or through a correspondence course.

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The crucial thing about the degree is that it is marked alongside internal papers, with identical standards.

* The University of London summer school, aimed at sixth-formers to introduce them to university-level study, has also seen a massive increase in numbers. In 1991 the school offered 250 free places.

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In 1994 3,550 applications were received for 2,765 places, with the highest number of applicants coming from the London Borough of Camden.