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The deal will allow Mooc students to take certified tests at one of the organisation¡¯s global network of secure exam centres.

The University of East Anglia¡¯s ¡°secret Power of brands¡± and the University of Strathclyde¡¯s ¡°introduction to forensic science¡± are among the first courses available for assessment, although FutureLearn said there were plans to introduce more.

The standard cost of a FutureLearn exam is ?119, although there is some variation. Passing the tests will not earn students any academic credit.

¡°More and more of our learners, particularly those on career-enhancing courses, want to take exams to demonstrate their mastery of a subject,¡± said Simon Nelson, chief executive of FutureLearn, which is owned by the Open University

Matthew Poyiadgi, vice-president of Europe, Middle East and Africa at Pearson VUE, added: ¡°FutureLearn¡¯s model offers another route to learning and potentially onto a professional certification pathway, which fits perfectly with our history of delivering important and trusted exams.¡±

Times Higher Education asked FutureLearn about the financial arrangements with Pearson VUE, including the percentage of fee revenue going to each company, and the amount received by partner universities. A spokeswoman said that these details could not be shared as they were ¡°commercially sensitive¡±.

chris.parr@tesglobal.com