A NORTH-EAST university is set to put the region on the map after opening a campus in one of the world's most powerful financial districts.

Sunderland University will potentially double its student population from 3,000 to 6,000 by opening a campus in central London financial district Canary Wharf.

The university, which will initially offer business courses at the new campus, is hoping to attract more international students as well as offer blue chip companies in Canary Wharf tailor-made training programmes to help professional development of employees.

It will make Sunderland the only university, apart from Coventry and the London universities, to have a central London campus.

The move has come out of an existing relationship between Sunderland and private educators EThames, who have been operating the campus at Marsh Wall, Canary Wharf, which has offered accredited degrees from Sunderland University.

Now Sunderland will assume full responsibility for the campus, including the delivery of a range of business related programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

The agreement is part of the university's aim to further develop its international recruitment operation.

The new campus, in the heart of the capital's financial district, gives the North-East institution a much stronger foothold in London, making it more attractive to international students.

It will also allow the university to offer continual professional development services to companies with offices at Canary Wharf.

The university already offers this service at its North-East campus, but the London base will give the university a new potential market.

Professor Peter Fidler, the university's vice-chancellor, said: "Our reputation in London is already strong, particularly with international students.

"However, the new University of Sunderland London Campus will raise our profile significantly and open up a range of new opportunities.

"Having a physical presence in the capital, especially in such an important area, will not only have a significant impact on our business, but will also raise the profile of Sunderland as a city, as well as the wider region.

"We hope it will really put the university, the city and the North-East firmly on the international business map."

Qualifications offered at the London campus will include Masters' degrees in business administration, and tourism and hospitality, as well as undergraduate degrees in accounting and financial management, business management, and international tourism and hospitality management.

The expansion of the university's business in the UK follows several years of growth in key international markets.

The university is acknowledged nationally as one of UK's the top five providers for the provision of higher education in countries abroad.

The institution provides academic programmes on a large scale in countries and areas such as Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam, where it was the first UK institution to receive a license to operate.

As well as reinforcing its presence in South East Asia, the university is growing its international business in new markets, such as emerging areas like Central Asia and developing parts of Africa.