University College London has said it is to become the first UK university to set up a campus in Australia.
The government of the state of South Australia will fund the UCL School of Energy and Resources, which will open in Adelaide next year. Up to 60 students from around the world will study a two-year masters programme in energy and resources. The school will also offer short executive courses aimed at managers in the energy industry.
The deal struck between Malcolm Grant, president and provost of UCL, and Mike Rann, the premier of South Australia, comes as Australia enjoys a resources boom.
Michael Worton, vice-provost of UCL, told Times Higher Education: "South Australia has 40 per cent of the world's uranium.
"There is a real interest in Australia as a whole, but especially in South Australia, about the future of energy. The state is creating an international energy policy institute, which we will work with very closely - it is an enormous opportunity. We want to make Adelaide the centre for big energy discussions."
One year of the masters programme will be taught, and the second year will include a nine-month internship in business or industry.
Four academic staff will be based permanently at the school, and UK-based UCL staff will also spend short periods there.
"We can bring together lawyers, cultural theorists and climatologists with engineers," Professor Worton said.
The state funding will last for seven years, after which the school will become self-financing.
