London-based higher education college, BPP will today be given the status of first private university in more than 30 years by the Universities and skills Minister, David Willetts.

In the year 1976, private education provider Buckingham University College was awarded the status of University.

BPP, with 14 regional branches, provides law and business degrees and is planning to start new courses shortly in coming few months.

It is aiming to open healthcare school which could offer degree courses in fields of dentistry, nursing, radiography, speech therapy, psychology and physiotherapy.

Corporate training is also provided by BPP every year to nearly 140,000 working professionals.

Set up in 1976, BPP has a total staff of 2,000 in its 40 locations all over the world.

Unlike public sector universities, BPP will have its own range of tuition fees.

According to the Universities Minister, this step will encourage competition among universities, and thus promote better quality education through innovative methods.

He said, "International experience shows a diverse range of higher education providers helps widen access, focuses attention on teaching quality and promotes innovative learning methods, such as web-based distance learning."