For the first time ever students at Oxford University will not even have to set foot in the famous institution's iconic buildings.

The university has announced its first 'massive open online course' - or Mooc - which will run for free.

The courses have become popular in recent years and millions of students have taken part in them, but until now they have not been available at Oxford.

But from February students will be able to take part in a course titled From Poverty to Prosperity: Understanding Economic Development.

The course is being offered in partnership with online platform edX, which was set up by Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States.

It is not the first time Oxford University has offered resources online, but it is the first time it has hosted a major course on a big online network such as edX.

Students are already able to enrol for the course, which will be led by Sir Paul Collier, professor of economics and public policy at the Blavatnik School of Government.

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