The United Nations has announced the setting up of the first ever tuition-free online university.

The UN Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technology and Development has announced the University of the People, a non-profit institution offering higher education to a world market.

In working to spread the benefits of information technology, the alliance has set up the university to benefit those people who are constrained by finances, the lack of institutions in their region, or are not able to leave home to study at a university for other reasons.

The university will be use open-source technology, open course materials, e-learning methods and peer-to-peer teaching.

Some 200 students from 52 countries are already believed to have enrolled, with a high school diploma and a sufficient level of English as entry requirements.

Students will be able to log on to a weekly lecture, discuss its themes with their peers and take a test online.

The university will be run by voluntary professors, post-graduate students and student tutors.

The only charge to students is a $15 to $50 admission fee, depending on their country of origin, and a processing fee for every test ranging from $10 to $100.