A new university has been launched in Gloucestershire.

Hartpury's award-winning equine, animal, agricultural and sports institution has been officially granted university status by the government in a landmark year.

Hartpury University - formerly University Centre Hartpury - will operate alongside Hartpury College on its state-of-the-art 360-hectare campus near Gloucester.

It follows the Privy Council's decision to approve Hartpury's application for university title after a stringent and rigorous assessment process.

Hartpury's journey towards achieving university status over the past six years has included being granted Taught Degree Awarding Powers (TDAP) (2017) and receiving the Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) (2017).

Achieving university title ensures graduates are recognised globally, illustrating the standards and quality of the teaching, learning and research conducted at Hartpury.

Hartpury University will continue to be a specialist institution. As a university, the institution says it will have even more opportunities to work closely with industry partners to conduct research that answers their questions and informs future practice.

Hartpury University Vice-Chancellor Russell Marchant said: "I'm delighted to announce that from today we will be Hartpury University, sitting proudly alongside Hartpury College, which was awarded Ofsted Outstanding this year.

"Achieving university status has been a strategic ambition for us, for the last six years. It has been an incredible journey and we're excited to have finally reached our destination, especially as this year Hartpury College celebrates its 70th anniversary.

"University title recognises the quality of the teaching at Hartpury, which is also evidenced by our recent TEF Gold, and the wide range of research projects in our specialist areas of Agriculture, Animal, and Equine and Sport.

"Importantly, it also highlights the significant impact we can have on our industries by training the next generation of people who will work in agriculture, sport, equine and animal in the UK and across the globe.

"University title allows our graduates to go out into the world of work with a badge that enables employers to recognise the quality of the academic provision is as it should be against other universities.

"Furthermore, it recognises that the expectations that the students have had while they've been studying with us have been at university level with a qualification that is transferable across the world."

He added: "About 10 per cent of our student population are international students, coming from literally all over the world. We have particularly strong connections in Canada, North America and South Africa, particularly our equine provision, which is the largest of its kind in the world.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to say how extremely proud we've been of our relationship with the University of the West of England.

"This partnership will continue, with the two universities working together to provide postgraduate research degrees. We will continue to provide students with the support and opportunities to fulfil their potential as we embark on an exciting new chapter as Hartpury University alongside Hartpury College.

"It means that young people can enrol at Hartpury College at the age of 16 and stay with us right through to university and potentially leave with a PhD - it's a tremendously exciting prospect."