One of the world's largest publishers, Pearson, looks set to be given degree-awarding powers, as the government seeks to open up the university sector to more private providers.
Pearson, which owns exam board Edexcel, plans to start by offering four vocational degrees with a further education college.
But it wants to award degrees itself, which would require a law change.
The government says it is considering this.
Universities Minister David Willetts has made no secret of his plans to open up the university sector to private providers.
A white paper is expected to set out plans to do this in the new year, with legislation likely to follow.
Mr Willetts is said to be encouraged that firms like Pearson are interested in taking a bigger role in higher education.
He is expected to mention the firm by name in a speech to an education conference in central London later.
If Pearson, which publishes a wide range of text books, succeeds in gaining degree-awarding powers it will be the second for-profit company involved in England's higher education system
More at BBC.
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