Brunel University London is the latest higher education institution to join a pioneering scheme that aims to improve student safety, security and wellbeing standards across the sector.

The university, which has 14,000 students, has joined ProtectED, the first national accreditation scheme of its kind.

Developed at the University of Salford, ProtectED aims to make it easier for prospective students and their parents to identify UK universities which prioritise welfare.

The initiative requires members to have in place measures to support university security, student wellbeing, safety and mental health, and international student welfare.

To achieve accreditation under the ProtectED code of practice, member universities must meet a recognised standard which is validated by independent experts and assessors.

The first 12 universities to join the scheme become founder members and will be at the forefront of efforts to raise standards across the sector.

Brunel University London joins the University of Central Lancashire and Coventry University among recent founder members of ProtectED.