Journalism hopefuls in India are to compete on TV for a place at Cardiff University.

Hopefuls will compete on an Apprentice-style reality show on NDTV, the largest national English language channel in India, with a reach of approximately 50m viewers.

One winner will then begin a BA degree in Journalism, Film and Media in September.

Airtel Scholar Hunt: Destination UK will see finalists battle it out through a series of studio quizzes and specialist tasks.

The programme will also choose candidates to study other subjects at The University of Warwick, University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield and Middlesex University.

Sandra Elliott, director of Cardiff University's International Development Division, said: "Scholar Hunt should make for compelling viewing.

"More importantly, it will offer a degree from an internationally-respected journalism school to a student who might not otherwise have got the chance."

Cardiff University will pay the tuition fees and living expenses for one undergraduate to study at its School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies.

Thousands of Indian students are expected to compete, and will have to sit two exams and take one interview just to make it through to the final 20 for each subject.

Arun Thapar of NDTV said: "Our aim is to mix academic excellence and the competitive spirit to create an intelligent, thought-provoking show.

"The Airtel Scholar Hunt: Destination UK will tap into the growing aspiration among Indians to study overseas and will be exactly the kind of programme that suits NDTV's well-informed audience: modern, aspiring Indians with an expanded world view and the ambition to make the most of their lives."

The programme will be available in the UK on BSkyB.