A British university has been offering free Las Vegas 'field trips' as an incentive to get young people on their courses, a man has claimed.

But this trip of a lifetime is only an option if students get the ‘minimal grades’ and can then enjoy Vegas's nightlife and casinos. The South West institution has denied the accusations.

The university said ‘sign up now and receive a free trip to Las Vegas’ at an open day and this is when the suspicions crept in.The £1,000 up for grabs was a ‘clear inducement’ and very ‘odd’, he told GloucestershireLive.

The father, who asked to not be identified, said his son based at the Cheltenham site rejected the trip. Up to 40 students went on last year’s trip.

A statement from the university said it is not free and students were instead offered £1,200 to go towards an 'American trade show' in Las Vegas.

They claimed the field trip was ‘integral’ and gave students a ‘real world understanding’.

Scholarships have entitled some students to more support in their studies - with Computing and Finance undergraduates given £1,000 for achieving a minimum of 128 UCAS points.

The Academic Merit scholarship pays £1,200 to support equipment, accommodation and books if 128 points are reached.

Unconditional offers from UK universities has risen with students 30 times more likely to receive one than five years ago, the Office for Students have said.

‘Pressure selling’ has become a new issue in higher education where they are pushed towards a University which might not be the best option.