Setting off from Athens, Greece in January next year, the Scholar Ship will visit eight countries during its inaugural 16-week voyage.

CNN: 'Scholar Ship' ready to set sail

The group has created a floating campus -- dubbed the Scholar Ship -- which will transport 700 students around the world as they complete their studies.

CNN: 'Scholar Ship' ready to set sail

In a bid to track down the remainder quickly, Dr Linton plans, next month, to join a floating research institute the Scholar Ship that will be docked in Panama.

ECONOMIST: Taxonomy

As well as providing a feed of students to the Scholar Ship, each university will be responsible for monitoring course standards to ensure they remain consistent with the subjects being offered at each land-based campus.

CNN: 'Scholar Ship' ready to set sail