The new agreement has been hailed by the university and will see “several” students start next month.

Currently, students studying adult nursing, child nursing, or mental health nursing are allocated placements at Ipswich Hospital, West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds or the James Paget University Hospital, near Great Yarmouth.

Paul Driscoll-Evans, head of health studies at the university, said: “There has been significant interest from students regarding securing placements in Colchester so we are delighted this has been made possible by the trust.

“It is an endorsement of the good work we are doing and the positive impact our students have had on existing placement sites.

“It will enhance our offering to students coming to study with us from this September and will strengthen the relationship we have with healthcare providers in north Essex.”

There are plans to grow the partnership over the “coming years”, the university also said.

• To find out more about nursing at the University of Suffolk, follow this link and search ‘nursing’.