Britain's prestigious Cambridge University will open a Korean studies department this fall.

The nation’s embassy in London said Monday that Cambridge agreed with the Seoul-based Korea Foundation to launch the new department in September.

Under the agreement, the Korea Foundation will help fund the new department with a contribution of 325-thousand pounds, or around 639-thousand U.S. dollars, from this year to 2013.

Korea Foundation President Yim Sung-joon will visit the British school around March to sign an agreement endowing a professorship for the department. Faculty will offer courses on Korean politics, economy and international relations.

Back in 1994, Oxford set up its Korean studies department and currently has a professor on Korean history and another on Korean language.

Founded in 1991 by the National Assembly, the Korea Foundation aims to enhance Korea's image while promoting academic and cultural exchanges.