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Four higher education colleges are on the home straight to gaining university status following news that 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ College Winchester has succeeded in its bid to become the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Winchester.

The Times Higher has learnt that ministerial approval has been given for university titles proposed by 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ College Chester, Canterbury Christ Church 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ College, Liverpool Hope 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ College, and Southampton Institute. Their applications have reached the final hurdle and are being considered by Charity Commission officers and the Privy Council.

If they clear this stage, the four are expected to change their names to the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Chester, Canterbury Christ Church 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ, Liverpool Hope 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ, and Southampton Solent 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ.

But a bid by Bath Spa 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ College is understood to have been held up because of a dispute with Bath 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ over the proposed title of Bath Spa 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ.

Three other institutions - 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ College Chichester, 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ College Northampton, and 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ College Worcester - have been given the go-ahead by the Department for Education and Skills to consult on their proposed university titles.

Winchester's success, announced last week, comes after nearly a decade of aiming for a university title. Paul Light, its vice-chancellor, said: "It's been a long wait. The processes of scrutiny and inspection involved have been far more demanding than the procedures other universities have undergone in the past.

"I'm relieved to be at the end of it all and delighted to be publicly recognised for our academic excellence."

Professor Light said that although Winchester would be one of the UK's smallest universities, it did not have plans for large-scale expansion.

"Where we will see significant growth is in international and postgraduate students, and growing partnerships with other education providers, business and the public sector," he said.