Harvard University is to approve a kinky sex club for students with a penchant for whipping, dressing up and fetishes so the group can be "taken seriously".

The society, called Harvard College Munch for Bondage, Discipline, Sadism and Masochism (BDSM), will now be able to apply for grants as soon as it is made official.

The founder of Munch, who uses the name Michael, told a university student paper it was a "joy".

"If you come to campus and you have the sexual interests we represent, you may not even suspect that such a group exists," he told The Crimson. "Pretty much everyone who joins this club always thought they were alone. [Our recognition] shows we are being taken seriously."

The club started off as a small group who met informally in dining halls at the university, ranked fourth in this year's world university rankings. Now it has grown to 30 members and the society hopes to help students who have suffered sexual abuse or trauma.

A Spokesperson for Harvard told The Huffington Post US the college does not endorse the views or activities of any independent student organisation.

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