Students held a "protestival" against the move

The college is internationally recognised as a premier institute for contemporary performing arts and has 680 students.

It announced a possible merger with University College, Falmouth, last month as it can no longer afford to stay at Devon's Dartington Estate.

The college said the University of Plymouth had presented a strong case.

However, a merger with University College, Falmouth, would enable it to access more government funding, as Cornwall is a "more deprived area".

Vaughan Lindsay, chief executive of Dartington Trust, said: "The fact they can access money that we can't is obviously a huge benefit."

Strong feelings

There is limited student accommodation available at Dartington and the college said it was considering a merger to preserve its long-term future.

The move has raised concerns in Totnes, home of the college since 1961, where students last month held what they called a "protestival" against the college moving.

They said the whole essence of the college came from its relationship with the trust that runs the 850-acre estate.

The Dartington Estate was bought in 1925 by Leonard and Dorothy Elmhirst as a centre for an experiment in rural regeneration.

Consultants are now looking into the feasibility of the move.