Students studying agricultural and arts courses will be moved from Newton Abbot and Exeter to Plymouth.

There will also be seven re-organised faculties, including arts and humanities.

New vice-chancellor Professor Roland Levinsky said the changes would enable the university to deliver world-class teaching and research.

We want to make Plymouth University an exciting and attractive place in which to study and work

Professor Roland Levinsky

The university currently has more than 27,000 students split between campuses in Plymouth, Exeter, Exmouth and Seale Hayne near Newton Abbot.

The cultural quarter will be situated in the North Hill area of Plymouth, close to the city's museum, art gallery, library and the College of Art and Design.

The Exeter School of Art and Design will be re-housed in purpose-built accommodation for a new faculty of arts, architecture and humanities in Plymouth in 2006-07.

New faculties

Other re-organised faculties include health, medicine, science, social sciences and business, technology and education, which will be based in Exmouth.

Departments based at Seale Hayne will be relocated to Plymouth from September 2004.

There will also be investment in the university library, and staff and Students' Union facilities.

Professor Levinsky said: "If we are to achieve our aims of delivering world-class teaching and research, we must create a dynamic, multi-faculty university, where arts and sciences are integrated.

'Attractive place'

"We must also ensure we don't duplicate scarce resources.

"We want to make the University of Plymouth an exciting and attractive place in which to study and work."

University managers will now hold a series of open meetings with staff and students to hear their views on the proposals.

The plans, and feedback, will then be presented to the University Board of Governors for approval, with the announcement of the final scheme scheduled for next spring.