A NORTH-East university is continuing to press its case for growth by announcing plans for £700 million of investment.

With plans for more than 4,000 additional students and to further internationalise, Durham University’s new 10-year strategy, launched this week, is aimed at turning it into a rival to the best institutions in the world.

Vice-chancellor Stuart Corbridge has been working on the strategy, which was approved in December, since he took over the role in 2015.

He said: "Through our Durham University Strategy 2017-2027, we will deliver world-leading and world-changing research across all our academic departments and institutes; education that is challenging, difficult, enabling, research-led and transformative; and a wider student experience to rival the best in the world."

Following a launch in London last week, the university invited businesses and members of the community to its launch at Durham Castle on Monday to hear its ambitious plans for expansion.

To mark the occasion, the university announced new funding of £2.8m annually for PhDs and post-doctoral research, under a Chancellor's Scholarship scheme.

Many of the proposals have already emerged, including turning the Queen's Campus in Stockton into an international centre, transferring the school of medicine, pharmacy and health to Newcastle University, a new teaching and learning centre on the sports field at St Mary's College, close to its existing science site at Lower Mountjoy and two new colleges at Mount Oswald.

A planning application is also pending for new sports facilities at Maiden Castle, which has already attracted criticism from groups in the city, including the City of Durham Trust and Whinney Hill Community Group.

Further ahead there are plans for at least two further colleges, a new business school at Elvet Waterside, a cultural centre on the site of Dunelm House in New Elvet and a new students' union to be built elsewhere and offices in New York and London.

Robert Gillespie, chair of the University Council, said: “Our new University Strategy 2017-2027 is an ambitious yet detailed vision of how we want the University we love and treasure to grow and develop, so that it is sustainable, pioneering and transformational in all areas for decades to come.”

By 2027, the university hopes to have around 21,500 students living in the city and more than 9,000 members of staff, with around 300 new academic posts to be added.

It also hopes to increase the percentage of international students, so by 2027 at least 35 per cent are from outside the UK.

Prof Corbridge added: “The best universities are both local and global. At the end of the day the best universities attract students and staff from across the world. Durham is a top university and we benefit from having the best students from wherever they come from."