The university confirmed it was looking for a suitable location close to the CBD, and was designing a campus that could host approximately 420 students and 40 staff at any one time, with up to 2000 students per week of classes.

UNE said it had also included plans for on-campus accommodation for around 100 people.

​It’s started planning and designing courses, which include agriculture, nursing, education, law and business.​

Students would be able to study courses entirely at the Tamworth campus, or at both the Armidale and Tamworth campuses.

The university has applied for funding from the NSW government, who is currently assessing the proposal and is expected to make a decision within the coming months.

UNE said students at the Tamworth site would be able to participate in UNE’s international exchanges with several overseas universities in USA, Asia and Europe, including semesters of study.

The proposed CBD campus would also be available to businesses and community groups for conferences, workshops, meetings and other activities.

Tamworth education advocate Mitch Hanlon has been pushing Tamworth’s case for a university, and plans to hold a community meeting about the issue in mid-February.

After the meeting, Mr Hanlon will form a working group to continue lobbying for the project.

“Council and other stakeholders, like the government and UNE, could refer back to us for guidance about what our community’s requirements are for a university,” Mr Hanlon said.

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