More than 3,000 full-time and 1,000 part-time students and 650 staff will be affected by Lincolnshire and Humberside University's closure of its Hull campus.
Vice-chancellor David Chiddick is applying to the Privy Council to change the institution's name to the University of Lincoln. He said the identity of the university was "confused and unattractive" to students. Patrick Doyle, leader of Hull city council, said the 50-mile move could have a profound impact on employment and on the city as a whole.
Recruitment has fallen by 30 per cent in six years, from about 10,000 students to an expected 6,600 in 2001-02. The largest drops have been in business, engineering and applied social sciences, courses also offered by Hull.