An artist's impression of the University of Canterbury's river area to be created by 2023.

Long-term redevelopment plans for the University of Canterbury will create a "little city inside a larger city".

The university's campus master plan, released on Monday, outlines a 30-year plan to create an "inspirational" environment for students and help the institution keep pace with global trends in tertiary education.

Fifty building and landscape projects are proposed over three stages of development by 2045, the total cost of which could exceed $2 billion.

SUPPLIED An artist's impression of the University of Canterbury's new campus entrance.

The Government has already committed $260m to on-campus building, but the University of Canterbury (UC) would fund the remainder itself.

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Vice-chancellor Dr Rod Carr said the master plan was "tangible proof" the university was moving beyond the displacement and falling enrolments that shaped its post-earthquake experience.

SUPPLIED An artist's impression of University Street in about six years' time.

"It's the university being able to look forward and consider the future rather than looking back to fix up the broken things of the past."

An earlier master plan was revised after buildings damaged in the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes proved too costly to repair.

This version – the result of years of research, analysis and stakeholder consultation – took a staged approach to development, aiming to complete its first set of works by the university's 150th jubilee in 2023.

SUPPLIED A map of planned changes to the University of Canterbury campuses by 2045.

A central hub, hall and students' association building, among other projects, would be built at a cost of $1.2b.

Student bar The Foundry would relocate to Ilam fields, while Dovedale and Kirkwood fields – home to temporary buildings used by the university – would be repurposed as an early childhood centre and sports field respectively.

Post-jubilee plans included a new recreation centre, redeveloped river and plaza areas, and student accommodation on Montana Drive.

Projects after 2045 were less certain and considered "a bigger picture visionary thing that we don't have to slavishly stick to", Carr said. A performing arts centre on Clyde Rd and student dwellings in the former Dovedale campus have been proposed though.

Three capital projects worth $400m were already due for completion this year, including a refurbished engineering precinct opening next month, the new Regional Science and Innovation Centre mid-year, and the commerce building would be renovated to house the College of Education by 2018.

Significantly, courses under the College of Education, Health and Human Development would be delivered on UC's Ilam campus by year's end, providing better opportunities to integrate with other faculties, Carr said.

He said the university's buildings had to accommodate a resurgence in international enrolments post-quake while reflecting long-term trends in tertiary education.

"More and more these students are going to have online learning so the environment will be more flexible and support smaller group peer-to-peer learning, rather than monolithic lecture theatres."

It was also important to preserve and enhance the "unique" residential character of the Ilam campus, he said.

UC learning resources executive director Alex Hanlon said consultation showed people wanted a "connected campus, one that encouraged interaction and inspiration around a strong and vibrant central hub".

"From student events to high-end research facilities, UC is a little city inside a larger city.

"We started with the physical estate but then it was very much about how our spaces enable all the fantastic work our university community does."

Students' association president James Addington said efforts to create student-centric spaces were exciting – particularly plans for a recreation centre.

"What they are trying to create is exactly in line with what we want, this home away from home.

"It's a real community campus and it's quite unique."