Plans for a new university campus at Chatham Maritime were submitted to Medway Council this week.
The Universities at Medway project - a partnership between the University of Kent, Greenwich University and Mid-Kent College - will build on Greenwich's existing Medway site.
The £31 million planning application includes the refurbishment of a Grade II listed former Royal Navy drill hall to house a joint learning resource centre and teaching space.
Building work is due to start next spring and student numbers are projected to reach 6,000 by 2010.