STUDENTS plan to protest today against plans to axe university departments and closures.

Students at Durham University will gather to signal their opposition to plans, due to be considered by the university's senate, to pump £8.7m into prime courses and research ventures.

The university's plans include closing its East Asian Studies and Linguistics and English Language departments and phasing out degrees in European Studies and Sport, Health and Exercise.

The move would affect up to 40 teaching and back-up staff.

The university has drawn up plans for a major restructuring to concentrate resources on key areas, such as geological sciences and chemistry, where it has internationally-competitive research and there is a big demand for course places.

It also hopes to build up other departments and courses that have the potential to be top performers.

Tom Vickers, of the Durham University Social Forum, said: "There's a lot of anger about it.

"Students and staff in the departments haven't been consulted about it. Alternatives haven't really been explored.

"There's a feeling that cultural and subject diversity and academic excellence are being sacrificed for what is most efficient.'' A university spokesman said the shake up would mean phasing out relatively low demand subjects.

"We have had to do some very difficult planning and look at how we can retain our best departments at the level they are at or build up others to the same level of international excellence.

"That unfortunately means withdrawing investment from other areas over a period of time.''

He said back-up staff might be re-deployed but any losses in teaching posts could be offset by the creation of 40 more in the areas getting investment.

The university's full council will consider the plans in July.