Research by property agents eMoov found that the North East city came out top when both average property prices and academic reputations were considered.

Typical house prices in Durham are £214,735 and entry to the university requires a UCAS score of 524.

The survey found the uni offering worst value for money was Imperial College London. Despite high UCAS requirements of 568 points, property prices average £2.4m in the surrounding area.

Strathclyde, Manchester, Edinburgh and Warwick were also in the top five best places to buy.

Russell Quirk, founder and chief executive of eMoov, said many parents were now choosing to buy a property in the city where their children attend university.

“Sending your kids off to university can be a joyful occasion for many parents and is often the first time they fly the nest to fend for themselves. What with the recent increase in university fees and the cost of living, it can also be an extremely expensive time for parent and student alike, as the debt begins to pile up,” he said.

“This study shows which universities offer the best level of degree, but also an affordable property price, should you want to invest in a house for your child, or even as a uni-let for yourself.

“Students are certainly an easy target where the high street letting agent is concerned and it is common practice for agents to strip them of their hefty deposits, for even the most minor of reasons. Not only does buying a university property avoid this but it also provides a future home should they stay in the chosen city for work, or a great money making opportunity renting to future students.”

Top 10 locations for university buy-to-let

1) Durham
2) Strathclyde
3) Manchester
4) Edinburgh
5) Warwick
6) Nottingham
7) Lancaster
8) Leeds
9) St Andrews
10) Aberdeen