The idea is the brainchild of Richard Stevens, a senior lecturer in agribusiness at Lincoln University with special focus on horticulture, viticulture and landscape.
Mr Stevens owns two houses in the West Otago township of Heriot and recently read it was planning a major beautification project.
He believed the planned upgrade would fit in with an individual 34-week major design study project Lincoln's landscape architecture students will tackle next year.
Heriot has been added to the 2009 list of subjects, while Balclutha - another Clutha town planning beautification works - may also be included after the idea was received by Clutha District Council staff.
The idea has been warmly greeted by community co-ordinators in both towns.
Students get to pick a town on the list, meet locals to determine their expectations and any constraints.
The students then develop conceptual plans which are taken back to the community before more detailed plans are finalised.
The final study is then presented at a community meeting.
In a letter to the council, Mr Stevens said the cost to the community was "zero" other than time to discuss and guide the student.
"The advantage . . . of taking up this opportunity would be a professional design and plan that would be unaffordable if done as a usual consultation and a plan that balances community expectations to improved amenity values.
The community could then implement specific stages of the design as time and finances permit, while contributing to a longer-term and integrated vision."
About 20 students were in their last year of the university's major design course and Mr Stevens said there would be "reasonable odds" of either town being picked.
"I can't guarantee that the project will be selected by a student although, personally, I think both subjects would be a great learning opportunity for any student.
As a resident of Heriot, where I own a holiday property, my obvious preference would be for it to be the first chosen."
Tapanui-West Otago (TWO) Promotions co-ordinator Joy Lietze said the offer was "absolutely fantastic for a place like Heriot".
