A report tabled at this week’s infrastructure services committee said the university had identified some funding was available for extra kerbside collections and street cleaning in the student quarter.
The council and university were working together to tackle the problem and the council was looking at funding a three-month trial of a "clean-street collection service" to remove all visible mess from streets in the area.
In response to questioning from Cr Aaron Hawkins at the meeting, solid waste manager Catherine Irvine said she had been working "very closely" with the university to determine what the issues were.
"We are going through a scoping exercise now, looking at all the issues that contribute to untidy streets in the university area," Ms Irvine said.
Once that exercise was completed, it would look at how much solutions might cost, where there were "quick wins", and where it might have to make changes to its rubbish collection contract, which will be re-tendered in the 2017-18 financial year.
Infrastructure networks general manager Ruth Stokes said this work would be carried out over the next 18 months.
Once that was completed, any changes in funding would be considered by council as part of the long-term plan process.
Before then it would likely be possible to make some changes within existing budgets.
University property services director Barry MacKay said the work was a continuation of ongoing co-operation between the university and the council.
"In particular, we are looking to build on measures during recent orientation periods and one-off events that have proven worthwhile.
"We are considering using a consultant to assist us with independent ideas and review, but this would be relatively minor work and within existing budgets," he said.
Additional kerbside collections were one of the options being considered, with effectiveness and costings to be evaluated through the process.
"The intention is that cleaner streets will provide a wide range of benefits to the local community."