The UK is set to get its first-ever “super-university” as the Universities of Kent and Greenwich prepare to merge from autumn 2026.
The new institution, to be called the London and South East University Group, will be led by a single vice-chancellor and operate across all existing campuses. This includes Medway, where both universities already share facilities such as the library, as well as Kent’s Canterbury base and Greenwich’s campuses on the Thames and in Avery Hill, south-east London.
The move has been welcomed by the Office for Students (OfS), which regulates higher education in England. It said the merger could provide a template for other universities as they grapple with mounting economic pressures. With 40% of English universities now in financial deficit, the OfS suggested more institutions may follow suit to safeguard their futures.
Both universities stressed this was not a takeover, nor prompted by an immediate financial crisis. Instead, they argue the new model will make them more resilient and financially viable in the long run.
Professor Karen Cox Harrington of Greenwich said the two institutions had already worked together for 20 years in Medway and now wanted to go further: “This is about taking the best of both universities and asking what we want to offer our communities.”
Professor Catherine Randsley de Moura of Kent described it as a “trailblazing model”, insisting that both Kent and Greenwich would retain their names, identities, and campuses under the new structure.
For students, the merger will mean no immediate changes: applications will continue as normal to each university, and degrees will still be awarded in the name of Kent or Greenwich. Students enrolling this autumn have been reassured they will complete their chosen course as planned.
However, staff may feel anxious. Both universities have already faced job cuts in recent years: Greenwich confirmed in May it would reduce the equivalent of 15 full-time posts, while Kent has started phasing out some courses after posting a deficit in 2024. While leaders said there were no immediate plans for job losses, they acknowledged that savings would come through reducing senior roles.
The University and College Union (UCU) estimates around 5,000 higher education posts have already been lost across England in the last couple of years as institutions struggle to balance the books.
Mergers, once unusual, are becoming more common. Last year, City St George’s was created from two University of London colleges. But the Kent-Greenwich merger is on a far larger scale, involving two full-spectrum universities across a wide geographical area.
The merger comes at a turbulent time for UK higher education. Tuition fees rose to £9,535 this academic year, but their real value has eroded due to inflation and rising costs. International student numbers have also fallen short by 16% after the government introduced visa restrictions in 2024 limiting family dependents.
Universities UK chief executive Vivienne Stern called the merger “significant”, saying it reflected the urgent need for innovation: “The slow erosion of university finances must be stopped, and the government needs to step in with long-term solutions.”
Ministers are expected to set out proposals for university funding later this autumn, with reports that a 6% tax on international student income is being considered.
The Department for Education welcomed the merger, calling it an “innovative approach” to maintaining world-class teaching and research while protecting students.
A spokesperson for the OfS said: “In any merger, effective communication with students will be crucial. Current students will continue to study for the courses they signed up for, and should continue to expect excellent teaching and support.”
The creation of the London and South East University Group will be closely watched by other institutions considering whether collaboration—or even consolidation—could be the answer to the growing financial storm facing higher education in England.
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UK’s first ‘super-university’ to launch in 2026 as Kent and Greenwich merge
