UK's first 'super-university' to be created as two merge from 2026

"Under the proposed name of London and South East University Group, the single institution will have one vice-chancellor from the academic year starting in autumn 2026. The Office for Students (OfS), England's higher education regulator, welcomed the move and suggested more universities may explore similar options as they battle economic challenges, with 40% of English universities now believed to be in financial deficit."

"The Department for Education (DfE) said ministers "welcome innovative approaches such as this one". The new university will operate across the existing campuses, including in Medway, where students from both Greenwich and Kent already share facilities, including the library. Kent has one other campus, in Canterbury, about 30 miles (48km) from Medway. Greenwich has two other campuses, one on the banks of the River Thames in Greenwich itself about 28 miles (45km) from Medway,"

"The universities said the combined institution will provide a strong financial foundation to weather the economic challenges facing universities now and in the future. Speaking exclusively to the BBC, the vice-chancellors of both universities insisted the move was not a takeover, nor driven by a financial crisis for either, although they argued the new university model would be "resilient and financially viable"."

Kent and Greenwich will merge to form the London and South East University Group, a single institution operating across existing campuses and led by one vice-chancellor from autumn 2026. The Office for Students welcomed the merger and the Department for Education said ministers welcome innovative approaches to higher education organisation. The merger aims to create a stronger financial foundation amid sector economic pressures, with around 40% of English universities in deficit. Campuses will include Medway, Canterbury, Greenwich and Avery Hill, where students already share some facilities. University leaders described the arrangement as resilient and financially viable and not a takeover or crisis-driven.

Read at www.bbc.com