LONDON, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- The University of Greenwich and the University of Kent on Wednesday announced plans to merge into what is being described as Britain's first "super university," seeking to reinforce their financial stability and expand opportunities for students across London and the southeast.
The new institution, provisionally named the London and South East University Group, is due to launch in the 2026/27 academic year. While each university will keep its name, campuses and degree-awarding powers, they will be brought under one governing body, academic board and executive team, headed by a single vice-chancellor.
Jane Harrington, Vice Chancellor of Greenwich and designated leader of the new group, said the vision was to "deliver education without boundaries, from city to coast," while "energizing communities, upskilling local people and partnering with business to tackle the challenges of today and tomorrow."
Georgina Randsley de Moura, acting vice chancellor of Kent, said the merger would "harness the combined power of two ambitious universities looking to the future, to ensure we are sustainable, impactful and can make a bigger difference to the communities we serve."
The combined institution will be one of the largest higher education providers in Britain, with around 28,000 students, and will focus on joint research strengths in health, sustainability, food and the creative industries. The Department for Education and the Office for Students have signalled support, saying such collaborations reflect the sector's need to adapt to ensure long-term viability.
The announcement comes against a backdrop of mounting financial pressures across British higher education. In recent months, several universities, including those in East Anglia and Kent itself, have announced job cuts, course closures and reductions in research spending. Rising costs, declining numbers of domestic students and fierce global competition have left many institutions struggling to balance budgets.
According to the joint statement, the two universities have now entered a period of detailed financial and legal due diligence, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year, with a decision on implementation to follow. If approved, the new university group will be established in time for the 2026/27 academic year. ■