Kent, Greenwich universities plan 2026 UK super-university merger

The University of Kent and the University of Greenwich are set to merge in autumn 2026 to form the UK's first 'super-university,' named the London and South East University Group. This new institution will be led by a single vice-chancellor, Professor Jane Harrington, and will operate across all existing campuses, including Medway, Canterbury, Greenwich, and Avery Hill. The merger aims to create a financially resilient and viable model in response to widespread economic challenges facing higher education, with 40% of English universities currently in deficit. Both universities emphasized that the merger is not a takeover nor prompted by an immediate financial crisis, and they will retain their individual names, identities, and campuses. The Office for Students and the Department for Education have welcomed this innovative approach, suggesting it could serve as a blueprint for other institutions facing similar financial pressures. Students will experience no immediate changes to application processes or degree awards, but staff may face uncertainty due to prior job cuts at both universities.