Greenwich and Kent announce merger to become UK’s first ‘super-university’ | Universities
The universities of Greenwich and Kent have confirmed that they have been given official approval to join the UK’s first “super university”.
The universities said the merged entity would be the third largest higher education institution in the UK and was advising on being named the London and South East University Group.
Prof Jane Harrington, the current vice-chancellor of the University of Greenwich, will become the designated vice-chancellor of the merged university group.
Higher education institutions announced their merger plans in September last year, saying the merger would be “a blueprint for others to follow”.
It was confirmed on Wednesday that the legal documents had been officially signed by both universities and approval had been received from the Department for Education and the Office for Students.
The merged group will be available from August 1, 2026.
The two universities will continue to operate as separate academic departments within the university group, retaining their current names.
Students will still apply to and graduate from the university of their choice, the institutions said.
All staff of both universities will be employed by the university group, consisting of a vice-rector, a board of directors and a management team.
It is believed that senior executive positions will be confirmed by April and will include Prof Georgina Randsley de Moura, vice-chancellor of the University of Kent.
Harrington said that together universities can “continue to provide world-class education, advance our research by tackling real-world challenges, and ultimately foster a culture where staff, students and communities thrive, collaborate and succeed together.”
He added: “Current and future students can be reassured that nothing will change for them, except for the assurance of greater resilience and new opportunities that will come from the collective resources of being part of this new multi-university group.”
The merger comes at a time when universities in the UK continue to face financial difficulties; The Office for Students warned in November that around 45% of providers could face a shortage for 2024-25.
Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union, warned in September that the merger was “the result of serious financial pressure”.
The universities said the merged group would provide a strong financial foundation to overcome economic challenges.
Craig McWilliam, chief executive of the University of Greenwich, said: “The new multi-university group represents a bold and responsible response to the pressures facing higher education, based on strong governance, shared values and a clear civic purpose.”
