New University Group to Support 28,000 Students Across Four Campuses

Kent and Greenwich Unite to Address Sector-Wide Economic Pressures

Financial instability is no longer a quiet concern in the UK universities, but it is a growing concern as more than 40% of English institutions now operate in deficit. Amid this most challenging period in recent history, the two long-established institutions, the University of Kent and the University of Greenwich, have announced a landmark merger that indicates a shift in how higher educational institutions respond to economic pressures. The proposed union is ready to be effective from the 2026 academic session, creating a new entity named London and South East University Group, to strengthen financial viability and long-term sustainability within the higher education sector.

As per the statements from respective institutions, the new university group will operate across existing campuses, including Medway, where Kent and Greenwich students already share facilities. Kent University UK will retain its Canterbury campus, while the University of Greenwich will continue operations at its sites in Avery Hill and on the banks of the River Thames. The combined student body is expected to include approximately 28,000 first-degree undergraduates, based on data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency. Senior managers at the two institutions have made it clear that this is not a takeover, but a strategic partnership to establish a robust and financially sustainable model. Professor Georgina Randsley de Moura will continue to be interim leader at Kent until the merger is complete, when Professor Jane Harrington, Greenwich's current vice-chancellor, will become leader of the merged institution.

The Office for Students (OfS), which oversees higher education in England, has welcomed the development. It has been said that further universities are likely to make similar arrangements, especially as institutional funding continues to fall. The OfS has said that 40% of English universities are now in financial deficit, blaming decreased numbers of international students coming to the UK and the fall in the real-terms value of home tuition fees as leading contributing factors. The Department for Education (DfE) has also commented favourably, calling the merger an innovative solution to continued world-class teaching and research. The spokesperson said that these kinds of partnerships demonstrate the sector's commitment to reform and resilience and reaffirmed that any further plans for higher education reform would be covered in the white paper for the post-16 education and skills strategy.

In spite of institutional guarantees, the University and College Union (UCU) has expressed concern. General Secretary Jo Grady said staff and students might be frightened by the news, and urged a clearer-cut government approach to tackling financial uncertainty at UK universities. She claimed that mergers do not solve the wider crisis in higher education. Both Kent and Greenwich have faced financial challenges in recent years. Greenwich confirmed in May that it would cut the equivalent of 15 full-time posts, while Kent has begun winding down selected teaching courses following another deficit in 2024. Although university leaders have stated there are no immediate plans for job losses, they acknowledged that cost savings would be achieved by reducing senior roles.

Students have been reassured that academic year changes will not affect their current studies. Applications will continue as normal to each university campus, and degrees will be awarded under the names of Kent or Greenwich. Professor Harrington emphasised that students enrolling this autumn will be able to complete their chosen courses without disruption. Analysts within the sector have observed that mergers, previously uncommon among universities in London, England, are increasingly becoming more of a trend. Recent consolidation to create City St George's from two University of London colleges is given as an example of such a trend. The Kent–Greenwich merger, however, is one of the most important consolidations to this point in time, including two full-spectrum London universities with a legacy of working together at Medway.

While financial constraints have become more severe, institutions have found themselves forced to make cuts in building maintenance, staffing, and academic programs. The sector will dispose of over £400 million in land and property this year alone. Against this background, the formation of the London and South East University Group can be presented as a template for stabilising operations for other universities while maintaining student experience. This shift is a critical point in UK university higher education when strategic collaboration is widely recognised as the key to maintaining teaching excellence, research quality, and institutional identity.

Editor’s Note

The proposed merger between the University of Kent and the University of Greenwich, forming the London and South East University Group from 2026, signals a turning moment for UK higher education. At a time when over 40% of English universities are operating in deficit, this strategic union is not merely a financial operation but a bold reimagining of institutional resilience. This is not a takeover or a loss of identity, as both universities will retain their core campuses and continue to award degrees under their existing name. With a combined undergraduate population of nearly 28,000, the new entity aims to safeguard academic continuity. Assuring the students of the uninterrupted continuation of their studies, the application will remain open for them. However, the long-term implications of this merger deserve scrutiny as they risk diluting institutional character and complicating governance. Staff concerns, voiced by the University and College Union, highlight the need for transparent planning and government support beyond structural reform. The Office for Students and the Department for Education have welcomed the move, framing it as a model of innovation and sector-wide adaptability. But still, the question raised is about how mergers can be a solution for the financial crisis. Undoubtedly, the falling international enrolments and stagnant tuition fees, the financial pressures are systemic in such a situation, and these partnerships become more about survival.

Skoobuzz believes that this merger offers a blueprint that prioritises student experience while acknowledging the economic realities. The sector must now decide whether to follow suit or push for deeper, more sustainable change.

FAQs

1.What is the UK’s first regional super-university?

The London and South East University Group will be the UK’s first regional super-university, formed by the merger of the University of Kent and the University of Greenwich. It is expected to serve approximately 28,000 first-degree undergraduate students across multiple campuses from 2026.

2. How will the Kent and Greenwich merger affect students?

Students currently enrolled will not face disruption. Applications will continue as normal, and degrees will still be awarded under the Kent or Greenwich names. The merger affects around 28,000 undergraduates, with shared facilities at Medway and continued operations at Canterbury, Avery Hill, and Thames-side campuses.

3.Which universities are merging to form a super-university?

The University of Kent and the University of Greenwich are merging to create the London and South East University Group, effective from the 2026 academic year.

4.What changes are expected in higher education in England?

According to the Office for Students, over 40% of English universities are currently operating in financial deficit. More mergers and strategic partnerships are expected as institutions respond to falling international student numbers and the declining real-terms value of home tuition fees.

5.How will tuition fees and student services be impacted by the merger?

There are no immediate changes to tuition fees. Student services will continue across existing campuses. However, cost savings will be achieved by reducing senior management roles, and both universities have already made cuts,15 full-time posts at Greenwich and course reductions at Kent, following a 2024 deficit.