The University of Kent and the University of Greenwich have announced that they will merge starting from the autumn term of 2026, jointly tackling social and economic challenges in education. This cross-regional “super university” will be the first of its kind in the UK.
The proposed name for the institution is the University Group of London and the Southeast, with the two universities merging into one from the 2026 autumn academic year and the addition of a new position of vice-chancellor. The UK’s higher education regulatory body, the Office for Students, welcomed the move and suggested that more universities should explore similar options in facing economic challenges. The UK’s Department for Education also stated that ministers “welcome such innovative approaches.”
40% of Universities Face Financial Difficulties
It is reported that 40% of UK universities are currently running at a financial deficit. The two universities stated that the merged institution will provide a strong financial foundation to meet the economic challenges universities are facing now and in the future. In an exclusive interview with the BBC, the heads of both universities insisted that this is not an acquisition nor a move triggered by a financial crisis, although they believe the new university model will be “resilient and financially viable.”
Interim Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kent, Professor Demola, believes this “pioneering model” will allow universities within the new group to retain their names, identities, and campuses. The new university’s vice-chancellor, Professor Harrington, added that the two universities have been collaborating at the Medway campus for 20 years and now hope to go a step further to contribute to the economy of London and the Southeast. She emphasized that this is aimed at absorbing the strengths of both institutions while serving the community.
Other universities will be closely watching this merger as a reference and to seek cooperative approaches to stabilize their finances. Universities UK stated that this merger is of great significance and reflects a different way of thinking among universities. Meanwhile, the government “needs to act quickly” and provide long-term solutions to stop the “gradual erosion” of university finances.