The universities of Greenwich and Kent have received formal approval to merge, creating the UK's first 'super-university'. The new entity will be the third-largest higher education institution in the country and is consulting on the name London and South East University Group.
Legal documentation was signed by both universities, with approval from the Department for Education and the Office for Students. The merger will take effect from August, with both institutions retaining their names as distinct academic divisions within the group.
Students will continue to apply to and graduate from their chosen university. All staff will be employed by the university group, which will have a single vice-chancellor, board of governors, and executive team. Professor Jane Harrington, current vice-chancellor of Greenwich, will serve as designate vice-chancellor of the merged group.
The merger, first announced in September, is described as a 'blueprint for others to follow'. It comes amid financial challenges in the sector, with the Office for Students warning that 45% of providers could face deficits in 2024-25. The University and College Union attributed the merger to 'severe financial pressure'.
Harrington stated that together the universities could 'continue to provide world-class teaching' and 'grow our research tackling real-world challenges'. The institutions emphasised that the merged group would offer a strong financial foundation for navigating economic difficulties.
