UK's First 'Super-University' Approved as Greenwich and Kent Complete Merger

3 August, The University of Greenwich and University of Kent have confirmed that their merger has successfully completed as expected and the new London and South East University Group – to be known as LASE – is now an official legal entity.

The official launch of the LASE University Group will take place on Monday 7 September. The group will have more than 50,000 students across four campuses in London, Medway and Kent, making it the third-largest higher education institution in the UK.

The new multi-university group, described as “the UK’s first super-university”, is a first of its kind model – allowing the creation of the new university group whilst enabling the two universities to continue trading under their individual names with their distinct identities, courses, and local presence. It is designed to enable other universities to join in the future. Students will continue to apply to, study at, and graduate from the University of Greenwich or the University of Kent.

The two universities first announced their intention to explore the creation of a new multi-university group in September last year. In February this year, they formally agreed to merge and signed the relevant legal agreements.

A new Chancellor, governing body and senior executive team for LASE have been appointed and officially take up their roles.

Professor Jane Harrington, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Greenwich and Chief Executive of LASE University Group, said:

"There has been tireless work over the last year working to an ambitious timetable and developing a new university model that has never been done before."

She added:

"It means we are starting with a smooth transition, an extremely strong senior executive team and clear direction so that we can fulfil our potential as the UK's first super-university."

Previously, the Office for Students (OfS), the UK's higher education regulator, described this type of merger as an "innovative approach" and suggested that more universities could consider similar models to address growing financial pressures.

The Universities of Greenwich and Kent have also stated that they hope their collaboration will provide a blueprint for other institutions, as the merged group will establish a stronger financial foundation to help navigate future economic challenges.

The merger reflects the increasingly severe financial pressures facing the UK higher education sector. According to The Guardian, the Office for Students (OfS) warned that 24 higher education providers were at risk of becoming insolvent and closing within the 12 months from November last year. The regulator also estimated that 45% of higher education providers could be operating at a deficit during the 2025–26 academic year.

In May, members of the House of Commons Education Select Committee described the higher education sector as "facing a financial crisis", warning that there was "a clear possibility of a university closing." Their report acknowledged that many universities had already responded by cutting jobs, selling buildings or land, and closing academic programmes.

Another major merger is also on the horizon. In May this year, King's College London (KCL) and Cranfield University reached a preliminary agreement to merge​, with the transaction expected to be completed in August 2027. Under the proposed arrangement, Cranfield University will become part of King's College London and will no longer exist as an independent institution. The merged university is expected to become the second-largest university in the UK by student population, behind only University College London (UCL).

University of Greenwich

Founded in 1890, the University of Greenwich traces its origins to Woolwich Polytechnic and the Royal Naval College, making it the second polytechnic established in the UK. Located in London, the university further strengthened its research capacity in 1996 through the integration of the internationally renowned Natural Resources Institute and the Maritime Research Institute. In 2013, it joined University Alliance, a group of leading professional and technical universities in the UK.

Today, the University of Greenwich is recognized as one of the UK's leading institutions, with strong performance in teaching, research, and talent development, particularly in applied disciplines. In 2023, it entered the top 100 of the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings for the first time and ranked first in the UK for student satisfaction in a national university survey published the same year. It also received a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) in 2023. In 2026, it was ranked the fifth-best university in London.

University of Kent

Established in 1965, the University of Kent is a leading comprehensive research university located in Canterbury, Kent, in southeast England. It is one of only seven collegiate universities in the UK. Its business school holds the prestigious triple accreditation from EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA, placing it among the top 1% of business schools worldwide.

In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, the University's Law and Psychology subjects were both ranked among the top 100 globally.