{"id":1773,"date":"2026-02-04T09:44:26","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T09:44:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-news\/?p=1773"},"modified":"2026-02-04T09:44:26","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T09:44:26","slug":"universities-of-greenwich-and-kent-confirm-new-multi-university-group-to-go-ahead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-news\/2026\/02\/04\/universities-of-greenwich-and-kent-confirm-new-multi-university-group-to-go-ahead\/","title":{"rendered":"Universities of Greenwich and Kent confirm new multi-university group to go ahead"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The University of Greenwich and the University of Kent have today,\u00a04\u00a0February\u00a02026, confirmed that they have legally committed to the\u00a0merger between their two institutions and the\u00a0creation of\u00a0a new \u2018super-university\u2019.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The two universities announced their intention to explore the development of a new\u00a0multi-university group last September. Since then, they have been engaged in months of detailed legal and financial due diligence. That has\u00a0now\u00a0successfully concluded,\u00a0and both\u00a0universities\u00a0have\u00a0now\u00a0formally signed the legal documentation\u00a0and exchanged contracts.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The universities have worked with the Office for Students and the Department for Education to gain approval for\u00a0the first-of-its-kind model \u2013 a significant move that enables the\u00a0establishment of the new multi-university group as a legal entity whilst allowing the two universities to continue\u00a0trading under their individual names.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The proposed name\u00a0of the London and\u00a0South East\u00a0University Group\u00a0(LASEUG)\u00a0is currently going through a formal\u00a0consultation by the Office for Students, expected to conclude\u00a0in the next few months.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The trailblazing multi-university group will\u00a0come into effect as\u00a0a legal entity from 1 August 2026. The University of Greenwich and the University of Kent will\u00a0continue to\u00a0operate\u00a0as two distinct academic divisions within the new structure, whilst\u00a0retaining\u00a0their individual names,\u00a0identity\u00a0and brands. Students will continue to apply to, study at and graduate from their chosen university.\u00a0All staff from both universities will be employed by the university group.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As part of the announcement today, further details have been confirmed:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"-\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551671&quot;:0,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;-&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"0\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Current University of Greenwich Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jane Harrington,\u00a0is\u00a0the new designate Vice-Chancellor of the new LASEUG<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"-\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551671&quot;:0,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;-&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Mark Preston, current chair of the Council (Governing Body) of the University of Kent, will be the designate chair of the new, single\u00a0board of governors\u00a0for the Group<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"-\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551671&quot;:0,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;-&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Craig McWilliam, chair of the Governing Body, University of Greenwich, will be the designate deputy chair\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"-\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551671&quot;:0,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;-&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A new designate executive team\u00a0for the Group\u00a0and a\u00a0full\u00a0new board of governors\u00a0will be\u00a0recruited in the Spring, ready for 1\u00a0August.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Professor Georgina\u00a0Randsley\u00a0de Moura,\u00a0Acting Vice-Chancellor and\u00a0President of the University of Kent, said: \u201cThis is a\u00a0key\u00a0milestone that should give our staff, students and partners confidence that this trailblazing new multi-university model\u00a0is the right one to\u00a0deliver\u00a0a bold new approach for universities working together\u00a0to deliver for the future needs of our communities.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0testament to the innovative thinking and detailed work that has been done in the development of this model that we have the backing of the Department for Education and Office for Students to\u00a0proceed.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cOur new multi-university group\u00a0will become around the third largest higher education institution in the UK.\u00a0Students will remain at the heart of everything we do, and we will be a powerful force for our region \u2013 playing a vital role in upskilling local people, supporting\u00a0communities\u00a0and partnering with business.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Professor Jane Harrington said: \u201cWe are delighted to announce that the University of Greenwich and University of Kent will be\u00a0establishing\u00a0the UK\u2019s first\u00a0ever\u00a0\u201csuper-university\u201d\u00a0in August this year.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cOur two mighty institutions have worked side by side for more than 20 years,\u00a0and\u00a0this new model enables us to build on this, combining our collective strengths and giving us greater\u00a0resilience and a stronger\u00a0foundation to transform lives across London and the\u00a0South East.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cThis is\u00a0a truly significant\u00a0moment for the sector, which\u00a0we hope\u00a0could\u00a0provide a blueprint for other institutions in the future.\u00a0We are bringing our institutions together within a unique new group structure whilst being able to\u00a0retain\u00a0the\u00a0strength of our individual trading names and\u00a0longstanding university\u00a0identities.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cTogether,\u00a0we\u00a0can\u00a0continue to\u00a0provide world-class teaching, grow our research tackling real-world challenges, and\u00a0ultimately foster\u00a0a culture where staff, students and communities thrive, collaborate and succeed together.\u00a0For current and future students,\u00a0they can be reassured that nothing changes for them,\u00a0apart\u00a0from\u00a0the reassurance of\u00a0the greater\u00a0resilience\u00a0and\u00a0new\u00a0opportunities that will come from the collective resources of\u00a0being part of\u00a0this new\u00a0multi-university\u00a0group.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">For the two universities to\u00a0form\u00a0the new\u00a0multi-university\u00a0group, the legal process requires the University of Greenwich initially to change its name to the London and\u00a0South East\u00a0University Group*, which will be a company limited by guarantee. The University of Kent will then join the group\u00a0to complete the formal\u00a0process, which will complete by 1 August 2026. The new group will\u00a0retain\u00a0the same charitable\u00a0objectives\u00a0as the two universities have now.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The new super-university will have one unified\u00a0board of governors, one\u00a0executive team, and one vice-chancellor.\u00a0Beyond this, no decisions have been made\u00a0on future structural changes. Integration teams are being\u00a0established\u00a0at Greenwich and Kent who will lead on the project of integrating the two institutions\u00a0over the next couple of years.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The combined entity will provide a strong financial foundation to weather current and future economic challenges, widen access to higher education, address skills\u00a0gaps\u00a0and inequalities, and increase research capacity, particularly in shared priority areas, such as food\u00a0security\u00a0and sustainability, health and wellbeing and the creative industries. Its collective power will enable it to tackle real world issues with greater impact locally,\u00a0nationally\u00a0and globally.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Craig McWilliam,\u00a0chair of the Governing Body, University of Greenwich, said: \u201cThis is a landmark moment\u00a0for our two universities. The new multi-university group\u00a0represents\u00a0a\u00a0bold and responsible response to the pressures facing higher education, rooted in strong governance, shared\u00a0values\u00a0and a clear civic purpose.\u00a0It enables us\u00a0to protect the integrity of both Greenwich and Kent while unlocking new opportunities\u00a0to collaborate and deliver even greater impact to students and across the region we serve.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Mark Preston, chair of the Council\u00a0(Governing Body)\u00a0University of Kent, said:\u00a0\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">As we mark the 60th anniversary of the University of Kent, founded to widen access to higher education and support a growing sector, it is fitting that we continue to evolve with purpose. Together with the University of Greenwich, we are building a bold and future focused institution that expands opportunity for students and strengthens our region. This new chapter brings the scale and\u00a0expertise\u00a0needed to deliver exceptional value for learners, drive impactful\u00a0research\u00a0and provide employers and communities with the talent and innovation essential for the future prosperity of London and the\u00a0South East.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/student.kent.ac.uk\/collaboration-with-the-university-of-greenwich#current-students\">See FAQs for students regarding the collaboration here.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The University of Greenwich and the University of Kent have today,\u00a04\u00a0February\u00a02026, confirmed that they have legally committed to the\u00a0merger between their two institutions and the\u00a0creation &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-news\/2026\/02\/04\/universities-of-greenwich-and-kent-confirm-new-multi-university-group-to-go-ahead\/\">Read&nbsp;more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":78257,"featured_media":1775,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[312383],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1773"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/78257"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1773"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1773\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1777,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1773\/revisions\/1777"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1775"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1773"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1773"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1773"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}