New Delhi: The Universities of Kent and Greenwich have merged into the London and South East University Group, known as LASE or LASEUG. The new “super-university” is scheduled for an official launch on 7 September, exactly one year after the institutions first announced their plans.
Touted as the UK’s first “super-university,” it ranks as the third-largest higher education institution in the country by student numbers, operating campuses in London, Medway and Kent. The two founding universities will continue as distinct academic divisions within the group, retaining their individual names, identities, brands, courses and local presence. Students can apply to, study at and graduate from their chosen institution. The degree certificates will reflect the awarding university while also mentioning the LASE University Group. The staff from both institutions are now employed by the group.
Professor Jane Harrington, formerly vice-chancellor of the University of Greenwich, is set to serve as founding vice-chancellor and chief executive of LASE. At the same time, Professor Georgina Randsley de Moura, formerly acting vice-chancellor of Kent University, has been appointed senior deputy vice-chancellor and deputy CEO. Musician and broadcaster YolanDa Brown OBE DL is the inaugural group chancellor and Lord Paul Boateng is the pro-chancellor.
“There has been tireless work over the last year for an ambitious timetable and developing a new university model that has never been done before,” Harington told The Independent. “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.”
How will the ‘super university’ work?
The super-university is a single legal entity and Office for Students-registered provider with multiple academic trading arms. The Office for Students and Department for Education approved the structure, which the universities say could allow other institutions to join later as additional divisions. The Department for Education has consented to the trading names “University of Kent (part of LASEUG)” and “University of Greenwich (part of LASEUG).”
The partnership builds on more than two decades of collaboration, including joint provision at the shared Medway campus that began with the Medway School of Pharmacy in 2004. Officials from both universities have said the merger creates a stronger financial foundation amid sector-wide pressures, positions the group as a “blueprint for others to follow,” and aims to widen access, address skills gaps and expand research capacity in areas such as food security, sustainability, health and the creative industries.
The move occurs against a backdrop of deepening financial strain across English higher education. The Independent reported that MPs on the Education Committee warned earlier this year that there is a “real risk” a university in England could shut due to insolvency for the first time.
The Office for Students told the committee that it fears 24 providers are at risk of becoming insolvent and shutting shop by the end of this year, and warned that 45 per cent of higher education providers could be facing a deficit. Kent Online noted that the University of Kent has struggled financially in recent years and had been without a permanent vice-chancellor since the departure of Professor Karen Cox in May 2024.
The universities of Greenwich and Kent said previously that their merged group will provide a strong financial foundation for getting through economic challenges. In May, King’s College London and Cranfield University separately announced their own merger plans for 2027, further illustrating the sector’s search for structural solutions.
Students have been assured their day-to-day experience, courses, teaching locations and degree awards remain unchanged. Existing student visa sponsorships transfer to the new group. The Greenwich and Kent students’ unions have also confirmed plans to merge into a single organisation representing students across the LASE campuses.