Kent and Greenwich Universities Merge to Form LASE, the UK’s First “Super-University”

The University of Kent and the University of Greenwich legally merged last month, creating the London and South East University Group (LASE). The new entity will operate as two distinct academic divisions under their existing names, allowing students to continue applying to and graduating from either university while sharing resources across four campuses in south-east London, Medway and Canterbury. With more than 50,000 students, LASE becomes the third-largest university group in the United Kingdom.

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The combined group will offer programmes that were previously unavailable to each institution alone and will provide shared access to libraries and wellbeing services. Leadership argues the merger positions LASE to address regional youth unemployment, noting the mix of urban deprivation in south-east London, rural deprivation in Medway and Kent, and coastal deprivation along the Kent shoreline. The group also intends to develop a “blueprint” for the Department for Education that could serve as a model for future university consolidations.

BBC News

The merger occurs amid widening fiscal strain across UK higher education. The Office for Students warned that 24 providers face insolvency risk and that 45 % of institutions could record deficits in 2025/26. The regulator also signalled an international student levy of £925 per student per year beginning in the 2028-29 academic year. According to the Office for National Statistics, an estimated 981,000 young people aged 16-24 were classified as NEETs (not in education, employment or training) between April and June, a figure that remains 30,000 higher than a year earlier.

The Independent

Prof Jane Harrington, vice-chancellor of Greenwich and chief executive of LASE, said the merger makes the universities “much stronger” together and will help the group respond more quickly to financial challenges. The University and College Union previously warned that such consolidations could signal a broader systemic problem for the sector.

The Independent

• “We are much stronger now we’re together," Prof Harrington added.” — Prof Harrington, chief executive

The Independent

• “International students are more difficult to bring into the UK; the cost of living’s gone up constantly; we’ve got more costs within the university; student fees after 12 years are now in a position where they can increase slightly but we don’t know what will happen after two years; and then we’re going to have an international levy imposed on us.” — Prof Harrington, chief executive

The Independent