The newly formed London and South East University Group (LASE), set to launch in September, spans four campuses across London, Medway, and Kent.

It will become the nation's third-largest higher education institution, with approximately 50,000 students, sitting behind the Open University (around 125,000 students) and University College London (just over 50,000 students).

The new multi-university group, billed as the U.K.'s first "super-university," introduces a first-of-its-kind model that brings the two institutions under a single umbrella while allowing each to retain its own name, identity, academic programs, and local presence.

"It is designed to enable other universities to join in the future," the University of Kent said on its website.

Despite the merger, the University of Kent and the University of Greenwich will continue to operate under their existing names as separate academic divisions within LASE.

Students will continue to apply to, study at, and graduate from their chosen university, The Independent reported.

The University of Kent in a photo on its Facebook page.

Kent and Greenwich leaders noted that combining operations will strengthen their financial standing and could serve as a model for other universities navigating similar economic challenges.

"The combined entity will provide a strong financial foundation to weather current and future economic challenges, widen access to higher education, address skills gaps and inequalities, and increase research capacity, particularly in shared priority areas, such as food security and sustainability, health and wellbeing and the creative industries," the University of Kent stated on its website.

"Its collective power will enable it to tackle real world issues with greater impact locally, nationally and globally," the statement continued.

Professor Jane Harrington, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Greenwich and the new Chief Executive of LASE, said the new model enables the two schools to build on their 20-year cooperation.

"This is a truly significant moment for the sector, which we hope could provide a blueprint for other institutions in the future. We are bringing our institutions together within a unique new group structure whilst being able to retain the strength of our individual trading names and longstanding university identities."

(From L) Craig McWilliam, chair of the Governing Body, University of Greenwich; Professor Georgina Randsley de Moura, Acting Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Kent; Professor Jane Harrington, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer of the University of Greenwich; Mark Preston, chair of the Council, University of Kent. Photo courtesy of University of Greenwich

The move comes as Britain's higher education sector faces mounting financial strain.

According to the Office for Students (OfS), England's higher education regulator, 24 institutions were at risk of becoming insolvent within a year of last November. Nearly half of all higher education providers are projected to run deficits during the 2025-26 academic year.

A report released in May by MPs on the education select committee warned that the higher education sector was "facing a financial crisis" and that there was "a clear possibility of a university closing," according The Guardian.

It noted that the report highlighted many universities had already cut jobs, sold buildings or land, and discontinued courses.

As for LASE's operation, the U.K. Visas and Immigration has confirmed that all existing student visa sponsorship arrangements with the Universities of Greenwich and Kent will seamlessly transfer to the new multi-university group, according to the University of Kent's website.

The university added that there will be no changes to existing student loan arrangements as a result of the merger.

A new Chancellor, governing body, and senior executive team for LASE have been appointed and officially took up their roles earlier this week, the University of Greenwich announced.