Two leading UK universities, Kent and Greenwich, have merged to form the London and South East University Group (LASE), touted as the country’s first ‘super-university’ and now the third-largest in Britain with more than 50,000 students across four campuses in London, Medway, and Kent.

LASE officially launches as a multi-university group aimed at widening access, addressing skills gaps, boosting regional economic growth, and enhancing teaching and research impact across Southeast London, Medway, and Kent.

Effective, ongoing communications with staff, students, governors, and external partners are central to leading through this transformative change and reducing uncertainty.

The collaboration concentrates on shared strengths in health and wellbeing, food and sustainability innovation, and the creative industries to tackle societal challenges and benefit local communities.

The merger completed legally on 1 August; it’s a milestone rather than an endpoint, with work ongoing to develop a sector-wide blueprint and to share lessons for other institutions considering similar moves.

Leaders acknowledge ongoing cost pressures—from higher living costs to potential changes in student fees and an anticipated international student levy of £925 per student annually from 2028‑29—that shape strategic decisions.

A core lesson is that collaboration should be driven by opportunity, with trust and relationship-building between institutions established well before formal agreements.

The merger is framed as strengthening finances amid broader financial strains in UK higher education, alongside warnings from MPs and the Office for Students about insolvency risks and deficits among providers.

LASE is developing a ‘blueprint’ of lessons learned to guide others, with the merged entity operating as distinct academic divisions under the member universities and offering new subjects plus shared services like libraries and wellbeing.

Visible leadership, inclusive engagement, and a culture of honest feedback are emphasized to refine plans and align expectations across the two universities and their communities.

Context includes broader consolidation trends in UK higher education, with a separate planned merger between King’s College London and Cranfield University slated for August 2027.

LASE expands access to four campuses, enhances facilities and support services, and plans deeper employer partnerships to enrich the student experience over time.