The Universities of Kent and Greenwich have merged to create what they describe as the UK's first "super-university". The two universities will still operate as distinct academic divisions within the university group, retaining their current names. The higher education institutions announced plans to merge in September last year. The Office for Students (OfS), the higher education regulator in England, told the committee that it fears 24 providers are at risk of becoming insolvent and closing in the 12 months from November last year, and warned 45 per cent of higher education providers could be facing a deficit for 2025/26. In May, King's College London and Cranfield University, based in Bedford, announced plans to merge in August 2027.