General

Who will run the merged institution?

Cranfield University and King’s College London have announced the news that the two universities have signed an agreement as the first step towards a merger, with the aim of bringing the two institutions together from August 2027. 

This is the first stage and there are several further legal and regulatory steps before a formal merger would occur. Until that point both Cranfield and King’s remain as independent universities.

On merger Cranfield will become part of King’s College London, and Cranfield’s name, brands and campuses will all become part of King’s.

Professor Shitij Kapur will continue as Vice-Chancellor & President of King’s College London.

Professor Dame Karen Holford, Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor of Cranfield University, will lead Cranfield until the merger is completed.

Is the name of the institution changing?

The name of King’s College London is not changing. On merger Cranfield will no longer be an independent university. Cranfield’s unique heritage, longstanding specialisms and globally recognised name and brand name will be safeguarded by becoming a part of King's College London.

Who will sit on the King’s SLT / Leadership at King’s group / Council / various other committees?

Cranfield University and King’s College London have announced the news that the two universities have signed an agreement as the first step towards a merger, with the aim of bringing the two institutions together from August 2027.

On merger Cranfield will become part of King’s College London. Cranfield’s name, brands and campuses will all become part of King’s. Full integration will take time to achieve, and the next stage of the process will determine the future leadership arrangements.

What is the timeline for next steps? 

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is the first stage in a detailed process of collaboration between Cranfield and King’s to merge the two universities. The next stage is formal due diligence, the development of detailed academic and business plans and the drafting of the legally binding merger agreement.

Subject to approval by both universities’ Councils, we anticipate that agreement will be signed by the end of 2026.

Following this there will be a detailed process of preparation, integration planning and obtaining the consents and approvals necessary for the completion of the merger. It is anticipated that Cranfield and King’s would merge as a single institution in August 2027.

Following the merger there will be an extended period of integration over several years.

How is this being funded?

The proposed merger is not expected to require additional funding, except for the project management and necessary due diligence and legal costs.

In merging with Cranfield, King’s, as the larger partner, will take on Cranfield’s assets and liabilities, including borrowing commitments. The combined institution will have the same total borrowing as the two individual universities.

Any future investments after the merger will be funded in the same way as other King’s internal investments, through reinvesting our operating surplus.

Has this been given OfS regulatory approval?

The OfS has been notified that the two universities have signed an agreement as the first step towards a merger, with the aim of bringing the two institutions together from August 2027.  Their formal approval will be sought at the appropriate time, following the exchange of the legally binding agreement as part of the next part of the process.

Who will the Student Union President be and will the governance of the SU change?

The Cranfield Students’ Association and King’s College London Students’ Union are independent organisations. The model for a future students’ association or union will be for them to work through. We anticipate that this will happen over the next stage in the process.

Does King’s have any experience in mergers?

King’s has a proud and successful history of delivering effective and successful mergers. A major proportion of our activity, reputation, students and staff were once part of organisations that chose to merge with us. Beginning with the Queen Elizabeth and Chelsea College; the Kings College Hospital School of Medicine; Guy’s and St. Thomas’ medical schools; the Nightingale College of Nursing and the Institute of Psychiatry. In all these instances, these schools have successfully transitioned to King’s – thriving within it and contributing to the King’s we have become today. We expect the same with Cranfield.

Will there be any job losses or restructures?

This merger is driven by academic opportunity and the ambition to compete with the best in the world. The merger is not driven by financial savings or cost cutting. Cranfield is in the process of delivering an ambitious change programme, the merger is not predicated on Cranfield delivering further additional cost savings from its operations outside of what is required by their current change programme. The merger will allow King’s and Cranfield to combine their strengths to enhance the educational offering to students and improve the ability to support national priorities, including those identified in the government’s industrial strategy – in turn acting as an engine for national renewal.

As the two institutions work towards merger, it may be that some areas are identified which could be structured to more efficiently deliver on these objectives. This is similar to the approach we are already taking at King’s – to identify and deliver efficiency and productivity improvements in the service of our academic ambitions.

How will the merger benefit King’s?

King’s will be strengthened by Cranfield’s distinctive expertise in technology, engineering and management and its deep and longstanding partnerships with industry and government. We will be able to operate at a scale and over a breadth of academic areas which would be impossible to achieve from our current campuses.

Together we will build on our complementary strengths to create a university that brings together discovery, application and education at scale, working in partnership with industry and government to deliver real-world impact and build national resilience. This merger will also help us deliver on our Strategy 2030 goals – including driving student success in and beyond the University, supporting academic excellence and fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. By uniting our complementary strengths, we will further enhance our ability to deliver world-class education, impactful research and highly skilled graduates aligned with national and global priorities in science, innovation and economic growth.

Will anything change for existing King’s staff, faculties or departments?

Cranfield University and King’s College London have announced the news that the two universities have signed an agreement as the first step towards a merger, with the aim of bringing the two institutions together from August 2027. 

This is the first stage and there are several further legal and regulatory steps before a formal merger would occur. Until that point both Cranfield and King’s remain as independent universities and it will be business as usual for most staff over this period.

When the merger completes, there will be some operational changes as our two universities integrate, however it is too early in the process to say for certain how this may look. It is important to reiterate that any changes brought about by the merger will be considered carefully and thoroughly, and over time.

What due diligence on financial, legal, academic and reputational risks has been done?

Both universities have begun and are continuing robust and thorough due diligence activities to ensure that this merger is financially, legally, academically and reputationally sound and that it aligns with the strategic objectives of both institutions. The Councils of each organisation have endorsed the approach for further due diligence for this merger.

Why is the University merging with another institution rather than investing those resources elsewhere?

The central pillars of Strategy 2030 are to strengthen our research in ways that respond to society’s changing needs, prepare our students for success beyond the University, and expand innovation, entrepreneurship and education beyond the campus and beyond the degree. This proposed merger aligns closely with this strategic ambition and allows us to embrace a scale and potential that would be very hard to achieve ourselves, especially given the limitations of our current estate.

It enhances our opportunities to grow engineering and technology, particularly as the national research agenda shifts towards the eight technologies and the industrial missions. It builds on our strengths by enabling us to secure a world-leading position in academic aspects of national resilience and security, while also strengthening our proposition in business and management. It will also allow us to offer students a far more expansive, industry-woven experience through Cranfield’s extensive and deep industry connections.

These opportunities would be difficult for King’s to deliver from our current position with our current estate and investment capacity, so the merger enables a step-change for the institution.

Will the merger change our University’s academic profile or priorities?

The merger will significantly enhance our capacity in engineering and technology, environmental science, defence and security, and management and business, enabling us to build and maintain leading capabilities across these areas. The full value of the merger will be realised from building wider connectivity across the full scope of Cranfield and King’s, through new education offerings and interdisciplinary research.

At an institutional level, the merger will create an enabling capability that benefits the whole of the combined institution. Capability in engineering, technology and environmental sciences at scale is increasingly a catalyst for progress across health, the social sciences, arts and humanities, and professional disciplines. By integrating engineering, environmental science and technology with our full academic breadth, the merged institution strengthens every faculty’s ability to deliver societal impact, global partnerships and future-ready education at scale.

Early estimates suggest that the merger would significantly increase the “REF Power” score for King’s and is very likely to enhance our international ranking in a number of disciplines.

What will the impact be on REF29?

It is too early to say what the impact will be on the REF29 process and whether King’s and Cranfield will make a joint REF29 submission or submit separately. As the REF29 submission deadline is Autumn 2028, we will engage with Research England and seek further guidance to help inform future decisions. The focus for now will be for existing preparations to continue unchanged. 

Could any existing projects be paused or deprioritised because of the merger?

During these early stages, things will remain broadly unchanged for most staff undertaking their day-to-day activities and existing projects will in most cases continue.

We will begin to rescope some projects as the merger provides new opportunities not previously open to us. When the merger completes, there will be some operational changes as our two universities integrate, however it is too early in the process to say for certain how exactly this may impact individual projects or how this may look. It is important to reiterate however, that the objectives of Strategy 2030 remain a key focus, and this merger will significantly enhance our ability to deliver for students’ success beyond the University (building on Cranfield’s extensive industry connections) and also greatly strengthen King’s ability to compete in the new industry-related research as required by the new directions of UKRI. Any changes brought about by the merger will be considered carefully and thoroughly, and over time.

Will professional services teams be asked to support integration work in addition to business-as-usual responsibilities?

During these early stages of the merger, things will remain unchanged for most staff. Some select staff may be seconded to special roles to support with forward planning, but until completion of the merger, services cannot be integrated.

We will continue to seek improvements in our processes and services, and continue to plan for the enhanced student services within Bush House South-West Wing.

Will academic staff at King’s be expected to teach, supervise or collaborate across both sites?

We are still in the early stages of this proposed merger and operationally there is a lot to work through, including our approach to working across sites. In some cases we may explore where there are opportunities to work across sites. It is important to reiterate that any changes brought about by the merger will be considered carefully and thoroughly, and over time.

How will the University ensure transparent communication with staff throughout the process?

We are still in the early stages of this proposed merger and operationally there is a lot to establish as our two universities integrate. As we progress through this process, we will provide regular updates and opportunities to ask questions in the same way as we have with Strategy 2030.

Will this impact our commitments to sustainability and net-zero?

Our sustainability strategy remains in place and central to our work. Cranfield has particular strengths in research around sustainability. It is a leading research university when it comes to Net-Zero Aviation and is the national centre for the transition to Hydrogen. It has received specific funding to accelerate the decarbonisation of its own energy use, so the merger will enhance our work in this space.

Will this impact pensions, benefits, flexible working arrangements or pay progression?

Working terms for King’s staff will not change as a result of the merger with Cranfield.

Will this change anything for current students at King’s?

Cranfield University and King’s College London have announced the news that the two universities have signed an agreement as the first step towards a merger, with the aim of bringing the two institutions together from August 2027. 

There is no change for current King’s students, and we remain focused on delivering an excellent experience for all our students.

Will this change affect the value or reputation of King’s and my degree?

The aim of the merger is to continue to enhance the reputation of King’s by uniting the complementary strengths of the two universities and building on them in the future. This increase in national and international standing will enhance the value and reputation of our University and, in turn, the degrees of our graduates, further strengthening the value of a King’s education.

The title King’s College London will not change and there will be no change to the institution title in degree or other awards.

How will the University ensure that existing students remain a priority during the transition?

Our students are always a priority and the proposed merger will not change this. We will continue to work with the same vigour on the measures outlined in Strategy 2030 to support student success in and beyond the University.

Why is the University merging with another institution rather than investing those resources elsewhere?

The central pillars of Strategy 2030 are to strengthen our research in ways that respond to society’s changing needs, prepare our students for success beyond the University, and expand innovation, entrepreneurship and education beyond the campus and beyond the degree. This proposed merger aligns closely with this strategic ambition and allows us to embrace a scale and potential that would be hard to achieve ourselves.

It enhances our opportunities to grow engineering and technology, particularly as the national research agenda shifts towards the eight technologies and the industrial missions. It builds on our strengths by enabling us to secure a world-leading position in academic aspects of national resilience and security, while also strengthening our proposition in business and management. It will also allow us to offer students a far more expansive, industry-woven experience through Cranfield’s extensive and deep industry connections.

These opportunities would be difficult for King’s to deliver from our current position with our current estate and investment capacity, so the merger enables a step-change for the institution.

Will current King’s students be expected to study at / in Cranfield?

Current King’s students will not be expected to study at Cranfield. We are in the early stages of a proposed merger, and will, however, explore opportunities to offer our future students additional and enhanced experiences on an optional basis, which we are not currently able to offer.

Will there be any impact on tuition fees for current students?

There will be no impact on the agreement on tuition fees established on the entry of students to King’s.

Will student union structures or representation arrangements change?

The Cranfield Students’ Association and King’s College London Students’ Union are independent organisations. The model for a future students’ association or union will be for them to work through. We anticipate that this will happen over the next stage in the process.

If I have an offer from King’s but haven’t accepted it yet, will it still be honoured?

The merger will not impact offers that have been made by King’s.

If I have accepted an offer from King’s, will it still be honoured?

The merger will not impact offers that have been made by King’s.

Will there still be enough accommodation for me, if Cranfield students will be moving to the King’s campuses?

The merger will have no impact on accommodation availability in London for King’s students. Any changes in the future would be carefully managed to ensure that we continue to offer high-quality accommodation options to students in London.

Will the course offers open to me, and module choices, and access to supervisors, advertised by King’s, still be honoured?

Yes, the merger does not affect programmes or modules offered as part of existing King’s programmes. These will continue to be offered on the same basis as before.

Will I be able to study some modules / courses from Cranfield as part of my degree now?

We are in the early stages of a proposed merger, and there remains much to work through. At this stage Cranfield programmes and modules will not be available to King’s students. However, when the merger is complete, we will explore opportunities to offer students additional and enhanced experiences on an optional basis which we are not currently able to offer.

Will I have to travel to Cranfield for part of my study?

We are in the early stages of a proposed merger, and will explore opportunities to offer our future students additional and enhanced experiences on an optional basis, which we are not currently able to offer.

Will there be future investment in the London campuses for students?

There will be continued investment in both King’s and Cranfield campuses. We do not intend to cancel any existing investments to fund the merger.

Will my degree certificate still say King’s?

Yes, current and prospective students of King’s will continue to receive degrees from King’s College London.

Will King’s still be able to offer visas for international students?

Yes, visa arrangements will remain unchanged.

Will I still be able to access a Graduate Route visa, and in time, a Skilled Worker visa?

Yes, visa arrangements will remain unchanged.

Will the fees for my course now change?

No, advertised fees for King’s programmes will not change as a result of the merger.

Will qualifications already awarded remain unchanged and fully recognised?

Yes, previously awarded qualifications will remain unchanged and fully recognised.

Will there be any impact on the King’s degree I hold?

This announcement is about the intention of Cranfield University and King’s College London to merge in August 2027. There is no change for current Cranfield and King’s students.

We will meet all our current commitments to all our students, and we remain focused on delivering an excellent experience for all our students.

There will be no change to the title ‘King’s College London’, and there will be no change to the institution title in degrees or other awards.

Will any of the departments / faculties, including the ones I studied at, close at King’s?

As we bring the two organisations together, we will review our structures, but it is not our intention to close any departments or faculties.

Will existing alumni associations at King's be merged with Cranfield Alumni Associations, for example KCLA and the King's Engineering Alumni Association?

We are in the early stages of a proposed merger, and there remains much to work through. We will consult with and collaborate with all alumni associations, some of which are separate legal entities, and work together to find the best way forward. Throughout this process we will be keen to preserve the unique nature and identity of both alumni communities and be thoughtful about how they could, and if they should be integrated. Our aim will be to ensure that alumni of both institutions can feel and enjoy the benefits of the new strengthened institution whilst retaining their unique identity.

Will King's alumni have access to the Cranfield campus and Cranfield specific alumni benefits and vice versa?

Both institutions have a suite of alumni benefits including campus access, and although we are at an early stage of exploring the merger, our intention would be to integrate and share as many alumni benefits as possible as we bring our two global communities together.

Will King's regional alumni groups and committees including the newly launched KBS Chapters be merged with similar volunteer structures that exist at Cranfield?

We are in the early stages of a proposed merger, and there remains much to work through. We will consult with and collaborate with our alumni volunteer community and work together to find the best way forward. Throughout this process we will be keen to preserve the unique nature and identity of both alumni communities and be thoughtful about how they could and should be integrated. Our aim will be to find solutions that ensure that alumni of both institutions can enjoy the benefits of the new strengthened institution. We hope that alumni will be keen to embrace this expanded international community and the opportunities it will bring for enhanced connections and engagement.