King’s College London to merge with Cranfield, create UK’s second-largest university

King’s College London and Cranfield University have signed an agreement to merge in a move expected to create one of the UK’s largest centres for research, engineering and advanced technology studies, according to the BBC.The merger is scheduled to take effect from August 2027, although the name of the combined organisation has not yet been confirmed.Once completed, the new entity is expected to have around 47,000 students, making it the second-largest mainstream higher education provider in the UK after University College London.The agreement would also bring roughly 5,000 mainly postgraduate students from Cranfield into the King’s system.The merger is aimed at expanding Britain’s capabilities in sectors including engineering, artificial intelligence, defence, energy, manufacturing and climate research.Prof Shitij Kapur, Vice-Chancellor and President of King’s College London, said the merger was intended to help create a stronger global organisation.“It is a deliberate step to bring some of the best of UK to compete with the best in the world,” Kapur said.He added that the partnership would create “new educational possibilities for students” and strengthen collaboration with industry and government.The combined organisation is expected to focus on areas including aerospace, robotics, hydrogen energy systems, life sciences, public leadership and national security.Cranfield, which specialises in postgraduate education and applied research, is known for its links with industry and government, particularly in aerospace and defence.Prof Dame Karen Holford, Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor of Cranfield University, said the merger would create a “global university” with greater international scale.She said Cranfield’s applied research expertise and long-standing industry partnerships would combine with King’s broader academic network.UK Science Minister Patrick Vallance backed the proposal, saying it had the potential to strengthen the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor and support Britain’s science and technology ambitions.