In a joint statement, the two institutions said “cross contributions to undergraduate teaching” by their scholars would “ensure that the universities’ students benefit from the partnership by having access to an even broader range of leading academics”.

Overall, the collaboration in teaching, research and widening participation “aims to ensure that both universities continue to thrive amidst the increasing uncertainty and pressures facing higher education institutions in England”.

A spokeswoman for Queen Mary added that the universities would share lecturers in third-year undergraduate history, English and computer science seminars, and look to expand to other subjects in the future.

However, a spokesman for Warwick stressed that no decisions had been taken, claiming that there were no specific plans to share lecturers.

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As part of the deal, eight joint post-doctoral research fellowships have also been created, with research areas including: ethnicity and mental health in post-war Britain; discrete mathematics; rewiring the Renaissance, and functional molecular materials.

A spokesman for Warwick said each researcher would have a primary base at one of the institutions.

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Meanwhile, underprivileged schoolchildren from London will visit Warwick, and pupils from the Midlands will go to see Queen Mary as part of the collaboration.

This was not just to encourage them to apply to the two universities but also to “broaden horizons”, the spokesman explained.

The two institutions said the partnership was based on a “shared philosophy and mutual understanding” and would mean the two universities “retain their individuality whilst achieving common objectives through joint working in teaching, research and recruitment”.

david.matthews@tsleducation.com