University of Lincoln

In an attractive city with a cathedral and a castle, the University of Lincoln is at the vanguard of modern higher education. A £400 million investment over the past two decades has transformed a former industrial site into the modern waterfront Brayford Pool campus, offering wide-ranging specialist resources. 

Lincoln's academic ambitions have been similarly evolutionary. Its School of Engineering was the first in the UK in more than 20 years when it opened, and a medical school which has operated jointly with the University of Nottingham becomes independent of its partner from September 2026.

Turning its transformative touch to the arts too, the university's newly opened Barbican Creative Hub occupies a grade II listed building in the city, fitted out to cater for the region’s creative and cultural industries to collaborate. On campus, there is an accent on contemporary visual and performing arts at the Lincoln Arts Centre and the university has joined the Arts Council England’s National Portfolio of Organisations. Lincoln’s nightlife is buzzier than the city’s medieval charm might suggest, and the Engine Shed on campus is the county's largest music and entertainment venue.

What is the University of Lincoln’s reputation? 

The university joined an elite group when it was awarded triple gold in the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023). Assessors praised its outstanding course content, delivery, and resources, as well as its "supportive learning environment". More than three quarters (79 per cent) of Lincoln’s research was judged to be internationally excellent or world-leading in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021). History, social policy, allied health professions and computer science produced some of the best results and it rose one place to 66th in our research rating. 

Lincoln is home to the world’s first Centre for Doctoral Training in Agri-Food Robotics, and the National Centre for Food Manufacturing. In February 2024 the university was awarded the Queen's Anniversary prize to recognise its work. 

The financial challenges felt across UK universities include at Lincoln, where staff cuts to save costs have been made, with more reported to come as the university seeks to break even.

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What degree courses have been discontinued and what new ones are available?

Eight degrees have been withdrawn, seven of them with immediate effect, including sport development and coaching, robotics and chemistry with education. Public health and human behaviour has replaced health and social care. 

Lincoln’s own medicine degree will be introduced from 2026, and its medicine with a gateway year began in September 2025. New degrees in computer science, sport coaching and media and communications have also been launched.

What are the University of Lincoln’s entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?

Ninety-six points in the Ucas tariff is sufficient for entry to some degrees, while requirements can be as high as 136 points for pharmacy. Medicine degrees call for AAA, as set by its medical school partner, the University of Nottingham. Contextual offers are eight Ucas points lower for students from areas with lower rates of progression to higher education. Fourteen per cent of entrants were accepted through clearing in 2024.

What are the graduate prospects?

The TEF panel praised Lincoln for its "highly effective" approaches to helping students after graduation. However, Lincoln ranks 89th in our analysis of graduate outcomes based on the proportion of graduates in highly skilled jobs or postgraduate study 15 months on.

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What is the University of Lincoln’s campus like?

Lincoln’s investment at Brayford Pool has created dedicated facilities, from the Great Central Warehouse Library to the Isaac Newton Building for computer science, maths, physics and engineering. The Lincoln Science and Innovation Park (a joint venture with the Lincolnshire Co-Op) features a pharmacy clinical skills suite and the Lincoln Medical School houses the latest laboratories and diagnostic tools.

When can I visit? 

lincoln.ac.uk

Everything you need to know about the University of Lincoln’s student life and wellbeing support

Everything is within walking distance in Lincoln, which is popular with students for its sense of history as well as safety. The city’s bars and pubs, combined with events on campus, provide enough nightlife for most. 

A sports centre on campus includes a hall and outdoor pitches. There are on-site fitness instructors and gym members have access to weekly classes such as HIIT, Zumba and boxing. The £6 million Lincoln Arts Centre has a 450-seat theatre and three large studio spaces.

Students can access a wellbeing hub via drop-ins, phone or email. The university’s WOW (Wellbeing Orientation Welcome) summer school is a two-night experience for students with autism or other conditions that may make the transition to university more challenging.

What do the students say?

"The University of Lincoln is in the centre of a buzzing and vibrant city, which has an active social scene. The university’s ‘one community’ values create a safe, open and inclusive space for students. There is also a wide range of sports and societies, as well as social and hospitality venues.”
Amelia Hinton, student support and development officer at the students’ union, BSc events management

What about student accommodation at the University of Lincoln?

A space in halls is guaranteed to first-years who apply before August 1. Residential wardens are on hand around the clock, providing support and organising social activities.

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How diverse and inclusive is the University of Lincoln?

Efforts to widen participation include pre-course transition events and foundation years. Lincoln has dropped to 58= in our social inclusion index but has a high share of white working-class male students, ranking 18th.

Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at the University of Lincoln

Most new full-time undergraduate students (85 to 90 per cent) received some financial support in 2025. The University of Lincoln scholarship, worth £500 per year for up to three years, is awarded automatically to full-time UK undergraduates with household incomes of less than £25,000.