University of Lincoln: What it's really like
Discover the University of Lincoln
If you’re after a modern university in a beautiful, historic location, the University of Lincoln could be the one for you!
Lincoln at a glance:
| Founded | 1861 roots in Hull School of Art; Brayford Pool Campus opened in 1996 |
| Locations | Lincoln, East Midlands, UK |
| Undergraduate course length | Three years |
| Courses | The university has four colleges: Arts, Science, Social science and the Lincoln International Business School. |
| Students | 17,000 |
| Great for | Students who want to enjoy all the benefits of a modern campus in a historic city. |
| Not for | Students looking for a very large university, perhaps spread across multiple campuses. |
Nicola Rushby, Student Recruitment Officer and alumna from the University of Lincoln, explains what student life at the university looks like.
What is the University of Lincoln?
The University of Lincoln is located in the heart of Lincoln, in the East Midlands. There are approx. 17,000 students on campus
Historically, the university’s subject strengths have been in the arts and social sciences. However, more recently, the sciences and the subjects taught at the university’s international business school have been on the rise as well. Medicine is also now taught at the university’s new purpose-built medical school.
The uni has a student-as-producer approach to learning, which emphasises students as collaborators and encourages student research.
Lincoln has partnerships with exciting businesses like Siemens, The Guardian and Santander, which provides students with work experience and networking opportunities.
Why apply to Lincoln?
A great reason for students to apply to Lincoln, is that they can study and learn on a modern, state-of-the-art campus - which has been named Modern University of the Year, 2021, in The Times & Sunday Times’ Good University Guide - whilst enjoying the historic city on their doorstep.
If you’re an international student, Lincoln is also a very easy city to navigate, with transport links including direct trains to London and several nearby airports. Plus, the Students’ Union supports over 2,000 students like you, from over 130 different countries!
Who isn’t the right fit for Lincoln?
If a student is looking for a typically bigger university - with say, 30,000 students, and maybe spread across lots of campuses - Lincoln might not be the right fit for them. But even if you think you know what type of university you’d like to go to, it’s always wise to visit a range to get an in-person feel for the campus and local area.
Any application tips?
Applying to Lincoln is super easy, and the university accepts a wide range of qualifications as the basis for entry. On the course pages of the University of Lincoln’s website, you’ll find the entry requirements listed as grades, but also as tariff points as well, and there’ll be subject specific entry requirements listed there too.
If students are ever unsure if their qualifications are accepted, it’s best to contact the Admissions team who will be happy to help.
In their applications, students should not only explain why they are passionate about their chosen subject, but also why they’re excited to come to the university.
What’s the location like?
The University of Lincoln is based on the Brayford Pool Waterfront, right in the city centre. Almost everything a student could need is available on campus - and if it isn’t, it’s likely a short walk away. There’s little need for students to use a car or even public transport.
Lincoln is a beautiful, friendly city, with a sense of community spirit. Around one in seven people here are students, so a lot of what goes on here is student-led.
There are two main parts to Lincoln. Uphill is more historic, with cobbled streets, Lincoln Castle and Cathedral, independent shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. Fun fact: some scenes from The Da Vinci Code were filmed in Lincoln Cathedral. Students get to graduate there too, making for a memorable experience.
Downhill, Lincoln is more modern, with a high street with plenty of shops, clubs, restaurants and cinemas.
What facilities does Lincoln have to offer?
The University of Lincoln’s facilities include a Human Performance Centre, used by many Sports students; 3D body scanners, driving simulators, and eye tracking labs for Psychology students; and TV studios, photography studios and editing suites for Film and Media students. For Medicine students, there is a Pro Section anatomy suite, and a biomedical and health sciences library. And that’s just to name a few!
All students have access to the Central Warehouse Library, which is open 24/7 for most of the year. The library boasts over 260,000 journals, and 750,000 print and e-books. There is also a quiet floor, and bookable rooms for individual or group work.
The Lincoln Performing Arts Centre - also known as the LPAC - hosts internal and external performances throughout the year. The Engine Shed is Lincolnshire’s largest entertainment venue, hosting regular student nights, and live music and comedians too.
That’s not to mention the Student Union and its three popular bars: The Towers, The Swan and The Barge.
What is the accommodation like?
Lincoln offers lots of different accommodation options to suit different needs and budgets, both on- and off-campus. The furthest accommodation option is probably 10 minutes walk away.
In university-managed accommodation, students can benefit from wifi and bills being included in the rent price, as well as contents insurance; a TV and license for all communal rooms; and 24/7 on-campus security.
How does Lincoln meet the needs of students with different accessibility requirements?
On campus, students can access academic support from personal tutors, through the library, and through the wellbeing team if it’s regarding learning differences in particular.
At the Wellbeing Centre, students can chat to trained wellbeing advisers, mental health advisers and counsellors for impartial advice on anything relating to disabilities, medical conditions, learning differences and mental health.
The Student Support Centre can offer advice on fees and funding, including helping students work out if they’re eligible for scholarships or bursaries. There’s also an on-campus NHS medical centre, Careers and Employability Centre and a chaplaincy.
The campus is very accessible for those who need to get around easily. It’s very flat, with plenty of lifts; plus the library has adjustable height workstations and low-level short-stay stations as well. The university also provides a variety of assistive software on both library computers and laptops.
Want to explore more UK universities? Remember, Unifrog’s Shortlisting tool can help you put together a list of great potential courses.