Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
Lincoln is a modern university with its main campus on the Brayford Pool waterfront, a short walk from the city centre and the historic uphill quarter around the cathedral and castle. Most first-year halls are on or right next to campus, so it's an easy place to settle in. The SU runs the Engine Shed, the county's biggest gig venue.
Lincoln is a small, friendly city rather than a big one, so the nightlife and shopping are more limited than in Nottingham or Leeds. The upside is cost: university halls run from about £129 to £191 a week, and private shared houses are cheaper than in most university cities.
Known for
The University of Lincoln is 14th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 56.4, above the UK median of 48.5. Our rankings are built around the student experience, combining employability, freshers experience, happiness, nightlife, sustainability, inclusion, innovation and societies. That means big research names don’t automatically top the table. See how we score universities.
Marker shows the UK median across all ranked universities.
| Rank | University | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Manchester Metropolitan University | 56.9 |
| 13 | University of Reading | 56.6 |
| 14 | University of Lincoln | 56.4 |
| 15 | University of the West of England | 56.3 |
| 16 | Arts University Bournemouth | 55.9 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
11th of 124 · Safety Score 64.2
12th of 124 · Wellbeing Score 69
12th of 124 · Affordability Score 69.7
14th of 124 · Freshers Score 66.7
18th of 124 · Innovation Score 66
18th of 124 · Nightlife Score 63.6
22nd of 123 · Happiness Score 61.5
25th of 124 · Social Score 61.8
29th of 124 · Sustainability Score 59.6
30th of 124 · Societies Score 61.6
33rd of 124 · Value Score 56.5
40th of 124 · Balance Score 47.4
47th of 122 · Careers Score 34.3
53rd of 124 · Employability Score 32.7
84th of 124 · Inclusion Score 51
Lincoln as a student city
Ranked 7th of 72 UK university cities in our Best University Cities 2027 ranking, with a score of 63.
The University of Lincoln appears in 48 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drama, Theatre and Performance | 1st | of 60 | 162 |
| Performing Arts | 1st | of 37 | 132 |
| Creative Writing | 1st | of 34 | 115 |
| Forensic Science | 1st | of 31 | 103 |
| Mathematics | 2nd | of 61 | 153 |
| Radiography | 1st | of 29 | 92 |
| Biochemistry | 3rd | of 60 | 158 |
| Sports Science | 4th | of 78 | 181 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 4th | of 77 | 190 |
| Marketing | 5th | of 88 | 198 |
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photography | 3rd | of 44 | 112 |
| International Relations | 5th | of 71 | 157 |
| Politics | 6th | of 78 | 164 |
| Biomedical Science | 9th | of 93 | 177 |
| Engineering (General) | 3rd | of 30 | 100 |
| Journalism | 6th | of 59 | 135 |
| Law | 10th | of 97 | 182 |
| Fine Art | 6th | of 58 | 154 |
| Physics | 5th | of 45 | 122 |
| Philosophy | 6th | of 54 | 135 |
| Psychology | 12th | of 108 | 192 |
| Graphic Design | 8th | of 68 | 166 |
| Nursing | 10th | of 85 | 175 |
| Cyber Security | 7th | of 58 | 142 |
| Film Production | 11th | of 87 | 192 |
| Business and Management | 15th | of 114 | 204 |
| Electrical Engineering | 9th | of 67 | 148 |
| Zoology | 5th | of 37 | 110 |
| Music | 8th | of 56 | 130 |
| Classics | 3rd | of 20 | 76 |
| Teaching | 12th | of 79 | 166 |
| Animation (2D/3D) | 8th | of 52 | 137 |
| History | 12th | of 76 | 157 |
| Accounting and Finance | 5th | of 30 | 183 |
| Midwifery | 9th | of 54 | 119 |
| Computer Science | 17th | of 102 | 186 |
| Economics | 15th | of 85 | 157 |
| Social Work | 12th | of 67 | 162 |
| Pharmacy | 6th | of 32 | 96 |
| Sociology | 17th | of 86 | 165 |
| Media and Communication | 16th | of 79 | 161 |
| Artificial Intelligence | 14th | of 66 | 113 |
| Criminology | 21st | of 94 | 171 |
| Geography | 15th | of 63 | 135 |
| Public Health | 4th | of 14 | 52 |
| Chemistry | 13th | of 44 | 104 |
| Architecture | 19th | of 55 | 112 |
| Product Design | 18th | of 43 | 97 |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
Student life centres on Brayford Pool, where campus, halls and the SU sit next to the city centre. Lincoln SU runs the Engine Shed and The Platform for gigs, comedy and student nights, plus Towers, a sports bar. There's an A–Z of sports clubs and societies, BUCS teams, volunteering and a free Feel Good activity programme. The SU was named a top-five union in the WhatUni Student Choice Awards 2024. Uphill Lincoln, with the cathedral and castle, is a steep walk away.
University halls cost £129–£191 per week (2026/27 university-managed rooms, 40–51-week contracts) (2026/27 prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
Lincoln doesn't promise a room. Its how-to-apply page says: "Every effort will be made to ensure that you are allocated accommodation from your preferred options, depending on demand." You list four options in order of preference. You need to have accepted Lincoln as your firm choice on UCAS, and once you get an offer you have five days to accept it and sign the contract.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 179 High Street | Between Brayford Pool campus and the High Street | en-suite or studio | £129/wk | The cheapest university option: en-suites £129 a week and studios £179, both on 44-week contracts. 282 en-suites and 19 studios. |
| Valentine Court | South of Brayford Pool campus | en-suite | £149/wk | About seven minutes' walk from campus. Classic, premium and deluxe en-suites at £149–£159 a week, on 40- or 46-week contracts. 469 rooms. |
| The Gateway | Brayford Pool campus | en-suite or studio | £159/wk | On campus, with 519 rooms. Cluster en-suites £159 a week (44 weeks), studios £179 (46 weeks). Includes gym membership. |
| St Marks | Next to Brayford Pool campus | en-suite | £175/wk | The biggest site: 1,372 en-suites across 10 blocks. £191 a week on a 40-week contract, £186 for 44 weeks, or £175 for 51 weeks. |
| Cygnet Wharf | Brayford area | en-suite | £191/wk | En-suite rooms at £191 a week on a 44-week contract. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
Streets of terraced houses west of the Brayford, popular with second and third years.
Flats and purpose-built blocks close to campus, shops and bars.
Historic and pretty, but quieter, pricier, and up Steep Hill.
Top tip
You can apply once Lincoln is your firm choice on UCAS. For 2027 entry, applications are expected to open in November 2026. You get four preferences, and once you're offered a room you have five days to accept and sign, so check your emails. Shorter 40-week contracts (St Marks, Valentine Court) save money if you'll go home for the summer.
Lincoln is cheaper than most university cities. University halls cost £129–£191 a week in 2026/27, and the university's international advice service puts university accommodation at about £700–£870 a month and a private room in a shared house at around £585–£700 a month. It estimates a single student needs at least £10,539 a year on top of tuition fees.
Getting around
Lincoln is compact, and most students walk: the Brayford Pool campus, most halls and the city centre are a few minutes apart. Lincoln Central station is a short walk from campus, with direct trains to Nottingham, Sheffield and Newark for London services. The historic uphill area is a steep climb. Local buses are run mainly by Stagecoach.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
The University of Lincoln is 14th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 56.4. Its strongest results are for safety (11th), student wellbeing (12th), affordability (12th).
In our 2027 subject rankings, the University of Lincoln places highest for Drama, Theatre and Performance (1st of 60), Performing Arts (1st of 37), Creative Writing (1st of 34), Forensic Science (1st of 31). Across our awards, it also stands out for safety.
Yes. The main Brayford Pool campus is on the waterfront, a few minutes' walk from the High Street and Lincoln Central station. The historic cathedral quarter is up the hill, a steeper walk away.
Not formally. The university says it will make every effort to give you one of your four preferred options, depending on demand. You apply once Lincoln is your firm choice on UCAS, and for 2027 entry applications are expected to open in November 2026.
University-managed rooms for 2026/27 range from £129 a week (179 High Street en-suite) to £191 a week (Cygnet Wharf, or St Marks on a 40-week contract). All are en-suites or studios, and contracts run from 40 to 51 weeks.
Mostly 44 or 46 weeks, running from 20 September 2026. St Marks and Valentine Court offer 40-week contracts ending in late June, and St Marks also has a 51-week option.
It's smaller than the big student cities, but the SU's Engine Shed and The Platform host gigs, comedy and club nights, and the Brayford waterfront and High Street have plenty of bars. For bigger nights out, Nottingham is about an hour away by train.
Yes. Lincoln Medical School opened in 2021 and is run in partnership with the University of Nottingham. Check the medical school's own pages for entry requirements and where you'd live.
About this guide. Rankings data comes from the Unifresher Rankings 2027 (methodology). Facts, hall prices and costs come from the university and official sources listed below. Last updated 23 October 2026.
