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Equality of opportunity

At Lincoln, we believe that everyone should have the chance to access and thrive in higher education, no matter their background or personal circumstances. As part of our commitment to equality of opportunity – and in line with requirements set by the Office for Students – our Access and Participation Plan outlines the steps we’re taking to make university more open, fair, and supportive for students who might face extra barriers.

This includes working with schools and colleges to support their students in taking the next step, creating inspiring on-campus experiences, and ensuring our admissions process is fair and inclusive. And once here, our support continues with financial aid, academic mentoring, careers advice, and expert wellbeing services. It’s all about helping you get in, feel at home, and achieve your goals with confidence.

Our core commitments in the plan:

Inclusive opportunities

We’re committed to increasing access to higher education for students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Breaking barriers

We’re working with schools and colleges to challenge perceptions of university and make sure young men feel supported and confident in taking the next steps into higher education.

Attainment equality

We’re supporting ethnic minority students to progress through their studies on an equal footing with their peers, working towards closing attainment gaps.

Tackling disability differences

We’re committed to ensuring disabled students have the right support to achieve their goals, tailoring interventions to understand and meet individual needs and experiences.

Fair outcomes for all

We’re working to remove the challenges that students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds face, helping them progress and succeed at the same rate as their peers.

Empowered for employment

We’re committed to ensuring disabled students at Lincoln have the right support to transition into graduate jobs or further study, creating a clear path for success beyond university.

Supporting you on your journey

Our commitment to improving access and participation starts before you enrol and continues during your time with us. From providing alternative entry routes to our courses, to offering financial, academic, and careers support, there are dedicated services in place for you.

Scholarships and bursaries

To help with the costs of going to university for the first time, we offer a range of scholarships and bursaries for eligible students. Some of these are applied directly to students through information disclosed during application, and some are available for students to apply for. The full list is available on the scholarships and bursaries site.

University of Lincoln Scholarship for low-income households

The University of Lincoln Scholarship is for UK students whose household income is less than £45,875/year.

Find out more

Blackburn Bursary for care leavers

The Blackburn Bursary aims to provide extra support for students coming to the University who have previously received local authority care and are defined as ‘care leavers’, as determined in the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000.

Find out more

Foyer Bursary for students living in supported housing

The Foyer/Supported Housing Bursary is for students who come directly from living in a Foyer or other supported housing, where they have lived between the ages of 16 to 18. Each year the Foyer Federation inform the University of students’ who intend to enrol directly from living in a Foyer.

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George Major Bursary for students with life-limiting conditions

George Major Bursaries aims to provide bursaries for students with life-limiting illnesses - a life-limiting condition is an incurable condition that will shorten a person's life, though they may continue to live an active life for many years

Find out more

Raising ambitions

We provide bespoke guidance to schools and colleges across the UK, working closely with students from all backgrounds to help them explore the full range of educational opportunities to help them pursue their dreams and achieve their goals and ambitions.

Our dedicated team of advisors visits schools and colleges across the country offering expert advice and support through in-class sessions, workshops, and presentations. The team also organises online sessions and exciting events on our Brayford Pool Campus, where students can explore our first-class facilities, while experiencing what life is like as a student at the University of Lincoln.

WOW Summer School

The Wellbeing Orientation Welcome (WOW) summer school is a free event that supports students who have a diagnosis or condition which may make the transition to university more challenging. It's the perfect way to get to know the University, make friends, and have fun.

A student holding a black tote bag with WOW written on it

Our Student Charter

The University's Student Charter outlines our commitment to delivering a high-quality learning experience to all of our students, whoever they are and wherever they are from.

Data sharing privacy notice

To help us with our goals of promoting access to higher education, we collect, use, and share your personal data when you participate in outreach and widening participation activities, recorded in the Higher Education Access Tracker (HEAT). Please see our privacy notice.