Finance and Funding
How much does it cost to study at Lincoln?
It costs no more to attend Lincoln College than it does to attend most other UK universities. In fact, living costs at Lincoln can often be substantially cheaper than at other UK universities. This is for three main reasons:
- Terms at Oxford are only 8 weeks long, which is shorter than most other UK universities. At Lincoln, you’ll only pay rent during term time (unless you have applied to stay in your room over the vacation period or are on a 37 week contract)
- Both accommodation and food at Lincoln are subsidised
- Both Lincoln College and the central University of Oxford have very generous financial support packages to help support our undergraduate students
Further information on living costs for Oxford students can be found on the University website.
Bursaries from Lincoln
We want our students to get the most out of their time here, without having to worry about their finances. Lincoln therefore offers a large number of non-repayable bursaries to undergraduate students: in 2024-25, around a third of our undergraduates (116 students) received a College bursary.
These bursaries are awarded in addition to any funding received through the University of Oxford and, in most cases, are renewed each year until the end of a student’s undergraduate course.
To be considered for some of the financial support at Lincoln that looks at your household income, it is really important that you grant permission for the university to have access to this information when you apply for Student Finance (such as through Student Finance England). This will allow us to reach out to you to offer some of the financial support described below.
Lincoln is pleased to be able to offer bursaries to the following categories of student:
- Students from Lower-Income Households
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Lincoln offers over 100 bursaries each year to students from lower-income households. In 2025-26, the average yearly value of a Lincoln bursary was £2,295.
The average annual household income of students in receipt of a bursary in 2025-26 was £28,770. However, we appreciate that household income alone may not accurately reflect the economic situation of all students. For this reason, students with higher household incomes are also eligible for bursaries in certain circumstances.
We determine the eligibility of all students for these bursaries on a case-by-case basis in relation to a range of different factors. There is no application form to fill in for these bursaries. Eligible candidates are identified using information provided by the student finance organisations, as well as information provided via UCAS.
- Students from the Midlands and North of England
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Lincoln has a number of bursaries each year for applicants applying from the Midlands and the North of England, with particular priority given to applicants from the College’s link regions of Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire. In 2025-26, the average yearly value of a Midlands and Northern bursary was £2,295.
To be eligible for these bursaries, students must be resident in the Midlands or the North of England, and be able to demonstrate a level of financial need (determined in the same way as for our bursaries for those from lower-income households).
There is no application form to fill in for these bursaries. Eligible candidates are identified using information provided by the student finance organisations, as well as information provided via UCAS.
In addition to these large bursaries, Lincoln also offers the following extra financial support to undergraduates:
- Unforeseen Financial Difficulty Support
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We have a substantial Student Financial Support Fund to support students at Lincoln who encounter unforeseen financial problems.
- Lord Crewe Finalists Grant
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These are awarded to support final-year undergraduates who wish to remain in Oxford to revise during the Easter vacation. Value: £250.
- Relocation Grants
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Lincoln offers relocation grants of £500 to eligible students once they have met the conditions of their offer in the summer of the year of admission. Eligibility is determined by your UCAS form and information provided as part of the registration process.
- Laptop Lending Library
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Students can ask to borrow one of our robust laptops for the duration of their degree.
Bursaries from Oxford University
In addition to anything they receive from Lincoln, students may also be eligible for further support from the central university. Oxford offers the following bursaries:
- Oxford Bursaries
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The University operates the Oxford Bursaries scheme to offer non-repayable grants and bursaries to UK and EU students from lower-income backgrounds to help with the costs of studying and living in Oxford. To be eligible you need to be studying for your first undergraduate degree (or graduate entry Medicine) and your household income needs to be below a certain threshold.
Please see the University website for more information.
- The Crankstart Scholarships
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The Crankstart Scholarship, available through the University of Oxford, provides support to UK residents from lower-income households who are studying for their first undergraduate degree. Crankstart scholars are awarded a non-repayable bursary, access to funded internships, volunteering opportunities, and social and community building events.
Please see the University website for more information.
- Support for students who are care leavers or estranged from their family
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The University is committed to supporting students who are care leavers or who do not have the support of their families. To access some of this targeted funding, you do not have to be legally estranged from your family (as you do for Student Finance).
Please look at the University website for information on eligibility criteria and the amount of funding available.
Other available Awards & Grants at Lincoln:
- Awards for Academic Achievement
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The following awards are made to mark academic achievement, based on recommendations from subject tutors. All Scholarships and Exhibitions are held for the duration of the academic year, and can be renewed based on consistent work and progress. They are awarded to undergraduates from the second year onwards. We also award a range of prizes to students who do well in College Collections (which are exams taken at the College) or University Examinations.
Scholarships (£300) and Exhibitions (£150)
These are awarded to undergraduates to mark academic achievement.
Gluckstein Scholarship (£700)
These are awarded to undergraduates reading Law, normally in the first term of their final year, who have demonstrated academic excellence and show promise for a successful career in the legal field.
Lord Crewe Scholarships (£700)
These are awarded for outstanding academic work.
Peter Atkins Scholarships (£700)
These are awarded for outstanding work by undergraduates in Chemistry.
Stephen Gill Scholarships (£700)
These are awarded for outstanding work by an undergraduate in English Literature and Language.
Old Members’ Exhibition Trust Scholarships (£300) and Exhibitions (£150)
These are awarded to undergraduates who make an outstanding contribution to the College community, in addition to meeting the academic standards required for a Scholarship or an Exhibition.
The Stansbie Prize
This prize is awarded for the best performance in a science Final Honours School.
The Anne-Marie Drummond Prize
This prize is awarded for the best performance in a humanities or social sciences Final Honours School.
The Kenneth Sears Prize
This prize is awarded for the best final-year thesis in History or any joint school with History.
The Fairbrother Prize
This prize is awarded for the best undergraduate essay on a topic in Philosophy.
- Support for Academic Development
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Senior Tutor’s Fund (up to £200)
These grants support academic-related projects directly connected to an undergraduate's studies (e.g. research trips, conferences).
Book Grants (up to £100)
Lincoln offers a book grant programme, whereby students may receive partial reimbursement for the cost of books bought for use in their studies.
EPA Grants: Support for Summer Research Placements
Undergraduates studying Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences, Medicine, Physics, and Engineering (particularly where there is a connection with the biosciences) are eligible to apply for a grant to cover the cost of a summer research placement.
These grants are intended to support students in gaining research experience that will benefit their future careers.
2027 Medical Award (£500)
The award is intended to support a medical student undertaking a research, or extending their medical knowledge in other interesting ways.
Lewis and Audrey Cannell Clinical Medicine Travel and Equipment Fund
All Clinical Medics (2nd BM) can apply for up to £500 each year. Funds can be used to help cover equipment costs and costs associated with Clinical electives and other placements.
Travel Grants
Thanks in part to the generosity of alumni, Lincoln offers a number of travel grants to undergraduates to support trips linked to their studies. These grants include:
General Travel Grants (£100 and £200)
These grants support travel directly connected to an undergraduate’s studies or for travel that has educational or cultural value, or for charitable purposes.
Modern Linguists’ Grant (£200)
Students studying Modern Languages are eligible for this grant (in addition to the general travel grant). This can be used to help fund the cost of the year abroad, or for a separate visit to the country whose language is being studied.
The Clifford and Mary Angell Travel Awards (£400-£800)
These awards are intended to provide opportunities for travel and education overseas (e.g. exchange programmes, conferences, fieldwork, site visits, summer schools etc.).
Kenneth Sears Travel Grants (£200)
These awards are available to second and third year undergraduate historians to support travel connected with their historical studies, particularly, but not exclusively, in preparation for their final year thesis.
The Felicity Brown Fund (£200)
Established in memory of Felicity Brown, a former medical student at Lincoln, the Fund enables a student to travel and undertake charitable work (that may otherwise have been unaffordable). Clinical medical students are also eligible to apply for this grant to help with travel in their elective period.
- Support for Other Projects (Sport, Music, etc.)
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The Annual Fund
This fund supports projects that are not connected to your studies. However, the project should benefit members of the Lincoln community. Previous projects supported include the Lincoln Leads lecture series, the Choir tour, and the Musical Revue.
Blues Fund
You can be awarded a ‘Blue’ or ‘Half-Blue’ when you win a place on one of the University sports teams and compete at a high level. We support Lincoln students through the Blues Fund, which helps cover the costs associated with sports, including training sessions, kit, and equipment (up to £350).
The Blockley Rowing Award
The Blockley Rowing Award was kindly donated by the Blockely family in memory of their son, Leo (Lincoln, 2000).
It is awarded to a current student member of the Lincoln College Boat Club trialling for any of the University rowing squads on an annual basis.
Organ and Choral Scholarships
We have two organ scholars at any one time. They are at the heart of musical life in College and can shape the Choir through their choice of repertoire, as well as planning tours and recordings. The Hollingsworth (Senior) Organ Scholar is awarded an annual scholarship of £500, and the Junior Scholar is awarded an annual scholarship of £350. The College also pays for organ and conducting lessons for both scholars. Organ scholars may read Music, English, Engineering, or Biochemistry. Prospective organ scholars are welcome to get in touch with the Chaplain or current organ scholars before making an application; please contact the Admissions Officer to arrange that.
There can be up to eight choral scholars (Lincoln students) and exhibitioners (students across the University) in the Choir at any time. They receive an annual award of £100 and are offered free individual singing lessons. There is no application process; scholars and exhibitioners are selected by audition and interview from the members of the Choir.
Lincoln automatically considers you for bursary schemes every year, available thanks to our generous alumni, and they offer book grants to all students. Their financial support really made the difference to me, and it proves that you can study at Oxford, no matter what background you come from.
— Evie Sutcliffe, Third-year undergraduate, Philosophy, Politics and Economics
