Lincoln University
Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki
New Zealand's specialist land-based university: agriculture, food, environment and agribusiness near Christchurch.
- Students
- 5,474
- International
- 36%
- of students
- Tuition
- NZ$35,000
- From · 2027 (domestic); 2026 (international, 2027 not yet set)
- Founded
- 1878
About Lincoln
Lincoln University, Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki, began in 1878 as the School of Agriculture of Canterbury College and is the oldest agricultural teaching institution in the Southern Hemisphere. It became an independent university in 1990 and describes itself as New Zealand's specialist land-based university. It is also the country's smallest university: 5,474 students in 2025 (including joint institutes), about 36% of them international.
Teaching is organised into three faculties: Agribusiness and Commerce; Agriculture and Life Sciences; and Environment, Society and Design. Degrees run from agricultural science, viticulture and oenology, and food marketing to landscape architecture, environmental policy and planning, tourism, and sport and recreation management. Close to half of enrolled students are in postgraduate programmes (2,572 of 5,474 in 2025), so undergraduates study alongside a large research community.
The campus sits in the town of Lincoln, about 15 km from Christchurch, surrounded by the university's research farms. Lincoln suits students who want to work on real food, farming and environmental problems in small classes, and who like a close-knit, residential campus: first-year halls such as Centennial and Stevens are fully catered, and the university's rugby tradition has produced several All Blacks captains.
Scientia et industria cum probitate
“Science and industry with integrity” — university motto
Why students choose Lincoln
Lincoln ranks 82nd in the world for Agriculture and Forestry (QS subject rankings) and 2nd in the world for Life on Land in the THE Impact Rankings 2026.
Degrees such as the Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology, Bachelor of Agribusiness and Food Marketing and Bachelor of Landscape Architecture are built around the land-based sector.
International school leavers can receive a NZ$10,000 International School Leavers Scholarship credited to their tuition fees.
A small university of about 5,500 students with catered halls of residence on campus near Christchurch.
Admissions
Semester 1 2027 (February 2027 start); Semester 2 2027 intake also available
Selectivity
Lincoln does not publish an acceptance rate. Most bachelor's degrees admit students who hold New Zealand University Entrance or an equivalent overseas qualification, and pathway programmes are available for students who narrowly miss it.
Typical entry requirements
| NCEA (New Zealand University Entrance) | University Entrance: NCEA Level 3, 14 credits in each of three approved Level 3 subjects, 10 literacy credits at Level 2 or above and 10 numeracy credits at Level 1 or above |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma | Completed diploma with at least 24 points |
| GCE A-levels (outside the UK) | At least 3 results with at least one grade C or above |
| China | Senior High School Graduation plus 65% or better in the Gaokao, or plus a year of university study |
| India (CBSE / ISC) | 12 years of schooling with an average of 75% and 60% in English |
| United States | High School Diploma with a GPA of 2.5 or higher |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 60 Bachelor's degrees: IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5; TOEFL iBT 60 with at least 18 in writing; PTE Academic 50 with no skill below 42; Duolingo 105 with no subscore below 95; LanguageCert Academic 65. Postgraduate programmes require IELTS 6.5. |
Deadlines
- Semester 1 2027: new international students applying from overseas Non-binding Next deadline · In 56 days1 December 2026
Offshore international applicants need to apply earlier to allow time for a student visa.
- Semester 1 2027: domestic students and international students in New Zealand Non-binding In ~4 months1 February 2027
- Semester 2 2027: new international students applying from overseas Non-binding In ~8 months1 June 2027
Domestic and onshore international students have until 5 July 2027.
Deadlines are from Lincoln's Apply page for new students starting in 2026 or 2027 (checked 29 September 2026). Lincoln recommends applying early.
How to apply
Apply directly to Lincoln online: create a MyLinc account with a personal email, submit an application listing your programme, start date, previous study and English test results, and upload supporting documents. You can apply before final exam results are out. Offers arrive by email and are accepted on MyLinc, after which you complete enrolment.
What admissions looks for
- University Entrance or an approved equivalent overseas qualification at the published minimum level.
- English proficiency for students whose first language is not English, at IELTS 6.0 (no band below 5.5) or equivalent for bachelor's degrees.
- Complete, verified documents so the application can be assessed without delay.
- Any programme-specific requirements listed on the programme page.
Tips for applying to Lincoln
- 1 Apply before your final results arrive: Lincoln accepts applications while you wait for exams and makes conditional offers.
- 2 If you are applying from overseas for February 2027, submit by 1 December 2026, two months before the domestic deadline.
- 3 If you narrowly miss University Entrance, the Pathway Certificate or First-Year Pathway Diploma can lead into a bachelor's degree.
- 4 Book a catered hall such as Centennial or Stevens Hall early; the 2027 full-year fee is NZ$20,650 including meals.
Costs & financial aid
2027 (domestic); 2026 (international, 2027 not yet set) · figures in NZD
Lincoln offers new international undergraduates the International School Leavers Scholarship (NZ$10,000, credited to tuition), the Undergraduate Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship (NZ$5,000) and the International Undergraduate Scholarship (NZ$3,000), plus NZ$2,500 pathway merit scholarships. There are also Māori and Pasifika scholarships and Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships.
- NZ$10,000, credited to tuition fees
- International School Leavers Scholarship
- NZ$5,000
- Undergraduate Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship (international)
- NZ$3,000
- International Undergraduate Scholarship
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters (February and July starts), plus a November intake for some programmes
Bachelor of Agricultural Science
The core of the oldest agricultural teaching institution in the Southern Hemisphere, in a subject area QS ranks 82nd in the world.
Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology
Wine science and grape growing taught in Canterbury by a land-based university.
Bachelor of Agribusiness and Food Marketing
Combines business with the food and fibre sector; international tuition NZ$35,000 a year (2026).
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
A professional design degree in the Faculty of Environment, Society and Design.
Bachelor of Environmental Policy and Planning with Honours
A four-year honours degree in resource and environmental planning.
Research
- Lincoln reported NZ$33.9 million in external research revenue in 2025.
- THE Impact Rankings 2026 place Lincoln 2nd in the world for Life on Land and 9th for Zero Hunger.
- Its Entomology Research Collection, started in the late 1960s, is the third-largest in New Zealand, with about 500,000 specimens.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Agribusiness and Commerce
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Faculty of Environment, Society and Design
Student life
Lincoln is a small residential campus where many first-years live in halls and eat together in the Dining Hall. Halls have both English and Māori names, for example Centennial Hall (Kōhuka) and Stevens Hall (Aohaka), and there are self-catered flats such as The Quarters and Farm Road for later years. Sport is a big part of campus identity: alumni include All Blacks captains Richie McCaw, Reuben Thorne, Wilson Whineray and Andy Dalton. The students' association (LUSA) and Te Awhioraki Māori Students' Association run events and support.
- Catered first-year halls with buffet-style breakfast, lunch and dinner in the Dining Hall.
- A strong rugby tradition, with several former All Blacks captains among alumni.
- Te Awhioraki Māori Students' Association and the Lincoln University Students' Association (LUSA).
- Research farms and a Living Laboratory programme that use the campus for teaching.
Housing. Lincoln has catered halls (Centennial and Stevens, NZ$20,650 for 2027 including meals) and self-catered options such as The Quarters, Farm Road and The Junction.
Location
Lincoln is a small town on the Canterbury Plains, about 15 km from Christchurch, New Zealand's second-largest city, and the campus is surrounded by the university's research farms. Day-to-day life centres on campus and the halls, while Christchurch offers city life, shopping and nightlife, and the mountains of the Southern Alps are within reach for weekend trips.
Nearest airport: Christchurch International Airport (CHC)
Notable alumni
- RM Richie McCawFormer All Blacks captain
- CU Charles UphamVictoria Cross and Bar recipient, the most highly decorated Commonwealth soldier of World War II
- JR Jeremy RockliffPremier of Tasmania
- DC David CarterFormer Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
- AL Annabel LangbeinCook and author
- MI Mark InglisMountaineer
- RD Robbie DeansFormer All Black and former Wallabies coach
- TS Toni StreetTelevision host
Frequently asked questions
What are the entry requirements for Lincoln University?
Most bachelor's degrees require New Zealand University Entrance through NCEA or an equivalent, such as an IB Diploma with 24 points, a US High School Diploma with a 2.5 GPA or Senior High School Graduation plus 65% in the Gaokao.
How much does Lincoln University cost for international students?
For 2026, international tuition for bachelor's degrees is NZ$35,000 or NZ$37,000 a year depending on the degree, plus a NZ$976 student services fee and NZ$899 insurance. 2027 fees have not yet been set.
When is the application deadline for 2027?
For Semester 1 2027, international students applying from overseas should apply by 1 December 2026; domestic and onshore international students have until 1 February 2027.
What IELTS score does Lincoln University need?
Bachelor's degrees need IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5, or TOEFL iBT 60 with at least 18 in writing.
Does Lincoln University offer scholarships to international students?
Yes. New international undergraduates can receive the NZ$10,000 International School Leavers Scholarship, the NZ$5,000 Undergraduate Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship or the NZ$3,000 International Undergraduate Scholarship.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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