Bishop Grosseteste University Lincoln: A Legacy of Education and Excellence
BGU has its origins in 1842 when the first attempt was made to establish an institution on the current uphill site in Lincoln. On this occasion, a teacher training school for men was established, which closed in 1853 due to a lack of applications from potential students.
About Bishop Grosseteste University Lincoln
The city’s lack of major railway links and the increasing attractiveness of the elementary teaching profession to women compared with men were significant factors in its early closure.
A more successful and enduring beginning came in 1862 with the establishment of the Lincoln Diocesan Training School for Mistresses, founded with the support of the Bishop of Lincoln. This is the true origin of what is now Bishop Grosseteste University, representing a span of more than 160 years of continuous dedication to educational excellence at the heart of Lincolnshire.
Bishop Grosseteste University Lincoln – Table of Contents
- About
- Courses Offered
- Facilities And Infrastructure
- Required Documents
- Intake
- Eligibility Criteria
- Admission Process
The mission of the institution was spelled out in the founding Trust Deed: to train women teachers for Church of England elementary schools. Students had to study the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion and pass biblical examinations.
The early curriculum included core subjects such as arithmetic, grammar, school management, penmanship, sewing, and domestic economy. Over time, this curriculum broadened significantly to incorporate a range of arts and sciences, reflecting its evolving educational vision.
Bishop Grosseteste University Lincoln Accreditations, Affiliations, Recognitions
It was soon afterward renamed the Lincoln Diocesan Training College, or LDTC. The first graduating class had 17 students, a number that stayed the same well into the 1890s. The school consciously promoted a family atmosphere of discipline, morality, and hard work.
Life at the early college was austere by any standard. The buildings housed a lecture hall, classroom, and dormitory but lacked modern comforts such as a common room, chapel, or bathing facilities.
The dormitories were unheated, and independent study was discouraged. Students lived a life of long study hours and hard physical work, performing household chores, maintaining the grounds, and assisting in the kitchen garden. Despite the strict and paternalistic regime, memoirs from early students recall that the experience was challenging yet rewarding, filled with a sense of purpose and community.
The first principal, Canon Hector Nelson, 1862–1892, was a defining figure in the college’s early character. He believed in diligence, discipline, and community instead of expansion, and he kept the college’s admissions policy selective to maintain the standards of the institution. The college expanded in 1870–71 with the addition of a chapel, which emphasized its Anglican connection and gave the students a quiet place to pray and reflect.
Over the decades, gifts continued to enrich the chapel’s interior: an altar given by Canon Nevile, an organ and linens provided by Canon Nelson’s family, candlesticks from Bishop Wordsworth, a variety of stained-glass windows, and memorial brass panels. Each represented lasting devotion and liberality on the part of the college community.
Included among them are the brass panel dedicated to Miss Sophia Smith, governess for many years who went blind in 1884; and the chapel lectern in memory of Miss Margaret Elwell, graduate of the class of 1873, who gave the college 39 years of service. It was wrought by her great-nephew and placed in 1938 and serves to this day as a symbol of devotion and continuity.
From the late 19th century, each graduating class at Bishop Grosseteste contributed a “gifted window” to the chapel, a tradition that would grow into annual acts of giving by the OSA well into the 1990s. Finally, at the turn of the 20th century, modernization set in with improved living standards such as running water, heating, and sanitation by 1883.
After Canon Nelson’s retirement, it was the turn of Canon A. W. Rowe, who introduced recreation grounds, a library, and a students’ common room. Thereafter, by 1901, the college was booming, oversubscribed, and further expansions were done: new dining facilities, more recreation rooms, extended accommodation, an enlarged chapel, and an improved laundry. Further milestones in this century include the admission, in 1960, of 115 students on a three-year training program (including the first male students); a dedicated male students’ wing in 1966.
In 1962 — its centenary year — the Lincoln Diocesan Training College was renamed Bishop Grosseteste College, in honour of the 13th-century Bishop of Lincoln, Robert Grosseteste, a great scholar, philosopher and educational reformer. A full history of the college, prepared by D. H. J. Zebedee, marked its first hundred years. The succeeding decades saw the introduction of the Bachelor of Education degree, B.Ed. in 1966, the award of University College status in 2006, and finally, full university status in 2012, at which point it became Bishop Grosseteste University, or BGU.
Today, Bishop Grosseteste University has grown exponentially in student population and campus facilities. It welcomes students from across the UK and around the world, offering a wide range of arts, humanities, social sciences, and education programs. Despite its growth, the university remains deeply committed to its founding ethos: nurturing a supportive, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating community with hard work, liberal values, and academic excellence at its core.
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Courses Offered and Duration And Cost of Study in Bishop Grosseteste University Lincoln
MBA Master of Business Administration (Strategic Leadership)
Course Details
- Study Mode: Part time
- Duration: 24 months, Tuition fee: 17,450GBP, Start Dates: April and September
Entry Requirements
- Candidates need an honors degree, with at least a 2:2 or above classification.
- Applicants without a degree may also be considered if they can demonstrate relevant business, management, or leadership experience.
- Applicants need to demonstrate ability and commitment to study at master’s level.
- In all cases, at least 3 years of experience in business and management is required.
MSc International Business
Course Details
- Study Mode: Full time
- Duration: 1 year, Tuition fee: 16,000 GBP, Course starts in January and September
Entry Requirements
Students would normally be expected to have, or be predicted to have achieved a 2:2 (or NARIC equivalent) in any degree subject.
MA Children’s Literature and Literacies
Course Details
- Study Mode: Full time
- Duration: 1- or 2-year, Tuition fee: 16,925 GBP, Course starts in September
Entry Requirements
Students would normally be expected to have, or be predicted to have achieved a 2:2 (or NARIC equivalent) in any degree subject.
MA Educational Leadership and Management
Course Details
- Study Mode: Full time,
- Duration: 1 or 2 years, Tuition fee: 16,000 GBP, Course starts in September.
- Study Mode: Part time
- Duration: 1 or 2 years, Course starts in September.
- Study Mode: Online
- Duration: 1 or 2 years, Course starts in September.
Entry Requirements
- Applicants need a second-class degree (2:2 or above) in a relevant subject.
- Each application is assessed individually based on academic and professional background.
- Professional experience from different fields is valued and accepted.
- International applicants must have an IELTS score of 6.5, with at least 6.0 in each component
- Full-time students do not need to do work-related learning.
- Part-time blended or online students must have a professional role in education (paid or voluntary) for about 5 hours a week during the course.
MA International Education
Course Details
- Study Mode: Part time
- Duration: 2 years, Tuition fee: 16,925 GBP, Course starts in September
- Study Mode: Online
- Duration: 2 years, Couse Stars in September
Entry Requirements
- Applicants must have or be expecting to earn an undergraduate honors degree in a relevant subject (or equivalent).
- Students must have a professional role in an educational setting (paid or voluntary) for about 10 hours per week during the course.
iPGCE International Postgraduate Certificate in Education
Course Details
- Study Mode: Online
- Duration: 1year, Tuition fee: 16,925 GBP, Course Stars in September
Entry Requirements
- Applicants must have an undergraduate degree (minimum 2:2 or equivalent).
- Candidates without this qualification may still apply if they have relevant professional experience, subject to approval by the Programme Leader
- All students must have regular and reliable internet access for distance learning.
- Prior teaching experience is not required, but students must be working or volunteering in education, teaching, or training for at least 10 hours per week during the course.
- English language requirement: IELTS 6.5 overall, with at least 6.0 in each component.
- Applicants must include references and qualification documents with their application.
MA Theology & Religious Studies
Course Details
- Study Mode: Full time
- Duration: 1 year, Tuition fee: 16,925 GBP, Course Stars in October
Entry Requirements
Students need to have obtained, or be predicted to obtain, normally an undergraduate honors degree in a Humanities or Social Sciences related subject (or equivalent).
MA Health & Social Care Leadership
Course Details
- Study Mode: Full time,
- Duration: 1 or 2 years, Tuition fee: 16,925 GBP, Course Stars in October
Entry Requirements
- Applicants must have or be expecting to earn an undergraduate honours degree in a Humanities or Social Science subject (or equivalent).
- All students must pay £57.20 for an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
- A successful Enhanced DBS Disclosure is required before starting the course.
PGCE Secondary
Course Details
- Study Mode: Full time,
- Duration: 1 year, Tuition fee: 29,000 GBP, Course Stars in October
- Study Mode: Part time,
- Duration: 2years, Course Stars in October
Entry Requirements
- Students must have GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above in English (Language or Literature) and Mathematics, or an equivalent qualification.
- Applicants are required to have a relevant honours degree at 2:2 or above. If they are still studying, an academic reference must include a predicted degree classification.
- Their degree should contain modules related to the subject they aim to teach, comprising at least 50% of the course content.
- Applicants are required to have some experience in an appropriate educational environment, at least in schools, to understand the role of a modern teacher.
- The institution will consider the applicant’s GCSE and A-Level grades, the class of their degree, the relevance of subjects studied, any additional qualifications, and related experience when shortlisting for interviews.
- Students must pay for and obtain an Enhanced DBS check prior to commencement of the course.
- Applicants must also fill out a Declaration of Health form and submit to a medical exam if necessary.
MA Education with TESOL
Course Details
- Study Mode: Full time
- Duration: 1year, Tuition fee: 16,925 GBP, Course Stars in January and September
Entry Requirements
Students need to have obtained or be predicted to obtain, normally an undergraduate honours degree in a relevant subject (or equivalent).
PGCE Primary (Full Time)
Course Details
- Study Mode: Full Time
- Duration: 1 year, Tuition fee: 16,925 GBP, Course Starts in September
Entry Requirements
- GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above, or equivalent, in English Language, Mathematics, and Science.
- An honours degree with at least a 2:2 classification. If the final result is pending, a predicted grade must be included in the academic reference.
When Reviewing Applications, the Following will be Considered:
- GCSE grades or equivalents and how relevant the subjects are.
- A Level grades or equivalents and their relevance.
- Degree class and relevance of the course content.
- Applicants must show proof that GCSE qualifications (or accepted equivalents) have been successfully completed before enrolment.
- School experience is encouraged and can strengthen the application, but it is not required to apply or to receive an interview.
Facilities And Infrastructure in Bishop Grosseteste University Lincoln
1. Campus Location & General Setting
The university is set on a single-site campus in the uphill Lincoln area, within walking distance of the historic Lincoln Cathedral and Lincoln Castle, affording students access to both university facilities and the city’s heritage surroundings.
The campus is described as “beautifully green and pleasant”, with an emphasis on landscaped grounds and a compact, inclusive site.
2. Library, IT & Study Spaces
The library provides a range of study zones catering to different learning modes:
59 computer workstations + additional 24 workstations in the 24/7 IT Suite.
187 study spaces + 105 of them with laptop‐power outlets.
Social Study Suite: group work allowed, Silent Study Suite: individual, no noise and bookable seminar rooms/study booths.
Wi-Fi access is provided across campus through Eduroam; students have access to Microsoft Office, printing/photocopying, and help desk IT services.
Also included are quiet, reflective spaces: e.g. “Rest Room” (medical & baby‐changing), “Nook” (armchair etc), Prayer/Well-being room, and outdoor “Peace Gardens”.
3. Accommodation & Student Living
Halls of residence on campus include for example, Constance Stewart Hall: Each room has a washbasin, wardrobe, shelving, desk + chair + easy chair, two sockets, bed storage. Communal kitchens/living areas per floor (microwave, cooker, fridge, freezer, seating) and accessible facilities for disabled students.
Free Wi-Fi in the accommodation, 24-hour campus security, and shared kitchen/dining facilities noted in a university guide.
The Complete University Guide
Accommodation is provided under the Student Accommodation Code for quality, safety, and comfort.
4. Sports, Recreation & Student Support
The available sport and fitness facilities at the university include: a fitness suite (cardio/resistance), strength & conditioning area, full-size natural grass football & rugby pitches.
Student support: A “Hub” is the one-stop for academic support, counselling, welfare/funding advice.
The campus includes food & drink outlets, such as the coffee shop “Curiositea”, the Refectory, student union, and social spaces.
5. Business, Enterprise & Additional Infrastructure
The University is home to the BG Futures Centre, a facility designed for start-ups, social enterprises, and community groups that offers fully furnished offices, meeting rooms, a communal kitchen/roof terrace, shower & locker rooms, secure cycle storage & bike station.
The building has strong sustainability credentials: BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating, EPC ‘A’, features such as photovoltaic cells, solar thermal hot water, condensing boiler with under-floor heating, natural ventilation/light, LED lighting.
6. Quiet & Well-being Spaces
The campus focuses on well-being by providing specific areas for quiet, reflection, and relaxation:
- “Peace Gardens” behind the accommodation office.
- The “Nook” in the library: comfy armchair, blanket, quiet reading.
- Prayer/Well-being room in Skinner building.
7. Location, Access & Tours
On-site parking is available (unreserved, first-come) for campus visits. Campus tours include optional visits of accommodation, for example, Wickham Hall & Constance Stewart Halls.
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Required Documents For Admission in Bishop Grosseteste University Lincoln
Core Documents
- Copy of bachelor’s degree certificate (or equivalent) and full academic transcript.
- Proof of English language proficiency: minimum IELTS 6.5 overall, with no band below 6.0.
- Passport copy: include biographical page and all pages with entry/exit stamps or visas.
- Official translation of any document not in English.
- Proof of funds to cover tuition fees and living expenses (for visa purposes).
Additional / Programme-Specific Requirements
- Some courses may ask for references and a personal statement explaining student goals and suitability.
- DBS check or equivalent may be needed for courses involving placements (like teaching).
- Visa applicants may need a TB test certificate and could be asked for a credibility interview.
Entry (Academic) Requirements
- Must have an undergraduate degree (usually upper second class or equivalent) in a relevant subject.
- For non-UK qualifications, the university will assess equivalency.
- If the applicant does not meet standard entry, relevant work experience may be considered.
Intake For Bishop Grosseteste University Lincoln
Bishop Grosseteste University (now Lincoln Bishop University) has different intakes for various postgraduate courses, enabling the students to join according to their convenience. Courses such as MA Education with TESOL, MSc International Business, and MBA are open in the January 2026 intake.
Many programs will be starting in the September 2026 intake, as this will be the main intake of the university. There is also a new April 2026 intake for the MBA program, which gives another chance to students who want to enrol mid-year.
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Eligibility Criteria For Admission in Bishop Grosseteste University Lincoln
- Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification from a recognized university.
- The usual entry requirement for a taught master’s program is a minimum second-class honors degree, or international equivalent.
- Applicants should have an appropriate academic background for the postgraduate course they are applying for.
- Applicants should demonstrate proficiency in the English language with a minimum IELTS test score of at least 6.5 overall, with no band below 6.0, or equivalent.
- Proof of qualification shall be provided through official academic transcripts and certificates.
- Certain programs may count work experience towards credit; this encompasses the MBA.
- International applicants should be aware that they will be required to meet the UK student visa and financial requirements.
Admission Process For Bishop Grosseteste University Lincoln
- Students Choose preferred postgraduate courses from the Bishop Grosseteste University website.
- Check the entry requirements and application deadlines for student selected programs.
- Complete the online application form through the university’s application portal.
- Upload all required documents, including academic transcripts, certificates, passport copy, and English test results.
- Submit a personal statement and academic or professional references if required.
- Wait for the university’s decision; successful applicants will receive an offer letter.
- Accept the offer and pay the initial deposit (if applicable) to confirm the place.
- Apply for a UK Student Visa and arrange accommodation before arrival.
- Attend the orientation and enrolment session at the start of the student course.
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