Lincoln University (New Zealand)

What Lincoln University (New Zealand) does

Lincoln University (New Zealand) is a specialist land-based public university established in 1878 and owned by the Government of New Zealand under the Education and Training Act 2020. It is one of New Zealand's eight universities, renamed from Lincoln College to Lincoln University in 1990, and operates from a single campus in Lincoln, Canterbury, that includes working farms, demonstration farms, and an arboretum used as "living laboratories" for teaching and research. The university delivers undergraduate, postgraduate (taught and research master's), honours, and doctoral programmes across 10 areas of specialisation — Agriculture/Horticulture/Viticulture, Business, Environment, Food/Wine/Beer, Landscape Architecture, Property and Valuation, Science, Sport and Recreation, Tourism, and Technology — spanning 115 programmes and 491+ courses, with English-language and foundation pathways for non-traditional entrants.

The university's product portfolio is supported by three proprietary digital platforms: Akoraka | Learn (learning management system at learn.lincoln.ac.nz), MyLinc (student information and communications portal), and LUCAS (enrolment and course selection system), alongside virtual campus tours and a fully-online study mode for select postgraduate programmes. Curriculum signals include dedicated AI/ML courses (Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Generative AI, Neural Networks Applications, AI Optimisation Techniques, Ethics Policy and Cultural Intelligence in AI Design) and the Master of Artificial Intelligence for Land Use, alongside emerging offerings in fintech (Master of Fintech and Investment Management), precision agriculture, and food innovation. Joint institutes at Chinese universities (Huazhong Agricultural University, Yunnan Agricultural University, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering) and articulation agreements with institutions in China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, India, Canada, Germany, and Austria — supplemented by the NCUK partnership (110+ study centres across 40+ countries) — embed Lincoln into a global recruitment network.

Revenue is generated through five streams: domestic student tuition, international student tuition (priced at a premium to domestic), New Zealand government Tertiary Education Commission funding based on enrolment and research output, student services and accommodation fees, and external research grants. Pricing follows an annual subscription model (e.g., PhD at $9,060 per 120 credits, with international PhD students resident in NZ paying the same domestic rate). Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the website and MyLinc portal, supplemented by a global international agent network, on-campus and virtual tours, information evenings, Hui Whakatuwhera open days, secondary school outreach, and the STAR programme targeting Year 12-13 students. Customer segments are segmented by geography (domestic vs. international from China, India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Canada, Germany, Austria) and persona (secondary school, undergraduate, postgraduate, research students), with no single dominant customer concentration.

Name

Lincoln University (New Zealand)

Legal name

Lincoln University

Website

https://lincoln.ac.nz

Company type

Public

Founded year

1878

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Lincoln University is a New Zealand public university founded in 1878, specialising in land-based disciplines (agriculture, environment, food, wine, landscape architecture). It serves domestic and international students through 115 programmes, articulation partnerships in nine countries, and digital learning platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Tertiary Education)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Major Extension & Outreach Missions (EDAHAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Applied Research & Innovation Universities (EDAHAEAE)

Keywords

• Tertiary education
• Agricultural higher education
• Land-based research
• Postgraduate programs
• University tuition services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Domestic Student Tuition: Tuition fees charged to New Zealand residents and eligible domestic students for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
2. International Student Tuition: Higher tuition fees charged to international students studying in New Zealand, including PhD students who are classified as domestic if resident in NZ during study.
3. Government Funding: Public funding from the New Zealand government based on student enrollment and research output.
4. Student Services and Accommodation: Revenue from student services fees, accommodation fees (on-campus housing), and related student services.
5. Research Grants: External funding and grants for research projects, including funded postgraduate research positions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lincoln University is a specialist land-based university delivering tertiary education and applied research across agriculture, horticulture, viticulture, environment, food and wine, landscape architecture, business, science, sport and recreation, tourism, and supporting technologies. It sells undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, doctoral research degrees, postgraduate certificates/diplomas, honours programmes, foundation and English-language pathway programmes, and the STAR secondary-school programme to domestic and international students. Revenue is generated through tuition fees, government Tertiary Education Commission funding, accommodation and student services, and external research grants.

Product overview

Lincoln University (New Zealand) is a specialist land-based university offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programmes across undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels. The portfolio includes undergraduate degrees (Bachelor of Agribusiness and Food Marketing, Bachelor of Agricultural Science, Bachelor of Agriculture, various Bachelor of Commerce majors in accounting, entrepreneurship, food economics, global business, hotel management, marketing, supply chain), taught master's programmes (Master of Applied Computing, Master of Artificial Intelligence for Land Use, Master of Bioprotection, Master of Business Finance, Master of Business Global Management and Marketing, Master of Environment and Agriculture, Master of Environmental Policy and Management, Master of Fintech and Investment Management, Master of Landscape Architecture, Master of Management in Agribusiness, Master of Parks Management, Master of Planning, Master of Precision Agriculture, Master of Professional Accounting CPA, Master of Science in Food Innovation, Master of Sport and Recreation Management, Master of Tourism Management, Master of Water Science and Management, Master of Wine and Viticulture), research master's degrees, PhD programmes, postgraduate certificates and diplomas, honours degrees, and pathway programmes (Academic Pathways, English Language, International Study Pathways, STAR Programme). Supporting these programmes are digital platforms including Akoraka | Learn (learning management system), LUCAS (enrolment portal), and MyLinc (student portal). The university also offers over 490 courses spanning agriculture, business, science, computing including AI disciplines, environmental studies, landscape architecture, and more.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degrees Three-year bachelor's degrees across agriculture, business, science, environmental management, viticulture and oenology, sport and recreation, tourism, and other disciplines, designed for school leavers and transfer students seeking undergraduate qualifications.
• Postgraduate Taught Master's Degrees Coursework-based master's programmes including Master of Applied Computing, Master of Artificial Intelligence for Land Use, Master of Bioprotection, Master of Business (Finance and Global Management and Marketing), Master of Environment and Agriculture, Master of Environmental Policy and Management, Master of Fintech and Investment Management, Master of Landscape Architecture, Master of Management in Agribusiness, Master of Parks Management, Master of Planning, Master of Precision Agriculture, Master of Professional Accounting (CPA), Master of Science in Food Innovation, Master of Sport and Recreation Management, Master of Tourism Management, Master of Water Science and Management, and Master of Wine and Viticulture.
• Research Master's Degrees Research-led master's programmes including Master of Agricultural Science, Master of Applied Science (Environmental Management, Land and Society, Parks Recreation and Tourism), Master of Commerce (Agricultural), Master of Commerce and Management, Master of Horticultural Science, Master of International Nature Conservation, Master of Landscape Architecture, Master of Natural Resources Management and Ecological Engineering, Master of Science (Plant Breeding), and Master of Science (Research).
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Three-year full-time doctoral research degree worth 360 credits, requiring a relevant postgraduate honours degree with minimum second-class honours division one equivalent. Domestic and international PhD students are charged the same tuition fee of $9,060 per 120 credits in 2026, with international students classified as domestic if resident in New Zealand during study.
• Postgraduate Certificates and Diplomas Shorter postgraduate qualifications (one semester for certificates, one year for diplomas) including Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, Applied Science, Commerce, Environmental Management, Land and Society, and Parks Recreation and Tourism; and Postgraduate Diplomas in Agricultural Science, Applied Science, Commerce, Environment Management, Horticultural Science, Land and Society, and Parks Recreation and Tourism, with domestic and international fee options.
• Honours Degrees One-year honours programmes including Bachelor of Commerce with Honours, Bachelor of Environmental Management with Honours, Bachelor of Science with Honours, Bachelor of Sport and Recreation Management with Honours, Bachelor of Tourism Management with Honours, and Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology with Honours.
• Academic Pathways Foundation study programmes for students who do not meet University Entrance requirements, comprising the Pathway Certificate (Foundation) and the First-Year Pathway Diploma, providing academic preparation that leads into Lincoln bachelor's degrees.
• English Language Programme (EAP) English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course delivered throughout the year in 10 rolling four-week modules, from Elementary (IELTS 4.0) through to Advanced (IELTS 6.5), designed to satisfy English-language entry requirements for Lincoln's academic programmes, primarily for international students.
• International Study Pathways Partnership-driven entry routes for international students including the NCUK International Foundation Year and International Year One Business, joint-degree programmes with Yunnan Agricultural University and Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, and articulation programmes with institutions in Sri Lanka, Canada, China, Vietnam, India, Germany, and Austria that lead into Lincoln qualifications.
• STAR Programme Secondary Tertiary Alignment Resource programme that lets Year 12-13 New Zealand secondary-school students enrol in first-year Lincoln degree-level courses such as MGMT 106 Global Food Systems and LINC 101 Land, People and Economies, with potential A-grade funding toward their first year of tertiary study.
• On-Campus Accommodation Halls of residence and other on-campus housing provided to enrolled students in Lincoln, charged via the Accommodation Fee schedule.
• Undergraduate and Postgraduate Courses More than 490 individual courses available across disciplines such as Accounting, Agriculture, Animal Science, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Business Management, Commerce, Computing (including AI courses in Artificial Intelligence Optimisation Techniques, Deep Learning, Ethics Policy and Cultural Intelligence in AI Design, Generative Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Neural Networks Applications), Design, Ecology, Economics, Engineering, Entomology, Environmental Science, Food and Beverage, Horticulture, Landscape Architecture, Language, Law, Management, Marketing, Mathematics, Physics, Planning, Property, Science, Social Science, Sport and Recreation, Tourism, Viticulture and Oenology, and Wine.

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Te Taumutu RūnangacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMāori partnership with Te Taumutu Rūnanga, a local Māori iwi organization. The partnership includes dedicated support services for Māori students (Te Manutaki) and integration of Māori perspectives in education.
• Yunnan Agricultural University (China)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner3+1 articulation arrangement where students complete 3 years in China and 1 year at Lincoln to receive Bachelor of Commerce in Food and Resource Economics from both institutions.
• Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering (China)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner3+1+1 articulation for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Students can complete Food Science programmes with joint qualifications from both universities.
• Beijing Forestry University (China)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner3.5+2 articulation pathway for Master of Landscape Architecture, allowing Chinese students to complete part of their degree in China before finishing at Lincoln.
• Sri Lanka Institute of TechnologymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner2+2 articulation arrangement for Bachelor of Science in Agritech, enabling Sri Lankan students to transfer credits to Lincoln.
• Banking University of Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner2+2 articulation for Bachelor of Commerce with multiple majors, supporting Vietnamese student pathways to Lincoln degrees.
• Lovely Professional University (India)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArticulation pathways including 1+1 for Master's programmes and 2+1 for Bachelor of Science (Food Science), supporting Indian student mobility.
• NCUK (Northern Consortium UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Pathway partner welcoming students who complete NCUK International Foundation Year or International Year One directly into Lincoln degree programmes. NCUK has over 110 Study Centres across 40+ countries.
• University of Göttingen (Germany)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner1+0.5 twinning arrangement where students spend one semester at Lincoln as part of Master of International Nature Conservation.
• University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (Austria)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner1.5+0.5 twinning arrangement for Master of Natural Resources Management and Ecological Engineering.
• Rabobank - Farm2FuturemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsorship partnership supporting food and fibre sector education and research initiatives.
• FMG Young Farmer of the YearmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsorship of the prestigious New Zealand Young Farmer competition and awards programme.
• WAI WānakamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with WAI Wānaka and University of Otago to support student-led freshwater science research through studentship programmes.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Massey University: Massey University is NZ's other major specialist land-based university, with overlapping offerings in agriculture, veterinary science, food technology, and environment. It is Lincoln's closest direct competitor for both domestic and international students in the land-based disciplines that define Lincoln's identity.
• Wageningen University & Research: Wageningen is the world's leading specialist university in agriculture, food, and environment, and the clearest international analogue to Lincoln University NZ. Both institutions compete for international students seeking land-based credentials at highly specialised research institutions.
• Royal Agricultural University: The Royal Agricultural University (UK) is a small specialist land-based university focused on agriculture, business, and land management. It offers the closest small-specialist comparison to Lincoln in terms of niche positioning, single-campus footprint, and reliance on agriculture/food sector students.
• Harper Adams University: Harper Adams is a UK specialist university in agriculture, agri-food, and animal science. Its single-discipline focus and small specialist footprint make it a closely comparable peer in terms of operating model, programme mix, and international student positioning.

Broad incumbents

• University of Canterbury: University of Canterbury is a comprehensive NZ public research university located near Lincoln in Christchurch. It competes for the same domestic student pool in engineering, science, and commerce, and overlaps with Lincoln in forestry, environmental science, and business disciplines.
• University of Otago: University of Otago is NZ's oldest university, based in Dunedin, with comprehensive offerings including sciences, geography, and environmental management. It co-leads the WAI Wānaka freshwater research studentship with Lincoln, demonstrating a peer-level partnership role in the NZ higher-education landscape.
• Purdue University: Purdue is a US land-grant university with very large programmes in agriculture, engineering, and veterinary medicine. While much larger and based in the US, it offers a useful international benchmark for the land-grant/specialist agriculture model that Lincoln emulates, particularly in agritech and AI for land use.
• University of Reading: The University of Reading has long-established agriculture, food, and environment programmes and is a UK leader in land-based teaching. While broader than Lincoln in scope, it competes directly for international students in agriculture, food science, and environmental management.

Regional players

• University of Waikato: University of Waikato is another NZ public university offering overlapping programmes in environmental science, agribusiness, and management, with a strong focus on Māori partnerships similar to Lincoln's Te Taumutu Rūnanga relationship. It competes for domestic students in adjacent North Island regions.
• University of Adelaide (Waite campus): The University of Adelaide's Waite campus hosts Australia's leading agricultural and wine science research and teaching programmes. It is the closest Australian regional peer to Lincoln, competing for international students seeking specialist land-based credentials in the Asia-Pacific region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@LincolnUniversityNZ
• Facebookfacebook.com/LincolnUniversity
• Instagraminstagram.com/lincolnuniversitynz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/lincoln-university-new-zealand
• Xx.com/LincolnUniNZ

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lincoln University (New Zealand)