Lincoln College University Centre is celebrating the success of alumna Ellen Shuttelton, whose academic journey highlights the progression routes available to students in health and clinical disciplines.
Elle graduated in 2024 from the BSc (Hons) Clinical Herbalism course at Lincoln College University Centre and has since achieved a Master of Science in Clinical Neurology at the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield. This reflects both academic achievement and professional commitment.
Elle credits the 500 hours of supervised clinical practice embedded within the BSc (Hons) Clinical Herbalism course as a key factor in her success at master’s level. She explains that this hands-on experience gave her a strong foundation when entering postgraduate study, particularly in applying theory to real patient contexts and developing clinical reasoning.
“The clinical hours really set me up for my master’s,” Elle says. “I already understood patient care, case histories and professional practice, which made a huge difference.”
She also speaks highly of the support she received from Lincoln College University Centre during her undergraduate studies.
Following a dyslexia assessment suggested by one of her tutors and arranged through the College, Elle accessed tailored learning support and Disabled Students’ Allowance funding. This enabled her to work with OpenEd, a specialist support service providing one-to-one sessions at home.
“That support changed everything for me,” she notes. “It meant I could focus on learning and progressing rather than struggling in silence. I’m very grateful to the Lincoln College staff and to my specialist tutor Helen at OpenEd for their continued support.”
A distinctive strength of Elle’s education has been her grounding in both traditional herbal medicine and conventional neuroscience. She describes having “a foot in both camps”, allowing her to contribute to integrated healthcare discussions where evidence-based herbal practice can sit alongside mainstream clinical approaches.
During her studies she also benefited from the course’s National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH)
accredited status, allowing graduates to legally access and use Schedule 20 herbs under the Medicines Act as part of regulated clinical practice.
Alongside her academic studies, Elle developed a small private patient base, applying her clinical knowledge in practice.
While at SITraN she held an honorary NHS role in which her masters' research evaluated the Sheffield Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) service. The project examined how patients are currently supported and explored practical recommendations for improving care pathways using existing NHS services, focusing on a patient group that often experiences long delays before diagnosis and treatment.
During a neurodegenerative conditions module undertaken by the whole cohort, students were required to explain a scientific concept to a lay audience. Elle used the herb rosemary as an example to translate complex research evidence into accessible language for peers without a background in herbal medicine.
Her current focus is Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), an area she continues to research and work within clinically.
After completing her MSc, Elle travelled to Australia for three months to explore developing areas in paediatric FND care and connect with clinicians at the University of Sydney, returning inspired for the next stage of her career as a clinical herbalist specialising in neurological conditions.
Elle’s journey demonstrates how students at Lincoln College University Centre can progress into clinical practice, postgraduate study, or both. Her story shows how a strong vocational foundation, combined with academic rigour and student support, can open pathways into advanced study and healthcare careers.
The team at Lincoln College University Centre are proud of Elle’s achievements and look forward to seeing her continued contribution to integrated and neurological healthcare.
Learn more about studying BSc (Hons) Clinical Herbalism course at Lincoln College University Centre.
