"The students who are doing certificates may not have any aspiration or need for a bachelor degree and ... we do respect that, but that was one of the original aspirations [for students] but it has not happened," vice-chancellor Prof Robin Pollard said.
Lincoln University took over the Telford Polytechnic campus in 2010.
Lincoln announced last month it would be undergoing a review of its business following continued financial losses.
Prof Pollard said the project, titled Refreshing Lincoln, was about revitalising the university’s core business.
Despite Government requirements, Lincoln has run up $7million in deficits over the past five years.
Prof Pollard said a fresh look at the university’s operations was needed as it was a long-established institution and there were many stakeholders across the South Island.
"Financial viability is definitely one of the things we need to attend to as Lincoln has made operating deficits for some years now."
He confirmed the Telford campus, near Balclutha, was being reviewed under the possible restructure.
Telford’s future was as unclear as the rest of the university’s campuses, he said.
It was looking at "any number of options" for Telford’s future.
"The Lincoln Telford is under discussion and our hope is that we can work with others to improve its performance."
Prof Pollard said many people questioned the merger of Lincoln and Telford, labelling it an "interesting decision".
Part of the problem was many of those who studied agriculture at Telford did not advance from certificates to tertiary degrees.Lincoln went through a restructuring during 2013 and 2014 and it is understood over 100 staff lost their jobs during the process.
The Refreshing Lincoln consultation process had no specific end date but could last several months, Prof Pollard said.
