Goldsmiths College

Goldsmiths is based in New Cross in South East London. All of the teaching facilities are located on the campus opposite Fordham Park which can be accessed via the London Overground services to New Cross.

  

Background and History

Goldsmiths was established in 1891 by the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths as a technical and recreative institute' for the people of New Cross. The Goldsmiths livery company itself can trace its roots back to the 12^th century, creating a long tradition of technical education. Goldsmiths merged with the University of London in 1904 and received its own royal charter in 1990.

Location and Accessibility

By Rail: Access to the Underground in the area is limited but many Overground and national rail services are available from nearby New Cross and New Cross Gate stations. Access to the DLR is also possible from Deptford Bridge.

By Road: Driving to Goldsmiths is not advised but it can be reached from the A2 (New Cross Road). Parking on campus is strictly limited.

Most facilities are wheelchair friendly and accommodation is available designed for usage by people with disabilities.

What's on Offer

BA, BSc, MA, MSc, Graduate Diploma, Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate, MRes, MPhil, PhD.

Entry Requirements

Requirements vary by programme but examples include: History: AAB/ABB at A-level, 34 in the IB or DDM at BTEC. Fine Art: Foundation art year and a portfolio of work. Computer Science: BBB at A-level, 31 in the IB or DDM/DMM in the BTEC.

University Accommodation

There are places available in halls owned by Goldsmiths and inter-collegiate halls where you'll be sharing with other members of the University of London. Prices vary greatly giving students some flexibility in what they choose.  

Private Accommodation

South East London has some very cost-effective areas to live in without sacrificing quality, access to parks and other amenities. A number of privately owned halls of residence are also available in the area.

Faculties and Departments

Academic Schools: Anthropology, Art, Centre for Cultural Studies, Centre for English Language and Academic Writing, Computing, Design, Educational Studies, English and Comparative Literature, History, Institute for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship, Institute of Management Studies and Media and Communication.  

Academic Strengths and Research Profile

Goldsmiths has a fantastic reputation for the arts and has produced a number of internationally acclaimed artists. It ranks highly in the country for research, particularly in Sociology and Media and Communications. The university also has a reputation for an unconventional approach to academic teaching which aims to inspire creativity and entrepreneurship.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees at Goldsmiths vary depending upon the course of study and whether you are an UK/EU student or an international one. For full information it is advisable to contact the university directly or visit their website.

Grants, Bursaries and Financial Support

Goldsmiths takes part in the National Scholarship Scheme and also offers a large range of its own scholarships. These include grants for students who are either mature, disabled, academically gifted or hail from nearby Lewisham. There are also a large number of scholarships for students wanting to study computer science.

Academic Facilities

The New Academic Building' opened in 2010 offering brand new lecture theatres, IT teaching rooms and study spaces. These compliment the existing facilities including the library which contains one of the largest collections of audio-visual material in the country. IT provision across the campus is excellent and is complemented by the teaching and advanced IT facilities in the large Computer Science department.

Other on-site Amenities

The campus contains a gym with subsidised membership for students and football and rugby are played on the College Green. A variety of cafes and eateries are available onsite including the Student Union bar Stretch' which also hosts popular club nights.

Medical and Social Care

Goldsmiths is served by the New Cross Medical Centre which is a short walk from most of the campus halls. There are onsite nursery facilities and also a chaplaincy and multi-faith prayer rooms.  

What's on in the Area

New Cross has a vibrant and lively music scene and a night out there will set you back substantially less than many places in central London. Nearby there are the museums, galleries and parks of Greenwich and plenty of places to stroll along the Thames. Football fans will have Millwall's stadium on their doorstep, although whether you want to rub shoulders with supporters of one of the most infamous football firms' is another matter.  

Moving On

Goldsmiths tries to encourage entrepreneurship and creativity in its students and offers access to the large University of London careers service. Employability statistics for the entire university are lower than some of its peers but some subjects have an extremely good reputation for making job hunting easier.

Goldsmiths is famous for the YBA art collective and has produced 6 Turner prize winners. Notable alumni include Lucian Freud, Damien Hirst and Damon Albarn

Is Goldsmiths for you?

It has and extremely good reputation for art and sociology. The computer science department is also renowned and has a large number of scholarships on offer. You should consider SOAS if you're looking into the arts and humanities or UCL if you're more inclined to computing.