Goldsmiths, University of London

Overview

Goldsmiths, University of London is a famous arts and social sciences university based in south-east London. Founded in 1891, it became part of the University of London in 1904 and currently has around 8,000 students from over 100 countries enrolled.

The department of Anthropology is often cited as one of the best in Europe and the Art department is recognised as one of Britain’s most prestigious. Goldsmiths often ranks in the top five in the UK across all Art categories. An award-winning building housing IT, library and language-learning resources, and a state-of-the-art fitness centre is also on campus.

Seven former students have won the prestigious Turner Prize and the University was the starting point of the Young British Artist movement of artists in the 1990s. Other alumni can be found in all aspects of media and arts, from music to writing, such as Blur and Damien Hirst.

Services for International Students

Goldsmiths, University of London runs a pickup service from Heathrow Airport before term begins, with transport to the campus included. Once there, International Orientation Week begins a week before standard Orientation, and features introductions to other international students and British culture. Trips to various places around the UK and Europe, such as Stonehenge, Oxford and Paris, run throughout the year.

Ranking

• 68th in the Times University Guide 2020
• 99th in the Guardian University Guide 2020

Goldsmiths confirmed its place as a top 25 university in the UK for the quality of its research following the 2014 Research Excellence Framework. Goldsmiths has previously ranked first in London for high quality and helpful staff (Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey), and one of the UK's top creative and political universities as voted for by students by Which? University.

Accommodation

All international students are given priority for University accommodation throughout their degree. Goldsmiths have six separate blocks of university approved accommodation within five minutes of the main campus, while there are five further blocks which are available via a private provider. In total there are around 1,400 places available.  

Every hall also has a team of staff nearby, including administrative staff, Resident Assistants, and security.

Location

Goldsmiths is situated in New Cross, an area of South East London only ten minutes by train from the city centre. It has been described by the New York Times as a “hub for creative talent” and was recently voted the best place to rent in South East London. Beautiful areas like Greenwich are only twenty minutes’ walk from the campus and the rest of London is easily reached by train.

Alumni

• Damien Hirst (Artist)
• Steve McQueen (Actor, director)
• Princess Beatrice of York
• Damon Albarn (Blur)
• Lucien Freud (Painter)

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