Goldsmiths, University of London

TLDR;
I got a 2.7% compensation for 35% tutorial cancellation. Choose wisely.

The Good;
- A handful of my lecturers were outstanding. Problem Solving and Mathematics in particular had fantastic lecturers who excellently explained their subjects, offered support in a constructive manner and very clearly put the needs of the students as priority. To those lecturers, you know who you are, you have my genuine, heartfelt thanks.
- I did receive a small financial compensation for the disruption caused during my studies.

The Bad;
- The University is involved in a multi-year dispute with the Goldsmiths Union regarding staff redundancies and financial recovery. This dispute caused three strikes during my first academic year, each lasting three weeks. Note, this is on top of the nation wide strikes between Universities and Teacher Unions.
- The dispute also caused an Action Short Of a Strike (ASOS) whereby the delivery of grades was delayed.
- The nursery next to Deptford Town Hall has signs saying "Strike" and "Solidarity". These signs have been displayed for sufficient time for the colour to be bleached by the sun.
- My chosen degree is available from Goldsmiths online through Coursera, however, some subjects taught in person during the second year are taught in the first year online, effectively making the first year of the online degree stronger than the first year of the in-person degree.
- In a meeting I attended as Student Representative for my degree, it was discussed that the university chose to teach P5JS to first year students, due to the low pass rate when Java was taught. Java is still taught from the second year onwards.

Nice grass area in campus but no good foods surroundings.

Some staff are irresponsible during the strike. Some of us received zero refund for the blanked class dates. Some part time teachers evaluated students with bias. Be careful!

By far the most unprofessional university ever, after giving false hope to a friend of mine and telling her that she met the requirements for the course they didn’t even have enough courtesy to be honest and tell her that she had been rejected. The university were supposed to call her but then never did so she decided to call them instead and for two weeks they constantly told her to wait until eventually all the spaces for clearing were filled up. As a university Goldsmith should understand how stressful it is going through clearing so why are they thought it was appropriate just leave my friend hanging for two weeks knowing full well they were going to reject her sue to placement hours is nothing but unacceptable this university should you ashamed of themselves.How is it possible that this university would expect a student just out of college to do a minimum of 38 hours a week in placement for up to 4 months and then be surprised when the student doesn’t met that requirement. The most shocking thing about this for me is that the person on the phone even said to my friend “ oh well you are quite young aren’t you” as if the majority of the people attending university is a lot fresh out of college this university is an absolute joke.

Apologies for the lack of SPAG im to angry to care right now

I am a design graduate student. Here is the real perfection for me. There are no grades for the first semester so we can be fully creative. And I am thankful that I found a definite direction in my life before the end of the whole course.

Regarding the negative reviews of this school, I think it depends on your own arrangement. The school will provide enough help and advice.

All in all, the professors are nice, they have different personalities and are full of energy. Regarding being rejected without consolation, I think schools deal with a lot of applications, and I know that at top schools, rejections are always brief, including the London College of Art and the Royal College of Art.

The strike did not affect the design profession, the teachers were always there and in charge.

Also, the dorm management is safe! It's really great and the admin is nice.

I got my 2:1 at Goldsmiths, University of London. But the university is very left-wing as many professors do side with socialist and Marxist philosophy this was not a rare occurrence. I also got on with some students at the uni. But many are very ideological and don't see eye to eye with anyone outside a cultural revolution box.

I was also subject to bullying at Goldsmiths in which one student sent rude messages online about me behind my back. I enjoyed most of the work at the uni very academically stimulating! However, the culture at Goldsmiths is very left-wing and very middle-class e.g., Vote Remain, Extinction Rebellion, Trotskyike politics and an endless biased against those who are on the center-right. I was also asked if I was religious in one class and I said yes that I was a 'Christian' but this was subjected to a harang of mockery and laughter by my fellow class mates. I was also subjected to the cold shoulder by some of my class mates for not entertaining their Marx and Engles politics. The strikes where also very intimidating many stirkers where dressed in black bloc clothing and ski masks. Harmful spike objects where also scattered on the ground to stop students entering the front lobby during the strike. Lectures where also hijacked by strikes with students banging loud drums, tambourines and shouting on megaphone speakers to further contribute to the strikes chaos. I also observed Deptford Town Hall being vandalised by the strikers with yellow paint and graffiti. So, that was a big stigma on the universities reputation.

The work load is great! but the culture is very toxic if you do not play along with the left-wing agenda.

Previous undergrad and postgraduate student. A great University for the arts and creatives. It has always been very left wing politically aligned and identity politics is very popular here with the social sciences. There is a high standard here academically, which promotes critical thinking, however, things went downhill after tuition fees were increased. The recent reviews are understandably from students who have been impacted by numerous strikes and covid. The refund they received was too little. The time of tuition you receive is not equal to the amount of fees paid. Before the tuition fee increase in England, this was an amazing University and still is, but since then and returning recently many years later, it has become more corporate sadly and slightly champagne socialist. This is not unique to Goldsmiths.

A lot of British Universities' attitudes and also students' attitudes changed when Home student fees increased from £3000 to £9000 per year, it became about business and transactions. International students do not receive the support from all British Universities that they deserve for the horrendously high fees they pay.

A lot of the alumni live locally. There is a Tesco, cafe, opposite Goldsmiths, an onsite cinema, onsite gym, onsite cafes, onsite radio station and many clubs to be part of. The campus is intimate which creates community. As part of UoL you can also access the main library in Central London. Students are very outspoken. Lecturers tend to ignore emails and go sick frequently unless you file an official complaint. If you're scientific, avoid..

A beautiful arena for learning located at the heart of the city. A visit to this magnificent site must convince you that it's a place for learning new things and ideas.
The history and the architecture of its imposing main building is a great sight to behold while approaching the university.
A very lovely place!!!

Definitely a great place for the liberal arts - admin is a bit overburdened at the moment though, so things are moving slower than one would like.