Students have learnt on the site Goldsmiths for over 200 years. The university gets its name when the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths acquired the Royal Naval School (on the site of the original Counter Hill Academy) and reopened it as The Goldsmiths’ Company’s Technical and Recreative Institute in 1891. Goldsmiths has been part of the University of London for over 100 years.
Our courses and research activities span the arts, humanities, social sciences, cultural studies, computing, business and management across 19 academic departments.
Goldsmiths has a rich history of world-leading research.
Nearly three quarters of the research carried out by academics at Goldsmiths was rated as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ in the most recent Research Excellence Framework from 2014. In the Complete University Guide Subject League Tables for 2022, Goldsmiths was ranked 1st or joint 1st for research intensity for Business and Management, Computer Science, Drama, Dance and Cinematics, English, History, Music, Psychology, Sociology, and Social Work. For students, this means that you will be taught by academics actively engaged with their own research work.
Goldsmiths, University of London has a very active Careers Service at Goldsmiths that is focused on helping you gain skills and new experiences as well as offering you expert advice.
You can access support including one-to-one appointments with careers consultants, skills webinars, CV checks, and practice interviews, and there are resources where you can search for jobs. Maybe you want to start a business or go freelance? The Careers team offers practical webinars, enterprise competitions and grants, one-to-one advice and entry to enterprise networks, so you can test out your ideas and meet like-minded people.
There are a wide variety of student support services at Goldsmiths that offer help and guidance during your time at university, from the moment you arrive until you graduate, and beyond.
This includes a student counselling service, advice on student finances, housing and accommodation, a dedicated Careers Service and more.
There is help for students with a disability, a multi-faith Chaplaincy and prayer room, and the Centre for Academic Language and Literacies provides dedicated support to students who may need support with their academic writing.
At the start of your first year there’ll be a programme of welcome activities to make sure you get the best possible introduction to your university experience.
Goldsmiths offers a range of accommodation options – whether you prefer the supported environment of halls, or more independent living that lets you mix with a wider London student population.
There is a dedicated residence life team to help you get the most out of your time as part of our friendly and lively community on campus.
Students can stay on halls, and Goldsmiths currently has seven options to choose from, all of which are located around campus or in nearby areas. In total there are around 1,200 rooms.
Nearly all of our rooms are either on campus or less than a 5-minute walk away. Rent includes all electricity, water and gas bills, basic possessions insurance and internet access.
The Goldsmiths Library has approximately 300,000 books and 7,000 print and electronic journals, as well as a multitude of online resources spanning subjects such as the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
There is a recently renovated space for group work and socialising, a small café, and a bookable study spaces and computer labs, making the library a popular spot on campus.
Goldsmiths has a dedicated IT services team that can help students both in person and remotely. There is a wide range of support available to help you with any IT problems related to your studies.
In addition to this, in the Library you will be able to find computer rooms where you can use a computer; the library is open 24/7 nearly every single day of the year so you can find a place to study at your convenience.
There is also an equipment loan service where you can book a wide variety of IT items such as webcams, microphones, cameras, MacBooks and more.
Goldsmiths has partnered with Amersham Vale Medical Practice to provide medical services to Goldsmiths students. They are a five-minute walk from campus. It provides a full range of services including a mental health service, travel health service and immunisations (including meningitis, measles, mumps and rubella).
Goldsmiths is a single-site campus which means all of your teaching happens in the same location and you won’t miss any chances to fully immerse yourself into Goldsmiths’ community.
The campus is an eclectic mix of different buildings and architecture – from the recently opened Professor Stuart Hall Building, to the inviting and grand Richard Hoggart Building. On campus you’ll find places to eat, study and meet friends. There’s a shop run by the Students’ Union, and a comprehensive library for all of your research during your studies.
On the campus itself you will find tennis courts that are bookable for students to play on (as well as a Tennis society). There is also a large open space called the College Green which is a perfect sport to meet friends on, but is also regularly used by sports clubs for practice.
Away from campus, Goldsmiths’ sports clubs make use of the Loring Sports Ground and local venues for activities and events. Sports clubs include badminton, cheerleading, football, taekwondo, bouldering, yoga, basketball, ultimate frisbee and more.
Goldsmiths also competes in the British Universities College Sport and London University’s Sports League competitions.
Goldsmiths is home to a wide number of clubs and societies to get involved in, as part of the Students’ Union. The Students’ Union has its own building on campus which is home to a café and bar and is a great place to meet friends.Clubs and societies can change from year-to-year but examples include the Chess society, Dance society, Debating society, Film society, Korean Culture society, and Photography society.Along with groups you can join, the SU regularly holds social events and activities to participate in and there is an active community of other students for you to join.
Many of Goldsmiths’ programmes are accredited by industry and sector organisations. This includes our LLB Law programmes being qualified law degrees accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board, our Psychology programmes being accredited by the British Psychological Society, or our BA Social Science, Community Development & Youth Work is professionally recognized by the National Youth Agency and endorsed by the Endorsement and Quality Standards Board for Community Development Learning.
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
By TopUniversities
Climbed 10 places compared to 2026
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 681 | 711 | 701 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By U.S. News & World Report
Dropped 166 places compared to 2026
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 1396 | 1419 | 1585 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By Times Higher Education
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2027 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 501 | 501 | - |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Based on 65 reviews
My experience at Goldsmiths, University of London has been truly inspiring. From the very beginning, I was impressed by the dedication and approachability of the tutors. They genuinely care about students� progress and are always willing to take extra time to explain concepts clearly and make sure everyone feels confident. The teaching style is engaging and interactive, with plenty of group discussions, creative activities, and opportunities to share ideas. This makes learning not only enjoyable but also deeply meaningful. I always feel supported, encouraged, and respected in class, which has boosted my confidence and motivation. The tutors� passion for their subjects is contagious, and their enthusiasm makes even the most complex topics exciting and easy to understand. Studying at Goldsmiths has truly fueled my curiosity and inspired me to keep learning every day.
Excellent Uni for Psychology and Art! Overall all staff members are very friendly and approachable. They are always willing to above and beyond to support your academic studies to ensure you receive the best grades.
The academic side of Goldsmiths is only let down by it's administration, which can be a bit of a pain. The main issues arise from the poor standards for accommodation with very high prices to pay, for example in my 1st year I paid around £179 a week for a room with an en suite bathroom which was littered with issues. This year (2nd year), I have been able to afford a flat with 5 of my friends in a much better location for around £40 a week cheaper. Though I have had to sacrifice being away from campus, I have made this trade off by moving into central London. Another issue is that there is no real facilitation of sports within Goldsmiths and it feels like not all groups are truly cared for, as you can't find societies that one would expect to find in such a big name university.
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