Goldsmiths Academic Profile: Faculties, Departments, and Research
Goldsmiths is recognized for its multidisciplinary approach to education, blending creative practice with rigorous academic research. From its world-renowned art and design programs to its cutting-edge computing and sociology departments, the institution fosters an environment where innovation and critical thinking intersect.
The university's structure is designed to support both traditional scholarship and experimental practice, ensuring that students and faculty can engage with contemporary challenges across a wide array of disciplines.
Key Facts
- Global Recognition: Ranked 2nd in the UK and 11th worldwide for Media and Communications in 2023.
- Interdisciplinary Focus: Strong integration of art, design, computing, and social sciences.
- Research Accessibility: Maintains the Goldsmiths Research Online (GRO) repository for open access to publications and theses.
- Industry Partnerships: Collaborates with the Tungsten Network for AI and Big Data research.
Arts and Design
The Art Department, led by Richard Noble, is distinguished by a legacy of influential alumni, including Damien Hirst, Steve McQueen, and Sarah Lucas. The department is also a member of the Screen Studies Group, London.
The Department of Design focuses on ethical and environmentalist practices. This foundation informs their research into metadesign (the design of design processes). Key initiatives include:
- TERU (Technology Education Research Unit): Investigates the intersection of design and technology in schools to encourage creative interventions.
- Writing-PAD (Writing Purposefully in Art and Design Network): A network spanning approximately 70 institutions with 6 national and 2 international centers.
Computing and Technology
The Department of Computing balances technical proficiency with creative potential. Students can specialize in a diverse range of programs, including:
- Computer Science and Computer Games Programming
- Computational Cognitive Neuroscience and Computational Linguistics
- Data Science and User Experience Engineering
- Virtual & Augmented Reality and Computer Games Art & Design
Furthering its technological reach, the Tungsten Centre for Intelligent Data Analytics—a partnership established in 2015 with the Tungsten Network—explores advanced artificial intelligence (AI) techniques for business practices and Big Data.
Social Sciences and Humanities
Sociology and Cultural Studies
The Sociology Department features academics such as Nirmal Puwar and David Hirsh. Similarly, the Media and Communications Department and the Centre for Cultural Studies include scholars like Angela McRobbie, Scott Lash, and Matthew Fuller.
Anthropology and Politics
The Department of Anthropology is particularly noted for its focus on visual anthropology (the study of humans through visual media). The department has been home to staff such as David Graeber and Keith Hart. It also integrates continental philosophy through academics like Saul Newman, who leads the department of politics and developed the concept of post-anarchism.
English and Comparative Literature
This department covers a broad spectrum of literary study, including American literature, linguistics, creative writing, and comparative literature, with current academics including Chris Baldick and Blake Morrison.
Music and Creative Entrepreneurship
The Music Department is a hub of international research and performance. It houses the Research Centre for Russian Music, renowned for its archives of Prokofiev and Schnittke, as well as collections of Stravinsky and first editions of Russian Piano Music.
Other specialized units include the Asian Music Unit, the Afghanistan Music Unit, and the Unit for Sound Practice Research. The department also produces the Sonic Scope Journal of Audiovisual Studies and curates the annual PureGold festival and its postgraduate showcase, PureGold [REDUX].
Facilities include the Stanley Glasser Electronic Music Studios (est. 1968) and Goldsmiths Music Studios. Additionally, the department collaborates with Matthew Herbert's Accidental Records through the independent label NX Records.
Complementing these creative arts is the Institute for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship, which provides education in cultural management, policy, and entrepreneurship for the creative sectors.
Education and Research Access
The Department of Educational Studies offers undergraduate, masters, and doctoral courses. It manages a significant initial teacher education program for primary and secondary levels, partnering with over 1,500 schools and colleges.
To ensure the dissemination of knowledge, the university provides Goldsmiths Research Online (GRO). This repository, part of the Goldsmiths Online Research Collections (ORC), provides open access to doctoral theses and academic publications, alongside the Goldsmiths Journals Online (GOJO) platform.
Institutional Rankings
Goldsmiths maintains a strong presence in both national and global university rankings.
| Ranking Body | Year | Rank/Position |
|---|---|---|
| Complete (National) | 2027 | 61 |
| Guardian (National) | 2026 | 67 |
| Times / Sunday Times (National) | 2026 | 87= |
| QS (Global) | 2027 | 701–710 |
| THE (Global) | 2026 | 501–600 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Goldsmiths ranked for Media and Communications?
In 2023, the QS World University Rankings placed Goldsmiths' media and communications offerings second in the UK and eleventh worldwide.
What is the focus of the Department of Design?
The department emphasizes ethical and environmentalist design, with a specific research focus on metadesign and the application of design and technology in schools via the TERU unit.
What research facilities are available for music students?
Students have access to the Goldsmiths Music Studios and the Stanley Glasser Electronic Music Studios, as well as the internationally renowned archives of the Research Centre for Russian Music.
How can the public access research conducted at Goldsmiths?
Research outputs and doctoral theses are available through Goldsmiths Research Online (GRO), which is part of the broader Goldsmiths Online Research Collections (ORC).
What is the Tungsten Centre for Intelligent Data Analytics?
It is a research programme developed in 2015 in partnership with the Tungsten Network to explore advanced AI techniques for Big Data and business practices.