Application procedure and requirements

You can apply directly to Goldsmiths via the website by clicking the ‘apply now’ button on the main programme page.

Before submitting your application you will need to have: 

• Details of your education history, including the dates of all exams/assessments;
• The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively an electronic copy of your academic reference;
• Contact details of a second referee;
• A personal statement. This can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online;
• If available, an electronic copy of your educational transcript (this is particularly important if you have studied outside of the UK, but isn’t mandatory);
• A copy of your C.V;
• Details of your research proposal.

You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.

Before you apply for a research programme, we advise you to contact the Postgraduate Research Officer, Sociology. It may also be possible to arrange an advisory meeting.

Before you start at Goldsmiths, the actual topic of your research has to be agreed with your proposed supervisor, who will be a member of staff active in your general field of research. The choice of topic may be influenced by the current research in the department or the requirements of an external funding body. You should look at the staff research interests to see if we are the right department for you and whether there is a member if staff who may match your research interests.

If you wish to study on a part-time basis, you should also indicate how many hours a week you intend to devote to research, whether this will be at evenings or weekends, and for how many hours each day.

Research proposals 

Along with your application and academic reference, you should also upload a research proposal at the point of application. 

This should be in the form of a 1,500-3,000 word statement of the proposed area of research and should include: 

• delineation of the research topic;
• why it has been chosen;
• an initial hypothesis (if applicable);
• a brief list of major secondary sources;
• The name of a staff member who you believe would be interested in acting as your supervisor.

When to apply 

We accept applications from October for students wanting to start the following September. 

We encourage you to complete your application as early as possible, even if you haven't finished your current programme of study. It's very common to be offered a place conditional on you achieving a particular qualification. 

If you're applying for external funding from one of the Research Councils, make sure you submit your application no later than 31 January.

Selection process 

Admission to many programmes is by interview, unless you live outside the UK. Occasionally we'll make candidates an offer of a place on the basis of their application and qualifications alone.

Entrance requirements

You should normally have (or expect to be awarded) a taught Masters in a relevant subject area. An MA covering methods of social research (for example, the MA in Social Research) would be a distinct advantage.

You might also be considered for some programmes if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level. 

We also accept a wide range of international equivalent qualifications, which can be found on our country-specific pages. If you'd like more information, please contact the Admissions Office.

English language 

If your first language isn't English, you need to demonstrate the required level of English language competence to enrol on our programmes. 

Please check our English Language requirements for more information.

Find out more about applying 

• Goldsmiths Graduate School
• Entrance requirements
• English Language requirements
• Returning your work
• Associate Graduate and Associate Research Students
• Fees and Funding
• Departmental Studentships

Contact us 

Get in touch via our online form 

UK/EU
+44 (0)20 7919 7766
course-info@gold.ac.uk 

International (non-EU)
+44 (0)20 7919 7702
international-office@gold.ac.uk

Staff in the Department of Sociology

For further information on the staff and research profile of the Department of Sociology, visit the Sociology Department staff pages.

Graduate Profile

Research in the Department of Sociology

Goldsmiths Sociology has a long track record of funded research, with research funded by UK research councils, British Academy, European Union, and charities including Leverhulme, Wellcome and Joseph Rowntree.  We are also in research collaboration with industry, local and national government and public bodies.

Recent and current funded research