Courses & structure

What you study

All pathways

English for Academic Purposes courses (30 credits each) Students on all IFC Pathways take both of these core courses, designed to develop your ability and confidence in the four key areas of writing, reading, listening and speaking.

Academic Reading and Writing

The course covers the key aspects of writing an essay. These include features of academic style, the planning process, structuring an argument, summarising, paraphrasing techniques, referencing, avoiding plagiarism, and drafting and editing. Emphasis is given to the logic underlying Western academic writing conventions, rather than simply looking at the procedural aspects. This is supported by work on the main areas of English grammar, with a focus on improving grammatical range and accuracy in your writing. Reading skills are also developed.

Textual analysis helps you learn about cohesion, extend your vocabulary, read for gist and specifics, infer meaning, as well as develop summary skills. The texts generally focus on a background to Western thought and culture, taking into account ancient Greeks and Romans, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment and the influence of modernity, feminism and Marxism. There is an emphasis on how to use reading in writing – learning from other writers’ style and using their points as evidence for your arguments.

Academic Listening and Speaking

To enhance listening skills, the course makes use of a wide range of texts, drawing firstly on commercially produced EAP materials to help you acquire the skills of listening for gist and specific information, and taking useful notes. Later, the course moves on to recordings from Goldsmiths library as well as BBC radio shows. You are exposed to a range of challenging and interesting recordings related to the arts, current affairs, media, education and aspects of British culture.

Many of the recordings are relevant to subjects studied at Goldsmiths, for example race and ethnicity, representation, identity and culture. Where possible, the recordings are exploited for vocabulary development. To develop speaking skills, you will research and give seminar presentations and lead the class through discussion of your chosen topic. You will receive input on effective seminar techniques and functional language.

The Design Pathway

Students undertaking the IFC in Design must submit a portfolio that demonstrates a range of skills and knowledge associated with some form of post-16 arts and design education or appropriate work experience. All students on the Design Pathway take the following three courses in the Department of Design.

What is Design? (30 credits)

This course introduces you to different design disciplines and their different definitions. In term one, you will undertake a series of design briefs that will enable you to acquire knowledge and skills appropriate to different forms of design: 2D, graphics/typography/photography, 3D, product/ furniture/craft/textile, 4D, web/video. In term two you will be introduced to a creative abstract similar to BA Design level 1 students, where a project is driven by a particular context rather than by a design discipline.

This part of the course enables you to acquire specific knowledge around a set of more personal interests and undertake a number of project briefs within the studio, which will directly contribute towards the development and preparation of a design portfolio and final group exhibition.

Sketchbooks and Reflective Journal (15 credits)

This course is designed to run concurrently with the What is Design? course. Over the duration of the course you will have to keep a sketchbook and a reflective journal. The journal will be an ongoing (predominantly text-based) diary to record/ capture your thoughts and processes occurring during the projects, workshops, trips, exhibitions and feedback sessions.

The sketchbook will be a visual record of your research and design process, and will contain drawings, sketches, images, photographs, modelling, etc relating to the set projects and your developing body of work.

Making Drawings Making Things (15 credits)

This course will introduce you to a series of methods and techniques that will enable you to realise your ideas. You will be guided through a number of exercises including sketching, drawing (various types), paper modelling, wire modelling, foam modelling and prototyping.

Guaranteed progression

Students who pass all courses at the required level are guaranteed a place on a related Goldsmiths degree programme.

About the department

The Centre for English Language and Academic Writing

The Centre for English Language and Academic Writing (CELAW) at Goldsmiths has specialised for over 20 years in English language teaching for academic study in creative and culture-related disciplines. While most students go on to successful study at Goldsmiths, some take our courses as stand-alone programmes. We welcome all international students whose first language is not English.

We currently offer four modes of provision:

1. A Pre-Master’s Diploma in the Humanities and Social Sciences
2. An International Foundation Certificate in the Humanities and Social Sciences
3. Pre-sessional courses from April-September
4. In-sessional courses for students already on their chosen degrees

How to Apply

Please download the application form available at www.gold.ac.uk/media/gold-app-form-lang-studies. pdf. Please complete and return all sections of the form, together with any additional documentation.

Make sure that you enclose:

• A reference
• English Language certificates
• Transcript or student record

Please send your form and additional documentation to: Centre for English Language and Academic Writing, Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London SE14 6NW, UK.

We will send you more information on your programme, maps and travel information if you accept an offer of a place.

Student profiles

"All tutors are very professional and respectful, they know exactly what foreign students need as they are experienced.

Although I had been at language school to learn English, writing in a proper academic style was totally different from what I used to do in my country. Yet, the tutors lead us step by step and I could see that I am actually improved in many ways."

Eun, International Foundation Certificate