Courses and 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 Music Pathway

Students undertaking the IFC in Music must demonstrate achievement in practical music exams equivalent to ABRSM Grade 6. All students on the Music Pathway take the following four courses in the Department of Music.

Musicianship I: Harmony and Composition (15 credits)

This course equips you with foundational skills in tonal harmony and composition, developing an understanding of basic stylistic and formal features of standard practices in Western Art Music. The focus is on a range of compositional techniques, which will include the practices of Baroque and Classical styles (using models from JS Bach, Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven).

You will also explore short forms in creative composition within a style of your choosing, considering topics such as melody and harmony, variation, accompaniment and arrangement.

Musicianship II: Performance Studies (15 credits)

The course aims to develop musical skills in performance and listening, and to increase awareness of musical characteristics and aesthetic judgements. This includes developing understanding of musical topics and issues such as structure, instrumentation, texture, genre, thematic links, style and traditions, performance challenges and decisions.

After an introductory series of lectures, the course consists of practical seminars in which some will perform pieces they are currently learning while the others will be asked to comment critically/constructively upon their performances. The solo performances will be assessed, and you will also be required to attend concerts and submit reviews of these concerts.

As part of the course, you will receive one-to-one tuition (vocal/ instrumental according to your specialism) in order to help you develop your performance skills.

Western Art Music in Context (15 credits)

The course introduces you to the development of Western art music in historical and cultural context. It presents a general survey of music from the late Renaissance to the present day. It focuses on the stylistic/formal changes, and particular attention is given to the establishment, transformation and disintegration of tonality.

As part of the course you will be expected to develop your understanding and aural perception of musical style, and to develop your ability to read various types of scores.

Topics in Music Studies (15 credits)

This course will develop your understanding of music studies, and introduce you to a series of established musical works that have acquired importance in Western culture. The works will be chosen to demonstrate a variety of forms, performance forces, styles and cultural functions. You will reflect on why these works have become accepted in the way they have, and whether things might have been different.

As an integrated part of this course, you will be expected to develop your English skills to the standard appropriate for entry to the BMus course by writing and speaking about music in a coherent, informed way. At the end of the course, you are expected to hand in a research project on a topic of your choice as the result of the learning process.

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