Future Goldsmiths
We are taking action to secure Goldsmiths' place as one of the world’s leading creative universities, at a time when many in higher education are having to make difficult decisions to adapt to the disrupted world around us.
Future Goldsmiths
Through a two-year programme called Future Goldsmiths we are changing and renewing our institution.
As we mark our 120th anniversary as a university, this is an opportunity for us to reshape Goldsmiths to ensure we have a bright future.
Goldsmiths is recognised and celebrated around the world, with a reputation and legacy that is admired across the UK and internationally. We are known for the unique contribution we make to education and society, and culture more broadly.
As we go through these changes over the next two years we will be reimagining what Goldsmiths can be. We will lean on our history and face forward to the opportunities we attract and create.
Through this time of change and renewal we will continue to give our students the best possible experience to help them reach their goals and career ambitions.
A changing sector
The university sector is going through a period of significant challenge, defined by rising costs, global competition, geopolitical insecurity and rapid technological and cultural change.
Nearly 50% of UK universities are forecast to be in financial deficit this academic year according to our sector regulator the Office for Students, and sadly Goldsmiths is not immune to these pressures.
Moreover, the funding, regulatory and policy context in England puts additional pressure on Goldsmiths because of our location in London and our academic offer.
With purposeful redesign we will overcome these challenges as a university that is truly academically distinctive, financially sustainable and operationally responsive.
How we're supporting students
These changes will help us provide better support for students, with Future Goldsmiths focused on raising the student experience and delivering improved outcomes with employability and skills embededed throughout the curriculum.
We will achieve this by working in partnership with students and their representatives in Goldsmiths Students' Union.
We are consolidating some academic programmes so that we can continue to offer the distinctive, critical and creative curriculum for which Goldsmiths is known.
This includes protecting the unique nature of our educational environment so that our core teaching and research continues to speak to our values of social justice and equity, at a time when these are at risk across society.
This page will be kept updated to reflect developments and milestones in the Future Goldsmiths programme.
Is my course changing as a result of Future Goldsmiths?
We remain committed to deliver your course. If this were to change, we would consult students about the proposed changes.
Each year minor changes are made to courses. This is standard practice across the sector and not a result of Future Goldsmiths.
What does consolidating academic programmes mean?
We’re reviewing some of our programmes for prospective students. All universities do this to ensure that their offer meets the needs of students, including developing the skills and experience they need to secure a graduate job.
What other changes are you proposing?
We’re looking at how our programmes are delivered to better meet student expectations and needs. Using student feedback, we’re reflecting on how we can offer more flexible forms of study, embed skills and employability within the curriculum and design assessment that prepares students for work and further study.
How will you lower costs?
We’re developing a set of proposals for reducing our ongoing costs to align better with the costs of other universities. This will mean that some staff leave Goldsmiths. Once these proposals are published in mid-April we will follow all due process.
How are you supporting staff?
We’ve developed a package of support for colleagues throughout this time, primarily focused on supporting mental health and wellbeing.
Last updated 28 March 2026
28 March 2026: page published