Industrial action

What does industrial action mean and how could it impact my studies? 

GUCU voted in favour of two forms of industrial action:

• Strike action. Strike action is when university staff stop working completely for a set period as part of an industrial dispute. During a strike, participating staff pause all work, including teaching, office hours, marking and assessment, meetings and emails, research duties and administrative tasks
• Action short of a strike (ASOS). ASOS is where staff stop undertaking a specific part of their duties. This is most commonly in the form of a marking and assessment boycott

Participating staff may also choose to join a picket line on campus to raise awareness of the dispute. GUCU members have been taking action short of strike since 27 April 2026 and have been taking full strike action since 8 June 2026.

Why is industrial action taking place?

The action is in response to Future Goldsmiths, the University’s plan to overcome financial challenges and secure our place as one of the world's leading creative and distrinctive universities. This includes:

• Offering courses aligned to the University’s creative core, rooted in world-leading practice and critical research and reflecting what prospective students tell us they would like to study
• Providing flexible learning which fits the real lives of students, such as through improved timetables or using technology more effectively and delivering new forms of learning
• Investing in our physical and digital infrastructure, including teaching and social spaces and tools to support assessment
• Supporting strong partnerships with schools, colleges and further education both in the UK and overseas to support recruitment to Goldsmiths

Will Future Goldsmiths have an impact on my studies?

We expect current students on full-time programmes to complete their current programme of study. No changes will affect your programme, beyond the standard adjustments made in any given year. There may be some minor impact on part-time students in a very small number of programmes. These students will be contacted directly.  

How can I share my views about Future Goldsmiths?  

Student representation is embedded throughout the University. Students are represented on the University Council, Academic Board and other committees and forums where significant decisions require approval, and school and faculty representatives ensure student perspectives inform decisions across academic schools. The Students’ Union sabbatical officers also work directly with senior leaders on your behalf.  

We regularly survey students throughout the year through module evaluations, pulse surveys, the National Student Survey (NSS) and the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) to make sure your experience shapes how we develop and improve.  

If you would like to make your voice heard, your student representatives are best placed to make sure your concerns and priorities are understood by senior leaders. Leaders will actively engage with student representatives in the coming weeks and months. 

How will I be kept informed about the impacts of industrial action on my studies?  

We will communicate with students by email as we receive further details about industrial action, including the impact on specific cohorts of students.  

What is the University doing to minimise the impact of industrial action on students? 

Colleagues from across the University are working hard to minimise the impact of action on you and we have plans in place to support this. 

Where teaching and assessment is impacted the University can utilise its Exceptional Academic Regulations (PDF). These regulations allow us to mitigate the impact on studies and assessments and are designed to ensure that we:  

• Support all students fairly and equally
• Support students to progress and graduate
• Maintain strong academic standards 

Specifically, these regulations allow the University to:  

• Identify other ways in which students can achieve and demonstrate learning outcomes if all planned teaching cannot be delivered
• Authorise temporary changes to assessments
• Provide additional mitigations to individual or groups of students
• Support students to graduate and progress 

We are committed to continue to work closely with GUCU and colleagues to reduce any potential impact. 

Will University facilities remain open?

Yes. The campus will be fully open, including the Library, teaching spaces and workshops and common areas.

Will planned teaching continue?

Yes, you should attend your planned teaching sessions. Approximately 90% of staff are working as normal, and we are confident that scheduled teaching will go ahead as planned. Your scheduled teaching will appear on your timetable. All these sessions count towards your attendance record and it is important that you attend them.

We understand that in some cases staff are contacting students to arrange alternative classes outside of the timetable. Any such classes are not part of your formal programme of teaching and will not count towards your attendance record. 

My class was cancelled. Why is this and what can I do?

Classes can change for a number of reasons at the start of each academic year. If a member of staff informs the University that they are planning to participate in action which will impact your teaching, we will let you know. In some cases, teaching staff may notify students directly about cancelled teaching, which we are encouraging staff to do via the VLE or email. We know that short notice cancellations are disruptive and frustrating for students, and we have plans in place to avoid this. To date, the number of classes where industrial action has resulted in change or cancellation is less than 10. Where this occurs, your school will work with you to rearrange the class.

If you are unhappy, you can submit a complaint. Details of how to do this can be found below. 

If my class is cancelled, will I be marked as absent on SEAtS? 

Where the University is informed that a class is cancelled, this class will be cancelled on SEAtS. If your class has been cancelled but you have received no notification you should contact the Student Hub, who will ensure your attendance record is updated accordingly. 

Will not attending a cancelled teaching session impact my visa?

No. If a teaching session is cancelled, not attending will have no impact on your student visa, even if the session is still appearing on SEAtS.

What if my supervisor does not attend a meeting on my dissertation or final year project due to industrial action?

Please notify your Head of School, Personal Tutor or the Student Hub, if after attempting to contact your supervisor, you cannot reach them.

The modules I wanted to study have changed. Why is this and what can I do?

Modules can change for a number of reasons at the start of each academic year. The number of modules directly affected by industrial action resulting in change is less than 2%. Only 3 of these will not run. Where changes to modules have occurred each school will work with you to identify alternative options for you to study. All modules available to you are approved trough the University’s quality framework and enable you to work towards achieving the learning outcomes on your course.

If you are unhappy, you can submit a complaint. Details of how to do this can be found below.

Can I still contact my personal tutor or other academic staff on strike days? 

Yes, you can. However, you should expect that office hours for participating staff may not run, and participating staff will only look at emails or other communications outside of strike periods. If you need an immediate response, please contact the Student Hub using the live chat or in-person.

Who can I ask for help if I have a question about my studies?

You can speak to any academic colleague, but in the first instance you should consider: 

• Your personal tutor
• Your module convenor
• Your programme leader
• Your Head of Subject
• Your Head of School

If you don’t receive support after contacting the staff above, you can contact the Student Hub. 

I completed my course and attended graduation in September and have not yet received my marks. When can I expect them?

All students on a visa will receive confirmation of their awards by 9 October. All other students are expected to receive their results by 30 October. Awards are being confirmed on a rolling basis so it is likely you will receive an update ahead of these dates by email.

I’ve started the next year of my course but have not yet received all my marks from last year. When can I expect them?

All continuing students have now had sufficient credits confirmed to enable them to start the next year of study. This does however mean some students continue to not have all of their marks available. Marks are being confirmed on a rolling basis and you will be notified by email.

How many marks remain missing?

Only 2% of all marks for the 2025-26 academic year remaining outstanding.

Will planned assessment continue?

Yes. You should continue to prepare for your assessments and/or examinations as planned and you should submit work and sit examinations as usual. If there is an impact on your assessment, we will notify you.

If my classes are cancelled and not re-scheduled, how can I be assessed on my knowledge in my examinations?

Our colleagues will assess the impact of any lost learning on your ability to complete assessments. Adjustments we make as a result will be communicated to you on an ongoing basis, by email.

Will my work be marked if my lecturers are on strike – how will this affect me?

You should continue to prepare for your assessments and/or examinations as planned and you should submit work and sit examinations as usual, unless you are advised otherwise. The University’s academic policies, as far as possible, will help to ensure you are not significantly negatively affected by any delay in marking. 

Will I be entitled to an extension for my dissertation, research project or other submission of work if the deadline falls within the strike period?

You should assume all current submission and exam dates remain unchanged unless advised otherwise. 

What is the University doing to support PGR students during the Industrial Action period?

Goldsmiths' Executive Board have confirmed an updated Statement of Commitments for PGR students that will apply to all PhD students who commence their study prior to the beginning of the 2027-28 academic year.  The Statement of Commitments aims to support students who may be affected by processes of institutional change and transformation, including periods of industrial action. This statement sets out the process for reengagement of supervisors who have taken VSS and the process for identifying alternative supervision where needed. The statement also sets out the guidelines for the S4 extension scheme, an extension scheme intended to partially mitigate for time lost due to disruption of supervision. 

The Statement of Commitments and accompanying guidelines for the S4 extension scheme that is in place to mitigate against loss of supervision may be found on the Graduate School VLE: PGR Statement of Commitments (May 2026). 

The Graduate School are available to discuss options for impacted students on an individual basis as needed. You can reach them via graduateschool (@gold.ac.uk).      

I’m a PGR student with an upcoming submission deadline during the industrial action period – do I still need to submit my thesis by my deadline?

If your submission deadline is approaching and you have been unable to finalise your thesis as a result of substantive feedback from your supervisor being delayed due to industrial action, please get in touch with the Graduate School: graduateschool (@gold.ac.uk). The team will be happy to discuss the possibility of applying for an extension or interruption where appropriate. If your thesis is ready to be submitted by your deadline, please do go ahead and submit as planned.

How will my assessments be impacted by the marking and assessment boycott (MAB)?

GUCU have confirmed that MPhil/PhD vivas (whether upgrade or final examination) fall under the current MAB. The only exception to this will be cases where delaying an assessment at either upgrade or final examination would pose a tangible risk to visa/immigration status, time-sensitive funding, or otherwise result in significant financial hardship. 

GUCU have indicated that exemptions to the MAB will be decided on a case-by-case basis. If you think your assessment should be exempt on the basis set out above, please contact the GUCU PGR officers for guidance in the first instance:

• Georgie Rowlands: growl003 (@gold.ac.uk) 
• Annabell Knapp: a.knapp (@gold.ac.uk

How will my viva voce (at final examination stage) be impacted if one of my examiners is taking part in the marking and assessment boycott?

The Graduate School continues our role in facilitating MPhil/PhD examinations and we will work on the basis that vivas will be held as planned unless we are notified otherwise by examiners or supervisors.

In the first instance, our recommendation is that you discuss this with your supervisor who will be coordinating the viva. If you are notified that your examiners are unable to examine your thesis during this period of industrial action, there are a few possible outcomes: 

• If, as set out above, you or your supervisor believe your viva examination should be exempt from the assessment boycott under the guidelines set out by GUCU, you should contact the GUCU PGR Officers to discuss this (their contact details can be found above); they will review each request for exemption on a case by case basis
• If you do not feel you are eligible to make a request for exemption, your supervisor may discuss the possibility of appointing alternative examiners so that your examination can be held as soon as possible
• Alternatively, your viva will be scheduled for an alternative date outside of the boycott period, and your supervisor will notify you once a possible new date has been confirmed 

If any issues arise due to a delayed examination, the Graduate School team will be available to talk things through, and we can provide letters explaining any delay to funders and employers if and as needed.

I’m due to have my MPhil/PhD upgrade (Transfer of Registration) during the period of industrial action, will this be affected?

The Graduate School will work on the basis that upgrade panels are being held as planned apart from where we are notified otherwise by School PGR Leads or supervisors. 

In the first instance, our recommendation is that you discuss this with your supervisor who will be coordinating the upgrade, or your School PGR Lead who has oversight for PhD candidates in your school and subject area. If you are notified that your assessors are unable to examine your upgrade during this period of industrial action, there are a few possible outcomes: 

• If, as set out above, you or your supervisor believe your upgrade assessment should be exempt from the assessment boycott under the guidelines set out by GUCU, you should contact the GUCU PGR Officers to discuss this (their contact details can be found above) and they will review each request for exemption on a case by case basis
• If you do not feel you are eligible to make a request for exemption, your supervisor may discuss the possibility of appointing alternative assessors for your upgrade so that your assessment can be held as soon as possible 

Alternatively, your upgrade will be scheduled for an alternative date outside of the boycott period, and your supervisors will notify you once a potential new date has been identified. 

If your upgrade panel is delayed due to industrial action, you should continue to work on your thesis in the meantime.  Delay in organising an upgrade panel should not impact on preparing and finalising your upgrade papers that should be submitted within the timelines set out in the Code of Practice for PGR students. 

If you are feel you are unable to continue to work on your thesis due to a delayed upgrade, please be in touch with the Graduate School: graduateschool (@gold.ac.uk). The team can advise on your individual case, including the possibility of a brief interruption of studies if necessary and possible in line with any visa restrictions. 

What is an Interruption of Studies for PGR students and what impact does it have on my research degree studies?

You can read more about the process for interrupting your studies as a PGR student in the Graduate School guidance: Interruptions for PGR students. If you have any questions after reading this, please reach out to the Graduate School for tailored advice: graduateschool (@gold.ac.uk). 

I am a Student Visa holder PGR student, can I apply for an Interruption of Studies? 

PGR students in receipt of a student visa can take one 60-day interruption during their programme without their visa being impacted. It is not possible to take additional periods of interruption without the existing visa being cancelled.  

If you are a PGR student with a student visa considering a period of interruption and you would like to discuss your options, please contact the Graduate School: graduateschool (@gold.ac.uk). For detailed advice on your visa status, please contact the immigration team: immigration (@gold.ac.uk).  

I think my upgrade/viva voce should be exempt under the guidelines set out by GUCU, what should I do? 

The Graduate School cannot adjudicate on exemptions to the GUCU boycott. Rather, exemptions to MAB as it applies to PGR students will be decided by Goldsmiths UCU on a case-by-case basis. As above, if you think your assessment should be exempt, please contact the GUCU PGR officers for guidance in the first instance:

• Georgie Rowlands: growl003 (@gold.ac.uk) 
• Annabell Knapp: a.knapp (@gold.ac.uk

What is the Graduate Route? 

The Graduate Route was launched in 2021 to allow international students on a student visa to remain living and working in the UK after they graduate. To apply: 

• You must be inside the UK when you apply for your Graduate Route visa
• You must be on a current student visa or Tier 4 (General) Student visa
• You need to have successfully completed your current course (i.e. been notified of your official award)
• You must submit your online visa application before your current Student visa expires. For most undergraduate students, Student visas will not expire until the October after your course ends. Please check your eVisa online to find your visa expiry date. 

How could the marking and assessment boycott impact my application for a Graduate Route visa? 

If you want to apply for a Graduate Route visa, the University will need to report your successful course completion to the Home Office. We can only do this once your marks have been released. Since the MAB could possibly delay the release of your marks, this could impact our ability to confirm that you have completed your course. 

Should I apply for a Graduate Route visa if the University has been unable to confirm my course completion with the Home Office? 

No. Please do not apply for a Graduate Route visa until we have confirmed that we have reported your course completion to the Home Office, as this could result in a visa refusal. The Immigration team will confirm with you directly as soon as this report has been made.  

How will I know if the release of my marks has been delayed? 

The end of year results for 2025-26 programmes which ended on 19 June 2026 were released by Friday 3 July 2026. If we were unable to release your marks during this period due to the MAB, we will have been in touch directly to inform you of this and provide information about the steps we are taking to support you. You can speak to the Student Hub if you have general questions about the MAB, but we will be unable to provide individual advice before the relevant marking release period. 

Since visas for most undergraduate students do not expire until the October after your course finishes, there is a significant window of time between finding out the status of your marks and needing to apply for a Graduate Route visa. It can take 8-10 weeks to receive a decision on your Graduate Route application from UKVI, but you can continue living in the UK under the conditions of your Tier 4 (General) Student visa until an outcome is received. You will retain the right to work under the same Student visa restrictions while your Graduate visa application is pending. Please note that it is important to stay inside of the UK while your Graduate visa application is pending, as travelling outside of the UK can void your application.

How can I find out more about the Graduate Route? 

You can find out more about the Graduate Route on our dedicated Graduate Route webpage. You can also email the immigration team for more information. 

Have students graduated? 

Yes! 98.5% of all students have received an academic outcome for the 2025/26 academic year.

Can I attend graduation when I haven’t received my results?

If you are a finalist student who hasn’t been able to receive your results due to strike action, you are permitted to attend the graduation ceremonies. Details are on our Graduation page. 

Do I have to attend graduation to graduate?

No, you do not need to attend a graduation ceremony to be awarded your qualification and graduate. The qualification from the University is awarded when agreed by the Board of Examiners, there is no need to physically attended a graduation ceremony - whether you are graduating this year or any other year.

How do I raise a concern about the impact of industrial action on my studies?

We recognise that industrial action impacts students in different ways. This may include disruption to teaching, supervision or other learning opportunities, as well as delays to marking, feedback, results or progression.

The process for raising a complaint depends on the academic year in which you experienced the disruption.

Full details are available on our complaints relating to industrial action webpage.

I have a question that is not answered here – how should I raise it? 

You can raise questions with the Student Hub. You can also find information from other sector bodies:

• Office of the Independent Adjudicator
• Office for Students 

I’m feeling anxious about all of this – where can I go for additional support?   

If you are feeling anxious about the prospect of industrial action, remember that all students can access wellbeing support at any time throughout their studies. You also may be interested in exploring some of the self-help resources available on our website.

Industrial Action email to all students, 14 April 2026 (PDF)

Industrial Action email to all students 12 May 2026 (PDF)

Industrial Action email to all students 2 June 2026 (PDF)

Industrial Action email to all students 11 June 2026 (PDF)

Industrial Action email to all students 28 August 2026 (PDF)