Research degrees

Research community

We are a leading research-intensive university, we're in the UK's top 10 universities our research intensity (The Complete University Guide League Tables 2022), and nearly four-fifths of our research outputs were considered “world leading” or “internationally excellent” in the last Research Excellence Framework (2021).

Research opportunities

Most of our academic departments offer research opportunities - you can either get in touch with a member of staff directly to discuss your options, or alternatively browse our postgraduate listing for details of our MPhil/PhD degrees. 

Research centres and units

Our research centres and units aim to encourage research collaboration by bringing together academics and students from different departments and disciplines. They organise seminar programmes and conferences, house research projects, and act as a base for research students.

Enterprise Office

The Enterprise Office at Goldsmiths works with staff and students to connect people and organisations outside the University with the research and know-how to address their unique challenges. These connections enhance the work of businesses, government, charities, non-governmental organisations and the community, as well as our own researchers.

Graduate School

‌Our Graduate School has been created in response to increasing numbers of postgraduate students, changing needs for research training, and Goldsmiths’ growing research profile.

It provides a strong and supportive infrastructure for postgraduates at Goldsmiths by offering facilities and training, and encouraging intellectual and social contact across disciplines. Information about postgraduate training and funding, academic and social events, and support is also available.

Starting your research studies

Before you start

If your application for research study is accepted, you will be sent full enrolment instructions. Your department will arrange an induction programme for you, including an introduction to departmental, library and computer facilities; where appropriate, you will also be introduced to laboratory and technical support, and to language-learning resources.

Each September, there is a week-long university-wide induction programme for first year postgraduate research students in all academic disciplines; this introduces you to some of the essentials of research and gives you the opportunity to ask general questions. Research students usually follow a programme of training tailored to their needs, which may include dedicated training programmes.

When you're here

Your supervisor helps you in the initial planning of your research, offering advice and suggestions as the project evolves, and maintaining regular contact through individual tutorials. Having discussed your needs with your supervisor, in the first year you undertake training to develop your research skills and techniques. You're responsible for maintaining progress according to your agreed plan of study, as outlined on your registration form, and at the end of the year you produce a formal progress report.

Research can be an isolating process, so we give you the opportunity to participate in departmental research seminars and programmes of taught options, which enable you to meet other research students.

You begin by registering as an MPhil student, while you undertake research training, develop your research skills, and complete the initial stages of your PhD. You can apply to upgrade to PhD registration when you have satisfactorily completed an agreed part of the research and training programme: usually after 18 months if you are studying full-time, or 24 months if you are studying part-time.

You should aim to complete and submit your PhD thesis within an agreed period, usually three to four years for full-time students or seven to eight years for part-time students. If you decide not to upgrade to PhD registration, you can submit your thesis for an MPhil after two years if you are studying fulltime, or after three years if part-time. You can change your registration from full- to part-time or vice versa with the agreement of your supervisor.