Graduate Diploma
Art
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Why study the Graduate Diploma in Art at Goldsmiths?
This Pre-Masters programme is aimed at students who are considering undertaking an MA/MFA in Art or Curating but need a year to develop their practice and engage with discourses that support this. The programme will help you develop a critical understanding of your own practice, and the contemporary artistic, academic, social, and political contexts in which that practice occurs.
What is the Graduate Diploma in Art?
The Graduate Diploma in Art is an innovative 12-month, studio-based programme designed for graduates who have experience in the creative professions, or those who have trained in other areas but wish to acquire skills within a fine art context. Successful completion guarantees you a place on any MA/MFA in the Goldsmiths Art Department.
Who is it for?
The programme offers a point of entry for students who intend to study at postgraduate level but do not possess the traditional academic qualifications, or those students who wish to further develop a body of fine art work, or international students who seek to improve their English language.
We welcome diverse creative practices that may involve developing drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, installation, performance, art writing, curation, textiles, fashion, photography, sound, digital media and video, as well as poetry, spoken word, history of art and theory.
Contact the department
If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Elle Reynolds or Dr Joseph Noonan-Ganley.
Length
1 year full-time
Fees
Home - full-time: £11200
International - full-time: £29900
Department
Dedicated studio space, facilities and support
The programme’s location on the main Goldsmiths campus in South East London, with proximity to some of the world’s leading artistic and scientific institutions, provides an opportunity to explore the city and use London as a resource.
All students are allocated a dedicated studio space, and specialist Art Practice Areas provide support for a wide variety of processes that complement and extend traditional disciplines. You will have a personal tutor who will provide academic support and assistance in researching and considering the MA degree options for your future studies.
The student-centred approach of the Graduate Diploma in Art scaffolds you to work independently on top of scheduled sessions, where you will use a range of additional resources including the Art Practice Areas and the Goldsmiths Library.
Progression opportunities
The Graduate Diploma in Art offers new access routes to all MA/MFA programmes in the Department of Art at Goldsmiths:
Successful completion of the Graduate Diploma in Art will guarantee you entry into one of these four Goldsmiths postgraduate programmes.
Throughout the year there is an opportunity to study alongside the postgraduate students and spend time within their studio, seminar and critical studies spaces. This process will integrate you into the studio-based postgraduate community in the department.
Watch videos about the programme
What you'll study
The Graduate Diploma in Art shares a specialised programme of critical studies lectures and seminars that include access to the MFA lecture programme. You'll study modules that cover Studio Practice and Critical Studies and there is the option to develop an Artists' Text Portfolio.
You'll be supported by the Programme Leader Elle Reynolds, Senior Tutor Dr Joseph Noonan-Ganley and Lead Tutor Dr Kirsten Cooke, as well as academic visitors and artist practitioners in the field.
We have an exciting external programme, which includes ongoing collaborations with curators, galleries and performance spaces. You will stage three exhibitions of your work, one of which will be in a gallery outside of Goldsmiths.
The programme teaches professional skills through visits, offsite exhibitions, talks and workshops led by practitioners that provide real-world insights into the kinds of innovations, negotiations and knowledge necessary to realising a successful practice. Previous visiting artists and curators have included Tyler Coburn, Emma Edmondson, Gary Farrelly, Peter Gomes, Warren Harper, Elsa James, Sharon Kivland, Shivanjani Lal, Kelly Lloyd, Liz Murray, Adomas Narkevičius, Dorothee Richter, Kyung Hwa Shon, Beny Wagner and Lu Williams.
Studio practice is taught through an intensive programme of individual tutorials, group critiques and study visits.
Assessment
Continuous assessment includes regular seminar presentations and researched essays. There will also be written, listening and oral examinations.
One of the standout aspects of the programme is the constant interplay between theory and practice and where work is given space through the exhibitions to be thoroughly tested and explored. The course team have nurtured and developed an incredibly stimulating, dynamic and enriching culture.
Adam Knight, External Examiner of the Graduate Diploma in Art at Goldsmiths (Senior Tutor [Research], Graduate Diploma in Art & Design, RCA)
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees
These are the PG fees for students starting their programme in the 2025/2026 academic year.
- Home - full-time: £11200
- International - full-time: £29900
If your fees are not listed here, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office, who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.
It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time under a student visa. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.
If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment.
Funding opportunities
Explore the Goldsmiths scholarships finder to find out what funding you may be eligible for.
If you are a UK student you may be eligible for a postgraduate loan.
Meanwhile our Careers Service can also offer advice on finding work during your studies.
Goldsmiths Alumni Fees Waiver
Upon completion of the Graduate Diploma in Art, you will be eligible for the Goldsmiths Alumni Fee Waiver for any of the taught Masters level programmes available at Goldsmiths. This is a 20% fee discount to home alumni, and the equivalent amount in pounds sterling to international alumni.
Paying your fees
Find out about paying your tuition fees.
Additional costs
In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.
There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.
Entry requirements
You should normally be expected to meet any particular entry requirements of the degree you intend to progress onto:
You will be required to submit a project proposal and may be asked for a digital portfolio and invited to interview.
Occasionally, we'll make candidates an offer of a place on the basis of their application and qualifications alone.
International qualifications
We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.
If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.0 with a 6.0 in writing and no element lower than 5.5 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate study.
How to apply
You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system.
To complete your application, you will need to have:
- Details of your education history, including the dates of all exams/assessments
- The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively an electronic copy of your academic reference
- A personal statement or project proposal (300 words) that describes your ideas for making work, a project, or practice-based research, and how you wish to use the Graduate Diploma in Art programme to realise this. The statement should also indicate your key interests and motivations for preparing to study at postgraduate level.
- A digital portfolio
- If available, an electronic copy of your educational transcript (this is particularly important if you have studied outside of the UK, but isn't mandatory)
You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.
When to apply
We accept applications from October for students wanting to start the following September. We encourage applications for our 24 January and 25 April review points, but late applications are also welcome up to September.
We encourage you to complete your application as early as possible, even if you haven't finished your current programme of study. It's very common to be offered a place that is conditional on you achieving a particular qualification.
Late applications will only be considered if there are spaces available.
Further guidance
Read our guide to applying for a postgraduate degree at Goldsmiths.
Visit us
During the year we hold regular Postgraduate Art Open Days that we encourage you to attend if you can.
You can also explore our exhibitions, events and other work on the Department of Art pages.
Speaking with the students, they were very enthusiastic towards the programme, citing the ways in which the course team created and fostered a safe and non-judgmental space in order for students to explore their interests and work. As a result, students felt confident to initiate their own activities, which contributed to a strong sense of community.
Adam Knight, External Examiner of the Graduate Diploma in Art at Goldsmiths (Senior Tutor [Research], Graduate Diploma in Art & Design, RCA)
