Support for Study Abroad Students

Starting a new experience can be daunting, but as a Study Abroad student you will be welcomed to Goldsmiths with a specially designed orientation programme to familiarise you with your new study and living environment. Whether you start in September or January, during your first week at Goldsmiths we’ll introduce you to our campus facilities as well as to the local area. We will give you general advice about living in the UK alongside information on the financial, health and social services available to you. It is very important that you attend.

There are lots of options and people to contact if you or a friend are experiencing an emergency situation or a crisis. Find out more on the Goldsmiths Emergency and Crisis Support page.

Orientation

For September starters there will be a Welcome Week packed full of events, including an official orientation session led by the Global Opportunities Team. Welcome Week is university-wide, and you’ll have a great time experiencing the Freshers Fayre and everything Goldsmiths has to offer. For information, visit our Welcome Week section.

For January starters there will also be an official orientation session, as well as social events taking place when you arrive to help you get to know your fellow students. There will be campus tours so you can adjust to your surroundings, and a Welcome Back Week led by Goldsmiths Students’ Union to help you get involved with activities, entertainment, and events across campus. 

Your Academic Department

You’ll have an International Liaison Officer (ILO) in each of your departments to support you academically and advise you on other support services.

There are also Departmental Reps – fellow students who are there to represent you on academic issues.

Academic Skills

The Academic Skills Centre offers a wide variety of workshops to help you achieve your best while you’re here at Goldsmiths. You can enhance your essay writing skills, improve your time management, find out how to get the most out of your lectures and seminars and learn how to use the library by booking your place on an Academic Skills workshop.

English Language and Academic Writing Support

The Centre for Academic Language and Literacies (CALL) at Goldsmiths supports students who are non-native English speakers. CALL runs sessions on academic literacy, study skills, and language development to support you with your academic writing if required. 

Chaplaincy and Places of Worship

Goldsmiths has a multi-faith prayer room and a Chaplaincy Centre that's open to everyone regardless of what your beliefs and practices may or may not be. There are lots of places of worship in New Cross and the surrounding areas. Find out more about chaplaincy at Goldsmiths.

Healthcare

If you live in halls of residence or close to campus, you can register at one of several nearby doctors' surgeries. Amersham Vale is a local GP surgery, offering a full range of GP services. Find out more on Goldsmiths' Wellbeing page.

If you're studying for more than six months, you'll be entitled to treatment from the NHS. If you are studying in the UK for less than six months, you will usually have to pay NHS charges for any treatment you receive. It is advised that you take out medical insurance. Find out more about the UK healthcare system on the UKCISA website.

Students' Union

The Students’ Union is home to all of Goldsmiths' societies and sports teams. There’s a society for everything – from Harry Potter to yoga, to knitting, to salsa dancing – so you will always find like-minded people, as well as activities to get involved in. You can find a full list of societies, sports teams, and communities on the SU website. The Union is also a hub of student representation, with four elected sabbatical officers and several part-time officers who represent the student body, particularly marginalised groups. The SU also offers a range of advice and support to students.

The Students' Union also has a café and events space, and tons of things happening throughout the academic year. Visit the SU 'What's On' page to find out more.

Equality and Diversity

At Goldsmiths, you are encouraged to think outside the box and to be yourself. The Students’ Union is home to five "liberation networks", which offer support to Trans and non-binary students, women, BAME students, LGBTQ+ students, and disabled students. The SU holds weekly coffee hours for these groups. You can find more information about these events on the Goldsmiths SU website.

Goldsmiths is also making efforts to diversify the curriculum and to ensure that what is taught here is representative of our diverse student body. New modules are constantly being added, covering areas such as postcolonial theory, Caribbean and African literature, and queer history.

For more information, visit our Diversity at Goldsmiths page.

Wellbeing

Goldsmiths has a dedicated Wellbeing team on campus, which offers students emotional and mental health support. You can find out more on the wellbeing page.

Disability

The Goldsmiths Disability Service can help arrange adjustments and provide support for students with disabilities, mental health or long term health conditions, or Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD). They can help put in place reasonable adjustments to university life, including assessments and examinations. Find out more on the Disability Service Page.

School hubs

At the Goldsmiths school hubs, you can access a wide range of services and support. Their specialist staff can assist you with any problems, and they run events and activities to help you make the most out of your time at Goldsmiths.

More information about how to contact the school hubs and how they can help is available on their webpage. 

ESASAs

Our Erasmus and Study Abroad Student Advisors are here to provide you with peer support. They hold weekly drop-in sessions and are always available on email to provide advice and help you with all your queries from the unique perspective of a Goldsmiths student. We will introduce you to them during your orientation week.