Goldsmiths, University of London

Goldsmiths, University of London

Goldsmiths, University of London

Age: 121

History: The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths set up its Technical and Recreative Institute in 1891 to provide educational opportunities for the people of New Cross. The University of London acquired the institute and re-established it as Goldsmiths College in 1904.

Address: New Cross, Lewisham, south-east London, 15 minutes from central London by train.

Ambience: Creative and cool; a vibrant urban area with great transport links to central London; A lively place in one of the grittier parts of London.

Vital statistics: Part of the University of London, Goldsmiths has traditionally excelled in art and teacher-training. Today it's also known for good drama, music, visual arts, sociology and media. It has around 5,800 undergrads, 3,400 postgrads and over 1,500 staff.

Added value: Library, IT and language resources have been brought together in a state-of-the-art building which won a RIBA award. The new Ben Pimlott Building, named after the late warden, houses art studios and psychology and digital media labs. Its Alsop-designed façade (and accompanying sculptural ‘scribble’) has become a new landmark in the area. Six former students have gone on to win the Turner Prize.

Easy to get into? Not particularly. Different courses ask for between BCC and AAB at A-level (or equivalent) while most art and design subjects require a portfolio. However, applicants without formal qualifications will be considered.

Glittering alumni: Contemporary artists, including Sam Taylor-Wood, Bridget Riley and Damien Hirst, plus leading creative figures such as Vivienne Westwood, Malcolm McLaren, Graham Coxon and Alex James. Also Julian Clary, Tessa Jowell and Mary Quant.

Transport links: Very close to central London – 15 minutes by train, bus or DLR.

Who's the boss? Mr Pat Loughrey took up post as warden of Goldsmiths in April 2010.

Research: Ranked 33rd out of 115 in the Research Assessment Exercise.

Overall ranking: Came 50th out of 116 in the Complete University Guide.

Nightlife: The student bar has an excellent atmosphere, a late license several nights each week. It is great value for money and friendly place to meet people. The students’ union hosts a varied selection of events too, including regular quizzes, gigs and film nights, as well as the fabulous weekly Club Sandwich night, a Goldsmiths institution! There are four student balls per year.

How green is it? Not great – came joint 110th out of 145 universities graded by People and Planet for their 'Green League 2012'.

Any accommodation? You bet. Most students pay between £97 and £130 per week at Goldsmiths' self-catering halls of residence.

Cheap to live there? Surprisingly this part of London is not all that expensive, but it's still upwards of £80 per week for a room in a shared flat.

Sports Ranking: Placed 129th in the BUCS league table.

Fees: New full-time UK and EU undergraduates will be charged £9000 per year from 2012.

Bursaries: Financial support available worth more than £1.8m- one of the most generous packages in London. Offers an extensive range of bursaries and awards.

Prospectus: 020 7078 5300 / www.goldsmiths.ac.uk

UCAS code: G56