sociology phd goldsmiths

• Staff & students

MPhil/PhD Sociology

Course information.

3-4 years full-time or 6-8 years part-time

Course overview

We offer MPhil and PhD research programmes in Sociology for full or part-time study.

The Department of Sociology is home to some 40 scholars and researchers whose work is known and cited internationally.

We offer a stimulating research environment for undertaking postgraduate research in a wide range of sociological fields, including:

• race, ethnicity, religion and nationalism
• gender and social life
• sociology of culture
• inventive and sensory methods
• urban culture, world cities, economies and social exclusion
• medicine and the life-sciences, health, illness and disability
• science and technology
• children and young people
• human rights and political sociology
• socio-legal studies and global justice
• social and cultural theory
• political theory and political sociology
• philosophy of social sciences
• visual sociology

We particularly encourage cross- and interdisciplinary research in emerging fields of study and creative practice.

Our community of postgraduate researchers is an integral part of the Department's vibrant research culture. We actively foster the full participation of our research students in the work of our research Centres and Units. This includes contributing to departmental publications, running research blogs, hosting student-led seminars, conferences, and reading groups, constructing new platforms for mediated intellectual spaces, and much more.

Doing a PhD is an amazing discipline. It shapes you in terms of your career, but also personally in terms of how you think about the world and yourself. It also has the potential to make an impact on the world. To get a sense of how, come to the department to meet us and some of the students. Email us to book an appointment.

Find out more about research degrees at Goldsmiths , and  visit our FAQ page .

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact the Postgraduate Research Officer, Sociology .

First year  

In the week before the beginning of the academic year in September there is an Induction Programme for all new research postgraduates at Goldsmiths. You will be introduced to College and Departmental facilities and procedures, and attend workshops on what is involved in doing a research degree.

In the first year, work on your own research project is coupled with general training in sociological research methods – run both within the Department and by the College Graduate School.  Mandatory training modules take place during the first term of the first year (for full-time students) or can be spread over two years (for part-time students). You may apply to be exempted from mandatory training modules if you can demonstrate that you have already received equivalent training of comparable, MA-level standard as part of a previous qualification.

Training for students on the MPhil/PhD in Sociology consists of:

• Core Qualitative Research Methods
• Modelling Social Data I

You may also take other modules depending on your specific training needs, such as learning a language, or auditing an MA course, either in the Department or elsewhere, of particular relevance to your research project. You are also encouraged to attend seminars in other parts of the University of London, attend conferences, and go on outside modules such as those organised by SeNSS (South East Network of Social Science) or CHASE (Consortium for the Humanities and Arts South East England).

From the beginning of your programme you will receive regular supervision, and you will be expected to produce work to be discussed in supervision.  In May/June of each year your progress and any outstanding training requirements will be formally reviewed by the Departmental Postgraduate Research Advisory Committee. 

Fieldwork, upgrade from MPhil to PhD, and writing up your thesis 

Unless you are writing a theoretical dissertation, your fieldwork or other process of data collection will typically start sometime between your first and your second year – in any case, after you have obtained ethical clearance for the research (theoretical dissertations are also subject to a research ethics approval process).

Between 18 and 24 months from your initial date of registration you are required to present a detailed thesis outline and two draft chapters for consideration by an internally appointed panel of examiners. This formal assessment (also referred to as 'upgrade') includes an oral examination and normally sanctions your transfer from MPhil to PhD registration.

You are expected to complete a PhD in three to four (full-time registration) or six to eight years (part-time registration) .

Teaching Experience

Ideally, we would like all our students to gain some teaching experience. The department has Graduate Tutors and Post-Doctoral Teaching Fellows who do undergraduate teaching. We also encourage our students to do some teaching at other institutions. However, we require that all students who wish to teach have successfully upgraded to PhD status before doing so.

Assessment for the PhD in Sociology consists of a written thesis (not exceeding 100,000 words) and a viva voce examination.

Entry requirements

You should normally have (or expect to be awarded) a taught Masters in a relevant subject area, of at least high merit standard. We normally also expect an undergraduate degree of at least upper second class standard.  

You might also be considered if you are not a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.

You do not need a degree or MA in Sociology to apply to do a PhD in Sociology, but you will need to be familiar with sociological ideas and debates. If you don’t have a background in sociology, you may be required to sit additional courses in order that you become familiar with the discipline.

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 7.0 with a 7.0 in writing 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-level study .

Fees, funding & scholarships

Annual tuition fees.

These are the fees for students starting their programme in the 2024/2025 academic year.

• Home - full-time: £TBC
• Home - part-time: £TBC
• International - full-time: £TBC

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 .

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.

Funding opportunities

Find out more about postgraduate fees and explore funding opportunities . If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an application deadline.

• AHRC studentships
• ESRC studentships

For more information about applying for ESRC studentships, please see the South East Network for Social Sciences website , and be sure to check guidelines for prospective students.  

How to apply

We welcome proposals for research in any area of sociology. We give priority to those with proposals for research within the areas of interest of our staff . When you apply, please indicate your intended research area and any preference for a particular supervisor.

You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system. 

Before submitting your application, you'll 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
• Contact details of a second referee
• A  personal statement – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online
• If available, an electronic copy of your educational transcript (this is particularly important if you have studied outside of the UK, but is not mandatory)
• Details of your  research proposal

           Please see our guidance on writing a postgraduate statement  

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.

We are only able to offer you a place on the programme if a suitable supervisor has agreed to supervise your proposed research. Before you apply for a research programme, we advise you to study our academic staff pages  to identify one or more potential supervisors for your research, and to get in touch with them to discuss your plans.  Your prospective supervisor will need to confirm their willingness and ability to supervise your thesis before an offer can be made. 

How detailed a research proposal are we looking for on the application form? 

What you put on the form and exactly what you end up researching may be rather different, but in order to judge whether or not to offer you a place, the Department needs to know whether you have the broad outlines of a viable project. This means:

• a project that is both worthwhile and interesting, but not over-ambitious
• a project that can realistically be achieved within the confines of PhD on a full-time (4 years maximum) or part-time (8 years maximum) basis
• we need to be sure that you have thought about it carefully and are fully committed to the research
• we need to be sure that you understand what is involved in doing a PhD
• your research proposal should give us enough information to be able to reach a decision about whether to interview you.

When to apply  

For information on when to apply please visit the Graduate School webpage .

Applications from candidates who are self-funded are accepted throughout the year. Interviews will be arranged on an ad hoc basis.

Selection process 

Admission to the programme is based on an interview and the panel’s assessment of your application. Online interviews can be arranged when necessary. Find out more about applying.

Find out more about applying .

Sociology at Goldsmiths celebrated its 50th anniversary  in 2014.  Research by staff in the Department is esteemed internationally, and has been externally funded by the ESRC , the AHRC , the British Academy , the Wellcome Trust , the Leverhulme Trust , and the European Research Council .  

Find out more about research in the Department of Sociology , including the work of our research Centres and Units.

You will develop advanced research skills covering a wide range of qualitative and quantitative sociological methods, and an ability to develop advanced and extended forms of written argument and scholarly practice.

Our PhD students have taken up academic posts in sociology and related fields all over the world. Some have joined NGOs, GOs, or companies in the private sector, and taken employment as researchers, teachers, designers, and managers.

For more information about Sociology Staff at Goldsmiths, visit the department's staff pages .

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MPhil/PhD Sociology Goldsmiths, University of London

Course options

Qualification.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

Goldsmiths, University of London

• TUITION FEES
• ENTRY REQUIREMENT
• UNIVERSITY INFO

Course summary

We offer MPhil and PhD research programmes in Sociology for full or part-time study.

The Department of Sociology is home to some 40 scholars and researchers whose work is known and cited internationally.

We offer a stimulating research environment for undertaking postgraduate research in a wide range of sociological fields, including:

• race, ethnicity, religion and nationalism
• gender and social life
• sociology of culture
• inventive and sensory methods
• urban culture, world cities, economies and social exclusion
• medicine and the life-sciences, health, illness and disability
• science and technology
• children and young people
• human rights and political sociology
• socio-legal studies and global justice
• social and cultural theory
• political theory and political sociology
• philosophy of social sciences
• visual sociology

We particularly encourage cross- and interdisciplinary research in emerging fields of study and creative practice.

Our community of postgraduate researchers is an integral part of the Department's vibrant research culture. We actively foster the full participation of our research students in the work of our research Centres and Units. This includes contributing to departmental publications, running research blogs, hosting student-led seminars, conferences, and reading groups, constructing new platforms for mediated intellectual spaces, and much more.

Doing a PhD is an amazing discipline. It shapes you in terms of your career, but also personally in terms of how you think about the world and yourself. It also has the potential to make an impact on the world. To get a sense of how, come to the department to meet us and some of the students.

You will develop advanced research skills covering a wide range of qualitative and quantitative sociological methods, and an ability to develop advanced and extended forms of written argument and scholarly practice.

Our PhD students have taken up academic posts in sociology and related fields all over the world. Some have joined NGOs, GOs, or companies in the private sector, and taken employment as researchers, teachers, designers, and managers.

Tuition fees

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• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Burkina Faso
• Central African Republic
• Congo (Democratic Republic)
• Czech Republic
• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Equatorial Guinea
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• Republic of Ireland
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• Sierra Leone
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• South Africa
• South Korea
• South Sudan
• St. Kitts & Nevis
• Switzerland
• Trinidad & Tobago
• Turkmenistan
• United Kingdom
• Vatican City
• Western Samoa

£ 17,690 per year

Tuition fees shown are for indicative purposes and may vary. Please check with the institution for most up to date details.

University information

University league table, campus address.

Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, Lewisham, SE14 6NW, England

Subject rankings

Subject ranking.

83rd out of 101 19

Entry standards

Graduate prospects

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PhD/MPhil Sociology

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Sociology PhD Goldsmiths, University of London

• On campus - h Goldsmiths, University of London
• Sep 23, 2024 Full-time - 4 years
• Sep 23, 2024 Part-time - 4 years
• Sep 23, 2024 Part-time - 6 years
• Sep 23, 2024 Full-time - 3 years

Key Course Facts

Student reviews.

Below you can see course specific reviews for 15 graduates of Sociology PhD at Goldsmiths, University of London for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Anthropology.

Salary of Graduates in sociology, social policy and anthropology

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of Anthropology at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students .

Salary of all UK Graduates of sociology, social policy and anthropology

Course description.

We offer MPhil and PhD research programmes in Sociology for full or part-time study.

The Department of Sociology is home to some 40 scholars and researchers whose work is known and cited internationally.

We offer a stimulating research environment for undertaking postgraduate research in a wide range of sociological fields, including:

• race, ethnicity, religion and nationalism
• gender and social life
• sociology of culture
• inventive and sensory methods
• urban culture, world cities, economies and social exclusion
• medicine and the life-sciences, health, illness and disability
• science and technology
• children and young people
• human rights and political sociology
• socio-legal studies and global justice
• social and cultural theory
• political theory and political sociology
• philosophy of social sciences
• visual sociology

We particularly encourage cross- and interdisciplinary research in emerging fields of study and creative practice.

Our community of postgraduate researchers is an integral part of the Department's vibrant research culture. We actively foster the full participation of our research students in the work of our research Centres and Units. This includes contributing to departmental publications, running research blogs, hosting student-led seminars, conferences, and reading groups, constructing new platforms for mediated intellectual spaces, and much more.

Doing a PhD is an amazing discipline. It shapes you in terms of your career, but also personally in terms of how you think about the world and yourself. It also has the potential to make an impact on the world. To get a sense of how, come to the department to meet us and some of the students. Email us to book an appointment.

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

What graduates are doing after 15 months

Current jobs, job in line with future plans, utilise skills from studies, work is meaningful, required skill level of job after 15 months, % skilled jobs, jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation).

Example below based on all graduates of Sociology PhD at Goldsmiths, University of London

Grading & Study Time

Assessment methods, study time distribution, entry requirements / admissions, ucas tariff of accepted students for this course, requirements for international students / english requirements.

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

• Graduate Degrees
• (minimum 6.0 in Writing)
• Undergraduate Degrees

You should normally have (or expect to be awarded) a taught Masters in a relevant subject area, of at least high merit standard. We normally also expect an undergraduate degree of at least upper second class standard.

You might also be considered if you are not a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.

You do not need a degree or MA in Sociology to apply to do a PhD in Sociology, but you will need to be familiar with sociological ideas and debates. If you don’t have a background in sociology, you may be required to sit additional courses in order that you become familiar with the discipline.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 7.0 with a 7.0 in writing to study this programme.

Average student cost of living in London

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

University Rankings

Positions of goldsmiths, university of london in top uk and global rankings., rankings of goldsmiths, university of london in related subject specific rankings., social studies & humanities, about goldsmiths, university of london.

Founded in 1891, Goldsmiths, University of London, is located in the South-Eastern area of London known as New Cross. The facilities are impressive at this university, providing students with Art, TV, and Radio studios, as well as a host of other resources aimed at optimising the experience for students on any of their courses. With Goldsmith’s exceptionally active event calendar, making new connections is easy, giving learners a way to socialise without even having to step foot off campus.

List of 196 Bachelor and Master Courses from Goldsmiths, University of London - Course Catalogue

Student composition of Goldsmiths, University of London

Where is this programme taught.

Similar courses

Ranking publishers, the university league tables, cug the complete university guide - by subject  (published: 08 june, 2023).

view methodology

THE Times Higher Education, UK

The world university rankings by subject  (published: 26 october, 2022), british quacquarelli symonds, uk, qs world university rankings by subject  (published: 22 march, 2023), shanghairanking consultancy, gras global ranking of academic subjects - shanghairanking  (published: 19 july, 2022), urap university ranking by academic performance - by field  (published: 22 july, 2023).

MPhil/PhD Sociology

Goldsmiths, University of London

Introduction

Scholarships and funding, program tuition fee, career opportunities, english language requirements, about the school.

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Key Information

Campus location

London, United Kingdom

Study format

Request info

Full time, Part time

Tuition fees

Application deadline

Earliest start date

We offer MPhil and PhD research programmes in Sociology for full or part-time study.

The Department of Sociology is home to some 40 scholars and researchers whose work is known and cited internationally.

We offer a stimulating research environment for undertaking postgraduate research in a wide range of sociological fields, including:

• race, ethnicity, religion and nationalism
• gender and social life
• sociology of culture
• inventive and sensory methods
• urban culture, world cities, economies and social exclusion
• medicine and the life-sciences, health, illness and disability
• science and technology
• children and young people
• human rights and political sociology
• socio-legal studies and global justice
• social and cultural theory
• political theory and political sociology
• philosophy of social sciences
• visual sociology

Several scholarship options are available, please visit the university website for more information.

You will develop advanced research skills covering a wide range of qualitative and quantitative sociological methods, and an ability to develop advanced and extended forms of written argument and scholarly practice.

Our PhD students have taken up academic posts in sociology and related fields all over the world. Some have joined NGOs, GOs, or companies in the private sector, and taken employment as researchers, teachers, designers, and managers.

Certify your English proficiency with the Duolingo English Test! The DET is a convenient, fast, and affordable online English test accepted by over 4,000 universities (like this one) around the world.

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PhD Sociology

INTAKE: September

Program Overview

The PhD in Sociology at Goldsmiths represents a pinnacle of academic excellence, providing a transformative environment for individuals aspiring to advanced knowledge in sociological research. Grounded in a commitment to critical inquiry, this program offers a comprehensive overview of sociological theories, methodologies, and contemporary issues. Candidates embark on a scholarly journey, exploring the intricacies of society and contributing to the advancement of sociological knowledge.

Curriculum: The meticulously crafted curriculum ensures a robust exploration of sociological theories, research methods, and specialized areas within the discipline. Candidates navigate through advanced courses that provide a solid foundation in classical and contemporary sociological thought, coupled with the flexibility to tailor their studies based on individual research interests. The program encourages interdisciplinary approaches, fostering a nuanced understanding of social phenomena.

Research Focus: Goldsmiths places a strong emphasis on research-led teaching, and the PhD in Sociology program reflects this commitment. Candidates are expected to contribute to the field through original and impactful research. The research focus encompasses a broad spectrum, including but not limited to social inequality, globalization, cultural studies, gender studies, and the sociological implications of emerging technologies. Candidates are encouraged to push the boundaries of sociological inquiry, contributing to the discipline's evolution.

Industry Engagement: The program actively encourages industry engagement to bridge academic research with real-world applications. Candidates may have opportunities to collaborate with governmental bodies, non-profit organizations, or industry partners, ensuring that their research has practical implications and addresses contemporary societal challenges. This engagement enhances the program's impact on shaping social policies and interventions.

Global Perspective: Situated in the cosmopolitan city of London, Goldsmiths naturally infuses a global perspective into the PhD in Sociology program. The curriculum may explore global sociological trends, cross-cultural studies, and the impact of globalization on social structures. Candidates may have opportunities for international collaborations, conferences, and research projects, fostering a globalized understanding of societal dynamics.

Tuition Fee

Entry requirement.

PhD Entry Requirements

Academic Qualifications:  Prospective PhD applicants are expected to hold a taught Masters degree in a relevant subject area. The university typically requires a minimum of 55% as the standard for academic performance in the completed Masters program.

English Language Proficiency:

• IELTS Requirement:  An overall IELTS score of 6.5 or 7.0 is required, with no individual band score falling below 6.0.
• TOEFL Requirement:  A minimum overall score of 92 on the TOEFL is accepted, with no sub-score in any section falling below 20.
• PTE Requirement:  A minimum overall score of 62 with no individual score below 51.

Students must provide:

• Academic marksheets & transcripts
• Letters of recommendation
• A personal statement - SOP
• Other supporting documents as required by the university.

Work experience : Some PhD courses may require relevant work experience in the field.

It is important to note that meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee admission, as the university considers factors such as availability of places and competition for the program. Additionally, some courses may have higher entry requirements or additional selection criteria, such as interviews or portfolio submissions.

Fee Scholarship

Goldsmiths University, nestled in the vibrant city of London, extends its academic excellence by offering a variety of scholarships specifically designed for international students pursuing PhD programs. These scholarships aim to recognize outstanding academic achievements and provide financial support, ensuring that deserving individuals can excel in their research endeavors.

Excellence Scholarships: Goldsmiths University awards Excellence Scholarships to exceptionally talented international PhD applicants. These scholarships are highly competitive and are granted based on academic merit and the potential for impactful research contributions.

Research Impact Scholarships: Designed to encourage research with real-world applications, the Research Impact Scholarships support international PhD students whose projects demonstrate significant potential for societal impact. This type of scholarship reflects Goldsmiths' commitment to fostering research that makes a positive difference in the world.

Arts and Humanities Scholarships: For PhD candidates in the arts and humanities disciplines, Goldsmiths offers specialized scholarships that recognize the unique contributions these fields make to academic and cultural landscapes. These scholarships aim to support scholars in their pursuit of groundbreaking research in these domains.

Social Sciences Scholarships: Goldsmiths acknowledges the importance of social sciences research in addressing contemporary global challenges. The Social Sciences Scholarships are tailored for international PhD students focusing on areas such as sociology, psychology, and anthropology.

Careers Prospect

Earning a PhD in Sociology from Goldsmiths positions graduates as accomplished scholars with advanced knowledge in sociological research, critical thinking, and a deep understanding of societal dynamics. The program not only prepares graduates for academic roles but also opens doors to diverse and impactful career pathways within the fields of research, social policy, advocacy, and applied sociology. 

University Professor/Researcher: Graduates may pursue academic careers as university professors or researchers, contributing to sociological scholarship through teaching, publishing, and advancing innovative research methodologies.

Social Policy Analyst: Graduates can work as social policy analysts, providing expertise to governmental bodies, think tanks, or research organizations, influencing policies related to social issues such as inequality, welfare, and education.

Research Consultant: Graduates may become research consultants, offering sociological insights to businesses, NGOs, or governmental agencies, contributing to projects that require a deep understanding of societal trends and dynamics.

Community Development Specialist: Graduates can engage in community development roles, working with grassroots organizations or NGOs to address social issues, promote community engagement, and implement sociologically informed interventions.

Advocacy Specialist: Graduates may become advocates, representing the interests of marginalized communities, contributing to social justice initiatives, and influencing policy decisions that address systemic inequalities.

Market Research Analyst: Graduates with a focus on applied sociology may work as market research analysts, utilizing sociological methods to analyze consumer behavior, societal trends, and inform marketing strategies.

Social Scientist in Government Agencies: Graduates may work in governmental agencies as social scientists, contributing to research and policy development related to public health, education, or social services.

Corporate Diversity and Inclusion Specialist: Graduates can contribute to corporate environments by working as specialists in diversity and inclusion, addressing issues of workplace equity, and implementing sociologically informed strategies.

Nonprofit Leadership: Graduates may lead nonprofit organizations focused on social justice, community development, or advocacy, driving initiatives that positively impact marginalized populations.

Human Resources Consultant: Graduates with a sociological perspective may work in human resources, offering insights into organizational dynamics, workplace culture, and diversity management.

Journalist/Social Commentator: Graduates can pursue careers in journalism or social commentary, providing informed perspectives on societal issues, cultural trends, and policy matters.

Policy Evaluation Specialist: Graduates may specialize in policy evaluation, assessing the impact of social policies on communities and providing recommendations for improvement.

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Research News – Summer 2021

Jennifer Fleetwood  has   won the British Society of Criminology, Women Crime and Criminal Justice Network 2021 Paper Prize. The Prize ‘celebrates excellence in research and scholarship’. Her winning paper:

Fleetwood, J., Aldridge, J. and Chatwin, C., 2020.  Gendering research on online illegal drug markets .  Addiction Research & Theory ,  28 (6), pp.457-466.

Publications

Corine van Emmerik ‘s paper called ‘ Aesthetics from the Interstices: The Making of a Home in a Palestinian Refugee Camp’ was accepted for publication in the book ‘Everydayness:  Contemporary Aesthetic Approaches’ published by Presov University Press (Slovakia), in the series  Opera Philosophica  and Roma Tre University Press (Italy), in the series  Colloquia Philosophica .

Faten Khazaei  has published an article, titled “The truth told by the body: Swiss medicolegal responses to intimate partner violence from a gender perspective ”,  Tidschrift voor Genderstudies  2021, Vol. 24, No. 2, pp. 179-198, in the forthcoming special issue of  Dutch Journal of Gender Studies  on Researching intimate partner violence: Gender, intersectionality, and policymaking.

An interview with   Martin Savransky , around his recently published book   Around the Day in Eighty Worlds,   has been published in the latest issue of  Philosophy Now ,   a philosophy  magazine oriented to a general readership beyond the academy.

Andrés Cabrera , PhD student in Sociology, has published an analysis on the   Historical Materialism   blog titled: “ Political Crisis and Constitutional Process in the Neoliberal Paradise: Chile’s ‘Mega-Election’ and the Prospect for the Left ”

Andres  also participated in an interview (in Spanish) for the Chilean digital newspaper,   El Mostrador , commenting on aspects  of current Chilean political affairs.

With Jade Henry (Design) and Emily Nicholls (previously in the department), Fay Dennis has co-edited a collection of papers around the theme of ‘ Thinking with care ’, which grew out of the CISP Salons and a CISP-supported conference.

Vikki Bell and colleagues from  Universidad Alberto Hurtado, Santiago, Chile, Universidad Iberoamericana de Ciudad de México, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana de Bogotá have published a report ‘Orientaciones y Recomendaciones para el Registro y Documentación de Desapariciones Forzadas’ (Orientiations and Recommendations for the Registration and Documentation of Forced Disappearance). The report and a promotional video about it can be found in Spanish and in English here , The report is an output from the Newton fund project on forced disappearance in Chile, Mexico and Colombia.

Natassia Brenman  has had published a research report she wrote for her project partner on the effects of covid on dementia research and debates around how technology should be used to address this in the future –   press release and link to the RECORD Study report here .

Jamie Matthews   gave a paper entitled  ‘ Waters Rising: Water as Metaphor and Presence in Social Movements’   at the Alternative Futures and Popular Protest 2021 conference, on Tuesday 8th June.

Emma Jackson  presented the paper ‘When the Game Ends: Why Gatherings in Urban Leisure Institutions are Anything but Trivial’ with Talja Blokland at ‘Covid Refiguring Spaces and Social Economies: A Pandemic Observatory’ a workshop at TU-Berlin.

The  Goldsmiths’ Social and Economic Justice research stream  are hosting a series of events which invites researchers and the organisations with whom they have worked to reflect on their partnerships and on forms of public engagement. The first event brought Michaela Benson (Lancaster University) into conversation with Aditi Anand (Migration Museum) about their work together on the museum’s  Departures Exhibition .

Fauzia Ahmad  was invited to participate in a Roundtable discussion hosted by the Rt Hon Afzal Khan MP, on the Government’s counter-terrorism strategy, Prevent, on 23 June in light of the appointments of William Shawcross and Robin Simcox, as well as a broader discussion on whether Prevent is fit for purpose.

Emma Jackson  has been working with John Drever from the Music department in conjunction with local conservation group QWAG to develop the project ‘Sounding the Quaggy’ – a project documenting the sounds of the river and those who use it and care for it. They received a small grant for the Being Human festival to run sound workshops and to develop an audio walk.

Sobia Kaker  has heard acceptance of a co-edited special issue proposal titled: ‘Security Provision: South Asian Perspectives’ in Security Dialogue. Sobie will be editing this special issue in collaboration with Dr Damien Carriere (Sciences Po). It brings together a diverse group of an scholars working on security work and the ensuing relations of security production from a variety of disciplines. This would be the first time that this aspect of security has been studied in depth, and the first time that South Asia (as context) is given primacy in security studies debates.  Participants will include the editors, Prof. Nandani Gooptu (International Development, Oxford University, UK), Dr. Laurent Gayer (Political sciences, Science Po CERI, France), Ilia Antenucci (PhD Candidate, CAIS, Germany), Dr. Zoha Waseem (Criminology, University of Warwick), Prof. Beatrice Jauregui (Asian Institute, University of Toronto). The special issue is expected to be submitted for review in December 2022.

Annie Pfingst  presented a paper and images on ‘Framing encounters in close-up’ as part of the opening panel on  Representation of/against borders  for the Feminist Autonomous Centre for Research (FACR) 2021 Summer school.

Faten Khazaei  gave a talk, titled “ In the name of the child: Mothers’ ‘obligations’ and fathers’ ‘rights’ ” on 30 th  June 2021 in the forthcoming  Swiss Sociological Association’s (SSA) Congress: Social Justice in Times of Uncertainty , for the panel: Family, Work and Social Policies: A Gender Lens on Social (in)justice, held at the university of Geneve, Switzerland.

Chloe Peacock (recent PhD graduate) has been working on a project based at the Centre on the Dynamics of Ethnicity (CoDE) at the University of Manchester, looking at cultural activism around contested statues in the wake of last summer’s Black Lives Matter protests. They have recently published a policy briefing with Runnymede on the government’s punitive and damaging response to activism.

Chloe also appeared with her colleague Gary Younge on the Guardian’s Today in Focus podcast  and wrote an article for The Conversation . They will be publishing academic outputs in the coming months – See CoDE’s twitter feed for more info. @EthnicityUK

Martin Savransky is teaching (alongside Marisol de la Cadena, Eduardo Kohn, Emanuele Coccia, and Peter Skafish) in this year’s “ Cosmic Alternatives ” Summer School, organised by the Institute for Speculative and Critical Inquiry (Berkeley, US) and the Fabrica Braço de Prata, in Lisbon, Portugal, June 27-July 6 2021.

Kim Harding  will be presenting her doctoral research at the BSA Sociology of Religion study group (SocRel) annual conference on 13 July. Kim’s talk,  Vegan YouTubers: Ethical Belief Beyond The Binary,  will be   discussing her current fieldwork, a digital ethnography that investigates how ethical beliefs about veganism are formed; to what extent these are shaped by media practices; and the ways in which vegans’ moral discourses disrupt the religion/non-religion binary.

Louise Rondel  and  Laura Henneke  are participating in the virtual RC21 Conference, Antwerp (July 14-16) where they will organise a walkshop for delegates. The theme for this year’s conference is Sensing the City – Place, People, Power   and the walkshop is titled  “ Infrastructural Explorations: Embodied encounters with urban infrastructure “ (W100 | FRIDAY 16 JULY, 14:00-15:30 CET)

Emma Jackson  will be presenting the paper ‘ Researching belonging, embodiment and the materialities of a London bowling league’ at ‘Sensing the City: People Place, Power’ RC21 conference, University of Antwerp 15th July. 

Natassia Brenman  is running a workshop on the 19th and 20th July hosted by CISP online, with a colleague from the University of Leiden, Dr Natashe Lempos Dekker –  Interrogating Speculative Futures: A workshop on the politics of imagining a future with(out) chronic illness.   Although the deadline has now closed for participation in the workshop, the 2 keynotes will be publicly available via online webinars:

KEYNOTE 1: Professor Ayo Wahlberg (University of Copenhagen) – 19th July 15.15 BST

Calibrating Chronicity

KEYNOTE 2:  Dr Rebecca Coleman  (Goldsmiths) – 20th July 15.15 BST

Fabulating Futures: Materiality, Affect and Speculative Methods

Look out for the signup links for the keynotes (which will be going live this week)  on their webpage .

The second workshop in the  Goldsmiths’ Social and Economic Justice research stream  series will bring  Les Back  into conversation with Jim Ripley (Phoenix Community Housing) and Freya Hellier (podcast producer) to reflect on their collaboration on  The Fellowship Inn Project Evaluation   and podcasts for the CUCR. This event will take place online via Zoom on  Tuesday 20th July, 10-11.30am .  Please register on Eventbrite .

Fay Dennis  is giving a talk on ‘body mapping’ at a workshop at the London School of Medicine & Tropical medicine on ‘Visual Participatory Methods’.

Fay is also giving a presentation on the 23 July at the Victorian Substance Use Forum (Australia) based on some workshops she ran with people in ‘recovery’ (receiving treatment for drug/alcohol dependencies), which is open to all. More details can be found here .

Annie Pfingst will present a paper on ‘Bodies, bones and borders at the Gaza Fence’ as part of the panel on  Carcerality of and/or on the border  for the  Royal Geographic Society (with IBG) Annual International Conference 2021  on  Borders, borderlands and bordering 31 August 31 – 3 September 2021.

Sobia Kaker  is co-organising panel ‘Belonging and un-belonging in South Asia’ with Dr Romola Sanyal (LSE) for the RGS-IBG Annual Conference 31 August -3 Sept 2021.

Sobie  will also be presenting research findings from her GCRF project at the  RGS-IBG Annual Conference 31 August -3 Sept 2021. The presentation  titled ‘Eviction and dispossession as acts of un-belonging: a case study of a Pashtun settlement in Islamabad’ will be collaboratively attended w ith project partners from the Alliance for Urban Rights (Pakistan).

Anita Strasser  will also be speaking at the  Annual International Conference of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)  in autumn, running from 31 August – 3 September 2021. Anita will be speaking at the Panel  Photography and the City: New approaches, methodologies and practices , organised by Geoffrey DeVerteuil and Brian Doucet. Her talk is entitled: Documentary photography as radical urban practice: recording as a form of resistance to uneven urban change 

Vikki Bell will give a keynote presentation on archives of political violence at an international conference organised by Alberto Hurtado University, Chile, in early September (2/3, 9/10 September 2021). Call for papers is available here .

Research News is going to take a break for the summer and will be back in September, see you then!

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

‘Cultural and social vandalism’: job cut plans at Goldsmiths attacked

Union claims up to a quarter of all academic roles at financially pressed London institution face the axe

Plans for mass redundancies at Goldsmiths, University of London , have been called a “horrifying act of cultural and social vandalism” and the “biggest assault on jobs at any UK university in recent years”.

The job cuts, which are now subject to a consultation, are the latest in a series of redundancies at Goldsmiths and elsewhere in the higher education sector, as universities struggle with financial pressures.

The number of Goldsmiths staff likely to be affected is disputed, with the University and College Union (UCU) warning that up to a quarter of all academic roles at the south London institution could be axed under a major new restructuring programme, while management said one in six academic roles could be made redundant.

The UCU says the scale, speed and intensity of the cuts at Goldsmiths are unprecedented, with entire modules and degree programmes being “deleted”, and cuts affecting 11 of the 19 departments due to be implemented by September 2024.

Departments affected include anthropology, English and creative writing, history, music, psychology, sociology, theatre and performance and visual cultures, with some losing half of their staff, according to the UCU.

The union said the number of roles and full-time equivalents kept changing, but according to Goldsmiths 132 academic roles could be made redundant out of a total of 769, subject to consultation.

“You can imagine people are scared,” said Catherine Rottenberg, professor of media, communications and cultural studies, who is on the executive committee of Goldsmiths UCU. “These are people’s livelihoods, people’s families. It’s huge.”

Goldsmiths alumni include the film director Steve McQueen, the fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, the writer Bernardine Evaristo, the poet Linton Kwesi Johnson, the musician Damon Albarn and the artist Antony Gormley.

The union is now balloting its members on industrial action to fight the cuts. A UCU statement said it was the second restructure at Goldsmiths in as many years, adding: “This is the biggest assault on jobs at any UK university in recent years.”

Michael Rosen, the broadcaster, former children’s poet laureate and professor of children’s literature, has worked at Goldsmiths for 10 years.

He said: “It’s been a great working environment and my department has reached out into the world of education, libraries, literature and scholarship.

“We’ve challenged ourselves to keep up to date with both tradition and the latest ideas circulating in these worlds and to share these with our students. These practices and traditions go back a long way at Goldsmiths and it’s unbearable to think that any of this is under threat from yet more mass redundancies.”

Angela McRobbie, the cultural theorist and emeritus professor at Goldsmiths, said: “Goldsmiths is unique. It’s an institution that has trained young people who go on to do socially and culturally valuable jobs across the world.

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“The possible redundancies on this scale is unprecedented and it is a terrible outcome in a national scenario that has pitched universities against each other.”

Priyamvada Gopal, a professor of postcolonial studies at the University of Cambridge, added: “The redundancies announced by Goldsmiths management is a horrifying act of cultural and social vandalism, one which will devastate the study and teaching of the humanities not just in this institution, but Britain more generally.”

Prof Frances Corner, warden of Goldsmiths, said management were having to make difficult decisions – like other universities – because of a funding model that is widely acknowledged to be unfit for purpose.

“We are fully committed to retaining the arts, humanities and social sciences as core elements of our educational offer,” she said.

“Our plan will secure a positive and progressive future for Goldsmiths and ensure that we continue to deliver a creative, collaborative and unique learning and working environment.”

• Goldsmiths, University of London
• University of London
• Higher education
• Universities
• Trade unions

More on this story

‘Left without a voice’: October general election could leave students in UK unable to vote

Oxbridge must help pupils from state schools succeed, college head says

UK science minister apologises and pays damages after academic’s libel action

Universities must overcome ‘echo chamber’ and self-censorship, says Reading VC

UK professor suffered discrimination due to anti-Zionist beliefs, tribunal rules

UK universities to review international student admissions after recruitment controversy

British students not being ‘squeezed out’ by overseas applicants, say universities

DfE to investigate claims of bad practice in recruitment of international students

Southampton University given mental health warning after student’s suicide

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MA Sociology (Urban Studies)

Goldsmiths, university of london, different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, similar courses at different universities, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

MA - Master of Arts

Subject areas

Urban Sociology

Course type

This MA draws on urban sociology to explore the meaning of cities, urban life and culture.

The programme covers topics including the politics of gentrification, urban community, infrastructure and the intricacies of urban culture, alongside lectures on urban policy, food politics, poverty and migration.

You will also zoom out to consider the broader meaning of urban sociology and its ongoing contribution to social science. With over two-thirds of the global population destined to live in cities by 2050, there has never been a more important time to research and understand urban life.

Why study MA Sociology (Urban Studies) at Goldsmiths?

Critically engage with urban work

The degree brings together social analysis, activism, and inventive research methods to critically engage with various dimensions of urban work – from policy-making, research and cultural interventions, to the management of social programmes and institutions.

Take a multi-disciplinary approach

The MA is distinguished by a focus on experimental empirical research and covers the following disciplines: sociology, geography, anthropology, architecture, cultural studies, history, fine arts, media and communications.

Experience research-led teaching

We use research-led teaching to explore the importance of sociological knowledge in understanding cities, urban economies, culture, politics and social justice.

Analyse and explore spaces and places

You’ll analyse the organisation of contemporary cities, including the built environment, commerce, housing, culture, political and social infrastructures. You'll also explore how distributions of wealth, power and culture in spaces and places are constituted through political, material and social processes.

Study in a unique urban setting

We use our location in South East London to explore issues of city-making and urban change through hands-on methodological training.

Join a lively academic community

You’ll be part of a lively community of researchers and urban practitioners at the Centre for Urban and Community Research and will join students who have a range of experiences and interests in communication, management, politics, design and cultural industries.

Analytical and research skills that intersect basic sociological knowledge with that of architecture, the built environment, cultural and postcolonial theory, geography, planning, digital communications, and ethnography as they apply to the study of cities across the world.

The training on this degree is applicable to work in multilateral institutions, NGOs, urban research institutes, municipal government, cultural and policy institutions, urban design firms, and universities.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least upper second class standard in a relevant/related subject. You might also be considered for some programmes if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.

Urban Studies MSc

Ucl (university college london).