How to Apply for Art and Design at Goldsmiths: Fine Art Requires a Foundation-Level Qualification, a Four-Year Extension Degree for International Students, and Design at CCC with an Interview, with Portfolio Requirements and Timelines for Students in China, Canada and Transfer Applicants

2026-10-19 · Application guides

Goldsmiths, University of London offers BA Fine Art (W190), BA Fine Art and History of Art (VW31) and a BA Fine Art Extension Degree for students from outside the UK (W191, a foundation-style year followed by three years), plus BA Design (W200). The fine art degrees require a Foundation or equivalent art qualification, so A-level-only applicants are not eligible; the Extension Degree usually asks for A-level CC. All applications go through UCAS, followed by an online portfolio of up to 12 items and, if selected, an interview. 2026/27 international fees are £30,500 for fine art and £27,000 for design.

At Goldsmiths, University of London, undergraduate art is taught by the School of Art and design by the School of Design. Degrees in England usually take three years. This guide follows the four undergraduate programme pages and the portfolio guidance page.

1. Degrees

BA Fine Art (UCAS W190): three years full-time. Studio practice is 75% and critical studies 25%. No set projects: you develop your own work through research and experiment, with your own studio available seven days a week, across drawing, painting, textiles, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, photography, moving image, sound, installation, writing and performance. Assessment includes a Year 1 studio presentation, a Year 2 viva and a final-year exhibition; critical studies is assessed by essays and a dissertation.
BA Fine Art and History of Art (VW31): three years full-time.
BA Fine Art (Extension Degree) (W191): designed for students from outside the UK, one extension year followed by the three-year degree. Students with English as a first language or IELTS 6.5 (no component below 6.0) take a Portfolio of Art Writing module; others take three hours a week of English for Academic Purposes and must pass an English exam. Passing all extension modules lets you progress to Year 1 of BA Fine Art or BA Fine Art and History of Art.
BA Design (W200): three years full-time with a professional placement: in the Year 2 summer term you secure and complete a placement of at least six weeks and present on it at the start of Year 3.

2. Entry requirements

BA Fine Art and BA Fine Art and History of Art: one of a Level 4 Foundation in Art & Design, a Level 4 or Level 3 BTEC in Art & Design, or a Level 3 UAL Extended Diploma in Art & Design or Creative Practice. The pages state that applicants coming directly from A levels without one of these are not eligible. Mature applicants without formal qualifications are assessed on their portfolio.
Extension Degree: usually A-level CC plus a portfolio of recent work; international qualifications are accepted.
BA Design: A-level CCC, BTEC DMM or IB 27 points with three HL subjects at 555.
English: BA Fine Art, Fine Art and History of Art and Design need IELTS 6.0 with 6.0 in writing and no component below 5.5; the Extension Degree needs IELTS 6.0 with no component below 5.5.

Students at high schools in China

Goldsmiths' China page says direct entry normally needs A levels, the IB or a recognised Access/Foundation course, and that a 75% average in the Chinese high school diploma plus an additional qualification such as the Gaokao or SAT can be considered for direct entry, subject to each programme's requirements.
The two fine art pages require a Foundation or equivalent art qualification, which differs from the general China rule. Ask admissions whether high school plus Gaokao is enough for fine art; the Extension Degree is the route designed for students from outside the UK.
Goldsmiths also runs International Foundation Certificates, normally after completing high school with good grades.

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver)

As a guide, the Canada page asks BC students for at least BCCCC in Grade 12 courses; Ontario 68% overall in six Grade 12 U/M courses; Alberta 63% in five 30-level courses.
Each programme has its own requirements. Because the fine art degrees require a Foundation or equivalent, confirm with admissions whether Canadian high school graduates can apply directly.
Only applicants whose qualifications were not taught in English need to prove their English.

3. Applying

All applications go through UCAS (a small number of applicants from sanctioned regions use an alternative form).
Deadline: the China and Canada pages say applications open on 1 September and the normal closing date is 26 January, with some courses open until 30 June; no year is given, so check UCAS and the programme page for 2027 entry and apply early.
No deferred entry: the fine art pages say you can only apply for the upcoming academic year.

4. Portfolio and interview

Art degrees (Fine Art, Extension Degree, Fine Art and History of Art):

After you apply through UCAS, Goldsmiths emails upload instructions and your deadline.
Up to 12 items (JPG or PDF for images and documents, MOV for video, MP3 for audio), plus an essay from your Foundation course or A level (or equivalent).
Goldsmiths wants to see how you develop your own ideas, experiment beyond set briefs and make decisions along the way.
Shortlisted applicants are interviewed; international applicants outside the UK interview online via Microsoft Teams. The fine art pages ask interviewees to bring recent work and an essay.

BA Design:

Selected applicants are invited to interview, which runs through autumn and winter, so apply early.
Email your portfolio at least three working days before the interview: a website link or at least 12 key slides, and bring printed answers to the pre-interview questions.
International applicants who cannot attend in person are interviewed online. Portfolios can focus on one specialism or be multidisciplinary (models, prototypes, design sheets, drawing, graphics and illustration, typography, photography, animation, writing), ideally showing process.

5. Fees and scholarships

Tuition (starting in 2026/2027): international students pay £30,500 a year for BA Fine Art, Fine Art and History of Art and the Extension Degree, and £27,000 for BA Design. Check Goldsmiths for 2027 entry.
Additional costs (stationery, copying, trips, specialist materials) are listed in each programme specification.
Scholarships: Goldsmiths offers undergraduate scholarships, bursaries and fee waivers through its Scholarships finder (filter by undergraduate and international); the finder page itself does not list art and design awards or amounts.

6. Transfer

BA Fine Art and BA Fine Art and History of Art do not accept transfers into Year 2 from other institutions.
The Design and Extension Degree pages do not cover transfer or advanced entry; ask admissions.

7. Checklists

Students in China:

Fine art: complete a Foundation or equivalent art qualification, or consider the four-year Extension Degree (usually A-level CC)
Design: A-level CCC or IB 27; prepare at least 12 slides and an interview
IELTS 6.0 with 6.0 in writing and no component below 5.5

Students in Canada (including BC and Vancouver):

BC guide: at least BCCCC in Grade 12 courses; ask admissions whether fine art also needs a Foundation
Apply early through UCAS and watch for the portfolio upload email

Transfer students:

The two fine art degrees do not take Year 2 transfers; apply for Year 1

Sources: Goldsmiths, University of London — BA Fine Art; BA Fine Art (Extension Degree); BA Fine Art and History of Art; BA Design; Preparing a portfolio; Students from China; Students from Canada; Scholarships. Fees on the programme pages are for students starting in 2026/2027; check Goldsmiths for 2027 entry.