Goldsmiths MFA Students Cite £15,000 Annual Fee as They Seek Refunds

Ten of the twelve tutors for the master of fine art (MFA) programme at Goldsmiths, University of London, are currently on strike action. The industrial dispute has entered its 21st week with no end in sight, leaving students to seek financial compensation for lost instruction.

The MFA cohort, which pays nearly £15,000 annually for full-time UK study and £33,000 for international students, reported receiving virtually no teaching this term. Florence Sweeney, a part-time student, described the lack of contact as a financial drain. She noted that classmates had become distressed and anxious, with some moving from other countries to find a campus in the middle of a dispute.

The strike began in April as a marking boycott over proposed job cuts. Management responded by deducting 100% of pay from participating staff, a move the University and College Union (UCU) argued constituted a lockout. Following a formal ballot, UCU members have been on indefinite strike since early June. Joe Newman, co-president of the Goldsmiths UCU branch, stated the action addresses the unprecedented scale of management cuts. He reported that students were largely supportive and often shocked to learn the reasons for the walkout.

Goldsmiths has historically attracted high-profile artists such as Steve McQueen and Damien Hirst. However, the institution faces financial pressure from falling applications in core humanities and reduced domestic tuition fees. A staff member described the resulting environment as one of continuous restructuring and redundancies.

University officials stated that only 8.5% of staff are on strike, leaving the majority of students unaffected. They offered a pause on compulsory redundancies but maintained the 100% pay deduction policy for the marking boycott. A spokesperson said the university is providing regular updates and meetings to support affected students.

Students expressed frustration with the lack of communication. James Evans, an international student from the US, said visa and funding restrictions forced him to continue despite the disruption. He reported receiving no marks or feedback on projects from last year and described the current term as having no structure. John Carver, a part-time second-year student, suspended his studies after a departmental meeting he called dismal. He noted that replacement tutors did not know the students.