MFA Students Demand Refunds After 21 Weeks Without Teaching

The conflict centers on a two-year degree program that charges nearly £15,000 per year for domestic students and £33,000 for international students, yet has offered virtually no instruction for over five months. Master of Fine Art (MFA) students at Goldsmiths, University of London, are formally requesting compensation for the lost learning time.

The university’s industrial dispute entered its 21st week this month. Ten of the program’s usual twelve tutors are currently on strike action. Florence Sweeney, a part-time student, stated that many fine art students have received little to no teaching this term. She described the situation as a financial drain and noted that classmates have experienced distress and anxiety, with some traveling from other countries without proper onboarding.

The dispute began in April when University and College Union (UCU) members launched a marking boycott in response to proposed job cuts. Management reacted by deducting 100% of pay from participating staff. The union characterized this move as a lockout. Following a formal ballot, UCU members at the south-east London campus have been on an indefinite strike since early June.

Joe Newman, co-president of the Goldsmiths UCU branch, attributed the action to the speed and scale of management cuts. He reported that students were largely supportive of the strike and expressed shock when informed of the reasons for the work stoppage. An international student attending a gathering of affected students on Friday said induction sessions had turned into strike discussions, describing her initial experience as shocking despite her excitement to begin studies.

Goldsmiths, an institution known for alumni such as Damien Hirst and Sarah Lucas, faces financial pressure from declining applications in humanities and reduced domestic fee income. A staff member described the institutional response as continuous rounds of redundancies and restructuring. The university stated that only about 8.5% of its staff are on strike, arguing that most students remain unaffected. It offered a pause on compulsory redundancies but maintained the 100% pay deduction for the marking boycott, citing the costs incurred to support students.

Students dispute the university’s assessment of the impact. John Carver, a part-time second-year student, suspended his studies after a departmental meeting at the start of the term. He noted that while regular tutors are praised, replacement staff lacked familiarity with the student cohort. James Evans, an international student from the US, said visa and funding restrictions forced him to remain enrolled. He reported receiving no marks or feedback on projects from last year. He described the current term as having no structure and minimal communication, leaving students to manage their own progress.

The university spokesperson stated that ongoing disruption risks long-term reputational harm. The institution said it is providing regular updates and meetings with schools to support affected students. MFA students continue to seek financial remuneration for the portion of their tuition fees covering the untaught period.