Students arriving at Goldsmiths, University of London this autumn found a campus embroiled in a bitter industrial dispute that has upended timetables and disrupted courses.

“I was really excited to start my studies at Goldsmiths,” one international student told the Guardian at a gathering of unhappy students on Friday. “But when I first arrived, I was quite shocked because almost all the induction sessions seemed to turn into discussions about strikes.”

The international student was one of the unlucky ones, having enrolled on the master of fine art (MFA) course that has been among the worst affected, with 10 out of the 12 usual tutors on strike, and students now saying they want compensation from the university for their lost learning.

Florence Sweeney, a part-time student, said there had been “virtually no teaching” so far this term for many of the fine arts students, and that a group were seeking remuneration.

“Not only has it been a financial drain, but I can see my cohort are very distressed and…