MA Degree in Fine Art in London

Sotheby's Institute Of Art, London:
For 37 years Sotheby's Institute of Art has been preparing students for careers in the international art world. Our degrees are awarded by the University of Manchester in the UK and combine professional training with academic study. Our location in London is in the heart of Bloomsbury, only minutes away from the British Museum and within walking distance of the National Gallery and Sotheby's auction house, as well as the University of London. Sotheby's auction house provides students with privileged access to pre-sale viewings, talks by experts, and handling sessions. In addition, students visit the many commercial galleries, artists' studios and museums available in London.

Master's Degrees

MA in Art Business
The MA in Art Business prepares students for careers in the commercial art world. The programme is not a business degree but a degree in the business side of art, designed for students with an art historical background who want to understand business theories and practices as well as the technical and structural elements of the art market.

MA in Fine & Decorative Art
The MA in Fine & Decorative Art is taught from the point of view of an art expert rather than an academic art historian and prepares students for a wide variety of careers in the art world. Based on Sotheby's original curriculum, The Works of Art Course, and concentrating principally on Old Master paintings, modern art, furniture and ceramics, the MA in Fine and Decorative Art teaches connoisseurship, a skill rarely featured in other academic settings.

MA in Contemporary Art
The MA in Contemporary Art is for those who plan careers as gallery owners, curators, dealers, consultants or critics. This programme emphasises engagement with the actual artwork itself and how we critically approach and interpret contemporary art.

MA in Photography
The MA in Photography is aimed at those who wish to study in-depth the place of the photograph in the art world and to pursue a career as a specialist in photographic imagery.

MA in East Asian art
The MA in East Asian art focuses on the art history of China, Japan and Korea and is ideal for those who wish to become Asian art specialists with a knowledge of auction house, art market, museum and gallery practices.

MA in Contemporary Design
Our new MA in Contemporary Design starts in 2008 and combines academic study of 20th century and contemporary decorative art with an exploration of the professional design world and is aimed at those considering a career in this field.

Semester Programmes
Sotheby’s Institute of Art—London offers a number of full-time fifteen-week courses, some of which can also be taken on a part-time basis. Different subjects are offered in the autumn and spring semesters, but each combines academic study with an insight into the professional art world and takes full advantage of the rich cultural resources that London offers. Designed for students who have a strong vocational or professional interest in a specific subject, these courses can also provide the necessary foundation for students who lack an art history background and are applying to the Postgraduate Diploma and MA programmes at the Institute.  Semester Programs Include:
- Art & Business
- Styles in Art
- Styles in Asian Art
- Decorative Art & Design

Summer Study
- Art & Its Markets
- Contemporary Art
- Fine & Decorative Art
- Modern Design
- Marketing Visual Arts

Day/Evening Courses
- Contemporary Art
- Modern Art
- Caring for Collections
- Olympia Summer Fair
- 20th Century Design
- Buying Opportunities Movements in Modern Art
- Interviews with Artists 

Executive Education
- Business Management in the Art World