About Sotheby's Institute of Art

Sotheby's Institute of Art is a leading academic centre dedicated to quality, excellence and innovation in visual arts education. For forty years we have been preparing students for distinguished careers in the multi-billion dollar international art world. Our programmes are taught by some of the most knowledgeable and highly respected scholars in the field of art. The combination of academic faculty, visiting tutors, specialist lecturers and Sotheby's experts provides students with a wide breadth of knowledge and experience as well as an opportunity to develop a network of professional relationships.

Sotheby's Institute of Art is composed of academic centres in London and New York. Its international focus reflects a commitment to interactive "hands-on" education that leverages the resources of important art centres worldwide.

Practical Training for a Career

All of our programmes are designed to prepare students for a career in the international art world.

The Institute also works with students to help them find internships at Sotheby's auction house or in galleries and art institutions. Study programmes and internships give invaluable experience and lead to professional contacts. Internships are unpaid and are offered throughout the year according to the auction schedule and last for a minimum of one month to a maximum of three months.

All full-time students studying on a postgraduate course are eligible to apply for internships.

Whatever your career aspirations, Sotheby's Institute of Art can help guide you. Many of our alumni are working in positions all over the world as gallery assistants, gallery owners, curators and dealers or are working in art-related positions in art insurance, publishing or arts marketing and administration.

Hands-on History

Students learn through actual first-hand examination of works of art in the galleries and museums of each campus location in London, New York and Singapore and in private collections.

This first-hand looking at works of art is the cornerstone of our approach to teaching and has been a distinguishing feature of Sotheby's Institute of Art for 40 years. Many of the Institute's postgraduate programmes include travel to major art fairs, exhibitions, museums and collections in Europe, Asia and the US. This allows students to see and experience art and objects in their historical context as well as adding regional knowledge to particular areas of study.

Individual Attention

Faculty members are available to provide guidance on both academic and career-related subjects.

Teaching styles facilitate a close working relationship with the student based on the academic tutorial system. Visit and seminar groups are divided into small numbers.

Postgraduate Scholarships, Financial Aid & Bursaries

Postgraduate students finance their education through a combination of financial assistance, scholarship and loans. Sotheby's Institute of Art offers a range of financial assistance through both needs-based (financial assistance) and merit-based (Scholarship) awards across all postgraduate-level programmes. All candidates may apply for financial assistance on a rolling basis. Scholarship awards are highly competitive and have a deadline for submission. Funds for scholarship and financial assistance are offered to those who have already received an offer of a place on one of the MA programmes that will be taught at Sotheby's Institute of Art during the 2012-13 academic year.

Visa

There are new mandatory entry clearance regulations for people from overseas who are staying in the UK longer than 6 months. The new regulations apply to the following countries:
Australia, Canada, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea and the USA.

Please consult your countries' embassies on the latest visa regulations for the United States and United Kingdom.