Master’s Degree

MA in Fine and Decorative Art and Design

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Date
Fall 2025
Duration
1+ Year
Location
London
Program
Master’s Degree
Mode of Learning
In-Person
Language
English
Topic
Historic Art and Design
Contact Admissions

+44 (0)20 7462 3232 admissions@sia.edu

Hone your visual, critical, and research skills through an integrated study of fine art, decorative art, and design from the Renaissance to the late Twentieth Century. 

The MA in Fine and Decorative Art and Design established the model for Sotheby’s Institute’s rigorous and teaching intensive MA programs. Tracing its origins back to the Works of Art course founded in 1969, it offers an in-depth exploration of connoisseurship and the integrated study of fine and decorative art and design, based on case studies drawn from the late Renaissance to the late twentieth century.

Issues examined include style, materials and techniques, copies, and revivals, but also investigation of patterns of patronage, collecting, and a consideration of the historical and contemporary art market for a range of fine and decorative art and design objects. The program is aimed at students who seek an immersive object-based approach to the study of a wide range of artworks, and who intend to pursue a career within the professional art world whether as an auction house expert, dealer, art advisor, curator, or academic.

Highlights

Specialist Skills

Step into the shoes of art world specialists and explore the skills behind valuation and attribution. Learn how to research, write about, and present artworks through a hands-on auction project.

Experiential Learning

International study trips and visits are significant learning events, where travel, experiencing art in situ, and informal access to tutors come together to create an immersive and enriching experience.

Advice From Experts

Take part in regular visits to Sotheby’s auction house to preview upcoming sales, followed by reflective sessions and tailored guidance on projects from auction house experts.

Next Steps

Faculty

Program Director, MA in Fine and Decorative Art and Design / Historic Art and Design

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Bernard Vere specializes in art from the late-nineteenth to mid-twentieth century. His work explores the connection between technological advances and the rise of the metropolis in modernist art, particularly in its implications for the individual subject. Learn more...

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Faculty, MA in Fine and Decorative Art and Design, London

Barbara has published on the subject of French decorative arts, the history of taste and the history of collecting, and museum architecture. Learn more...

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Faculty & Subject Leader: History of Design, Decorative Art and Design, London

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Elisabeth Bogdan has been a lecturer in decorative art and design history at the Institute since 2003. She has taught in the visual arts and on art world education since 1992 at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, previously at Southampton Solent University, Oxford Brookes University and the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff. Her specialist teaching includes eighteenth to twentieth century European and American design, decorative art and architectural history.

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Field Study

Field study is a hallmark of the master's programs, taking graduate students around the globe to explore established and emerging markets during key events and with an itinerary ranging from art fairs to visits to artist studios and private collections.

“From discovering the secret treasures of Britain’s stately homes to experiencing the excitement (...) of the international art market, the program provided the ideal environment for fostering discussions among experts and enthusiastic students from across the globe.” —Saoirse Walsh ’14

Details

Academic Structure

The Master’s degree is awarded for 120 taught credits across two semesters, as well as the completion of a 60-credit dissertation over the course of an additional semester. In the first semester, Art Futures (15 Credits) brings students from different MAs together for an exploration of the art world of the future, with particular emphasis on technology, sustainability, inclusion, and the politics of cultural property (restitution). In Professional Practice (15 credits) students are introduced to professional art world skills and career options and to a variety of research methodologies within the field of fine and decorative art and design.

During the program, specialist electives can be chosen from across all Institute Master’s programs, allowing a student to build a personalized Master’s profile. Students take two 15-credit electives across a variety of offerings for deeper expertise or to develop specialties. Core units (60 credits) for the Fine and Decorative Art and Design degree include Fine and Decorative Art, and Art and Design: Modernity and Modernisms.

The program aims to develop critical understanding of the terms: “fine art,” “decorative art,” and “design,” as well as the synergies and divergences between art objects across a range of media and periods. Through detailed study of objects, students will also gain an understanding of the consumption of artworks, examining patterns of patronage and collecting, and the historical and contemporary art market. For the MA degree, students must complete the 60-credit dissertation in their third semester.

View required courses and electives here.

Tuition and Fees

Note: Fees are subject to annual review

Home*

Total Programme Fee: £31,600 (includes deposit of £3,000.00) plus travel fee (see below)

International 

Total Programme Fee: £40,769 (includes deposit of £3,000) plus travel fee (see below)

*Circumstances that may entitle you to a “home” fee status include:

  • you have settled or pre-settled status under the UK’s EU Settlement Scheme
  • you are from the Republic of Ireland and living in the UK prior to December 31, 2020
  • you are British but live in the EU
  • you hold dual citizenship with the UK and live in the UK

Travel Fee: £3,900

Travel fees are mandatory. They cover all mandatory study trips outside of London, including transportation from the departure hub (airport or train station) to the destination, and all transportation, entry tickets and 3 or 4 star accommodation at the destination during the trip. Where the accommodation includes breakfast, this is covered by the fee. Otherwise all expenses for meals and other costs are the responsibility of the student.

Frequently Asked Questions

From visa information for international students to course credits, find answers on our FAQ page. If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for, contact an Admissions counselor.

Student Policies

Explore our library of academic and campus policies here. All students who enroll for graduate study must agree to the Terms and Conditions upon accepting their offer of admittance.

Enterprise Studio

The Enterprise Studio was created as an extra-curricular program for Master’s students to receive training and support for new business ventures, culminating in a start-up pitch competition, the Gavel. Through close access to mentors, students have the chance to shape their plans from ideation to execution with the winning Gavel team receiving significant seed funding for their future business.

Student Spotlight

MA Fine and Decorative Art and Design alumna Briony Harford’s degree transformed her understanding of the art market, paving the way for her career as a valuer and auctioneer. Now a familiar face on The Travelling Auctioneers, she uncovers hidden treasures and guides sellers through the excitement of auction day.

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