Sotheby's Institute of Art teaches art business and art history from townhouses on Bedford Square in Bloomsbury, a few minutes from the British Museum. It began as a training course at the auction house and now runs master's degrees in London and New York. Students spend a lot of time in galleries, auction previews and museum stores rather than lecture halls.
London, England, United Kingdom
Official website: sothebysinstitute.com
Specialist postgraduate art institute
Bedford Square, Bloomsbury
New York
£30,000 – £40,000
International students, master's programmes
£16,000 – £22,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on sothebysinstitute.com before you apply.
MA Art Business
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
Bachelor's degree, IELTS: 7.0
MA Contemporary Art
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
Bachelor's degree, IELTS: 7.0
MA Fine and Decorative Art and Design
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
Bachelor's degree, IELTS: 7.0
Semester Study in Art
CertificateDuration
4 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5
Art market teaching with ties to a major auction house.
Regular visits to galleries, auctions and museum collections.
A Bloomsbury campus in walking distance of the British Museum.
Graduates join auction houses, commercial galleries and art advisory firms.
Some work in museum curation, collections and arts administration.
The UK Graduate Route gives two years of post-study work in London.
Undergrad
No UG intake
Postgrad
Main intake
Undergrad
Semester study
Postgrad
Selected programmes
Bedford Square is one of Bloomsbury's best-kept Georgian squares. The British Museum, Tottenham Court Road station and the galleries of Fitzrovia are all close.
London is expensive, especially rent. Students share flats further out and use the Tube and buses, which are cheaper with a student Oyster discount.
CAS from Sotheby's Institute of Art
Proof of funds for fees and living costs
English test at B2 level or above
TB test certificate, if required
Immigration Health Surcharge payment
Valid passport with blank pages
The institute reviews applications on a rolling basis, and popular programmes fill early. International students should apply by spring for September to leave time for the CAS and visa.
The master's programmes start in September. Semester study also starts in January.
You'll apply for a Student visa. Sotheby's Institute of Art gives you a CAS number once your offer is unconditional and the deposit is paid. You can then apply online up to six months before the course starts, with bank evidence and the Immigration Health Surcharge.
MA Art Business is the most popular, followed by contemporary art and fine and decorative art. Entry needs a bachelor's degree in any subject and IELTS 7.0.
The institute offers a limited number of partial scholarships for master's students, based on merit and need. Apply early to be considered.
