Sotheby's Institute of Art-London (Semester Study in London) - Overview

Sotheby's Institute of Art

Sotheby's Institute of Art offers well-renowned and praised programs for students looking to enter into the international art world. Combining scholarship with object-based study, market sophistication, a passion for the visual arts, the institute has educated arts professionals for more than forty years. Graduates gain the credentials and knowledge for success in today's worldwide art markets and cultural institutions.

Sotheby's Institute of Art has academic centers in New York and London, reflecting its commitment to the globalization of art and its markets. The institute's core faculty includes distinguished scholars and practitioners who bring a wide range of experiences to the classroom, covering everything from nuances of curatorial scholarship and the subtleties of art valuation, to the inside workings of auction houses and galleries, along with the basics of copyright and tax law. Regular lecturers include expert specialists from Sotheby's auction house, gallery directors, artists, critics, scholars, dealers, art lawyers, marketing and public relations specialists, and practitioners from major art institutions and museums.

Sotheby's auction house provides privileged access to pre-sale viewings, talks by experts and handling sessions, comprising a distinctive learning opportunity in which objects are analyzed and studied at close range. Numerous behind-the-scenes visits to commercial galleries, museums and private collections further enhance students' first-hand knowledge of works of art.

Sotheby's Institute of Art -- London: Semester Courses & Study Abroad

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 programs at the Institute.

Courses are validated by the University of Manchester. Students completing one full-time course are awarded 60 University of Manchester undergraduate credits.

Semester Courses include:

September - December

Foundations of Western Art

Art and Business

January - May

Arts of Asia

Decorative Art and Design

Art and Business

London Study Abroad

Students who wish to study abroad may transfer credit from these Semester courses to their home institutions. Transfer of credit to other colleges and universities is always at the discretion of the accepting institution. Therefore, applicants should confirm the feasibility of credit transfer with their faculty advisors in advance of registration at Sotheby's Institute of Art.

Colleges and universities in North America have accepted 16 credits at the undergraduate level and 12 postgraduate credits per semester course. European students may be eligible to transfer 30 credits per semester course under the European Credit Transfer system.

Alumni

Sotheby's Institute of Art is dedicated to the career development of its students. That dedication extends throughout the students' time at the institute, into their post-graduation lives. The institute has more than 6,000 alumni worldwide. Many are executives at museums, foundations and auction houses, or pursue careers in art journalism, art consulting, and related professions. They keep in touch via the institute's alumni network, actively mentoring applicants in the admissions process and assisting recent graduates in their search for rewarding positions in the art world.

Hands on History

Students learn through actual first-hand examination of works of art in the galleries and museums of London and in private collections. This first-hand looking at works of art is the cornerstone of the institute's approach to teaching, whether at postgraduate or undergraduate level, and has been a distinguishing feature of Sotheby's Institute of Art.

Individual Attention

Faculty members are available to provide guidance on both academic and career-related subjects. Teaching styles facilitate close working relationships with students based on the academic tutorial system. Visit and seminar groups are divided into small numbers.

Practical Training for a Career

All of the institute's programs 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 programs and internships give invaluable experience and lead to professional contacts for the institute's students. Whatever students' career aspirations, the institute can help guide them. Many of the institute's 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.