The MA in Fine and Decorative Art is taught from the perspective of an art expert, with attention paid to the history and practice of connoisseurship.

Based on Sotheby’s original training scheme, the Works of Art Course, this programme has been offered in London for over forty years; the approach is object-based and often object-specific.

Case studies in Old Master paintings, modern art, furniture and ceramics from the Renaissance to the present day form the core curriculum, along with the development of professional skills for attributing and cataloguing works of art, culminating in the House Sale project, which closely mirrors the auction house environment.

The defining characteristic of this programme is its frequent and regular visits to museums and galleries, the auction house, and country-house collections for first-hand observation of art objects. The visual and hands-on approach, supported by a thorough grounding in materials and techniques, gives a firm foundation for postgraduate research and the excitement of exploring the material culture of the past.

In November students will have the opportunity to take a unique collaborative study trip to Venice with Art Business students where they will take part in cross-disciplinary lessons among Europe's finest collections and the Venice Biennale.