Master’s Degree

MA in Art Business

Date: Fall 2025
Duration: 1+ Year
Location: London
Program: Master’s Degree
Mode of Learning: In-Person
Language: English
Topic: Art Business

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Shape the future of the art market with London's first MA in Art Business.

The MA in Art Business was the first program of its kind and our innovative curriculum continues to set the industry standard today. This MA offers a unique opportunity to study the art market right at the hub of the cultural and commercial art world: London. It provides students with an academic but highly practical understanding of those areas considered most important by art world professionals and employers: finance and management; law and ethics; and global art market dynamics.

The MA in Art Business provides students with the necessary theories and skills to enable them to develop both a critical and practical understanding of art business. Students are also equipped with the necessary mathematical skills to enable them to engage in sophisticated financial analysis and business planning. Graduates of this program will thus emerge with the ability to place the art object within both its aesthetic and commercial context, and to discuss the legal and ethical implications of its historical provenance and current location.

Highlights

Gain Exposure to Innovative Techniques

Explore the gamification of art valuation strategies in collaboration with ArtTactic Forecaster for training students.

Live and Learn in a Global Art Hub

Study in London, home to top galleries, auction houses, and art fairs that shape the international market.

Immerse Yourself in 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.

Network with the Art World’s Key Players

Gain insider access to the art world through networking opportunities throughout the year—connecting with dealers, auction specialists, collectors, artists, art advisors, investors, art logisticians, and art insurers.

Enhance Your Employability

Build expertise in finance, law, management, and ethics and develop the skills that today's art world employers are looking for.

Next Steps

Faculty

Program Director, MA Art Business, London

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Dr. David Bellingham is an art historian, author and Program Director for the Master’s Degree in Art Business at Sotheby’s Institute of Art-London where he leads a core unit on Art Business, Finance & Management, as well the elective The Market for Antiquities & Old Masters.

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Deputy Program Director, MA Art Business, London

Dr Melanie Fasche is a Social Scientist. She is a Senior Lecturer and the Deputy Program Director of the MA in Art Business at Sotheby’s Institute of Art London. In the program Melanie leads the core unit Art Business: Finance and Management and the elective Art Patronage Today.

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Faculty, MA Art Business, Art and Business Course, London

Marina Maximova is an art and cultural historian. Before joining Sotheby’s Institute of Art as a Lecturer in Art Business she taught in Loughborough University School of Art. Marina's research focuses on Russian and Eastern European art and markets and history of art institutions. Her doctoral thesis explored experimental curatorial practices in Soviet Russia. Outside of academia Marina worked in a variety of cultural organisations in Moscow and in London including Garage Museum of Contemporary Art, Tate Modern and Gazelli Art House.

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Senior Lecturer in Art Market Studies, Head of Learning Innovation

Oliver’s teaching and research specialisms centre on the sociology of the artistic field, twentieth century British artworlds, critical and aesthetic theory, visual culture, curatorial practice, cultural policy, and political economy.

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Faculty, MA Art Business, London

Liza is a specialist in Nazi-era provenance research, restitution issues, and wider contested cultural heritage. She lectures in Markets, Laws, and Ethics on the MA Art Business program at Sotheby’s Institute of Art-London. Liza holds a doctorate from the University of Sussex, where she was awarded the Alfred Bader PhD Scholarship in Modern Jewish History and Culture.

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Faculty, MA Art Business, London

Vittoria Mastrandrea is an academic and researcher in the fields of art law, art business, and heritage studies. She recently completed her PhD in the law department of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE); her research examined the legal, cultural and theoretical implications of ‘national treasure’ designation and retention in the UK. Vittoria is a qualified solicitor in England and Wales. She holds an LLB from the University of Kent and an MSc in Art, Law and Business from the University of Glasgow/Christie’s Education.

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Featured

Career Pathways

MA Art Business graduates at Sotheby's Institute have advanced to roles such as gallery director, auction house specialist, art fund manager and cultural policy advisor.

“The program provided me with the foundation to develop my own business ethics and strategies based on a solid understanding of international art market rules and trends.” —Julia Marie Wendl ’17

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. The first two semesters are intensively taught on three to four days per week. All students attend lectures, usually followed by a one-hour seminar. After seminars, students have access to tutors for individual instruction. 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 art business. 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 Art Business degree include Art Business: Management and Finance and International Art World.

For the MA degree, students must complete the 60-credit dissertation in their third semester. During this final semester there is no formal teaching, with students researching their dissertation topics under the guidance of individual supervisors.

View required courses and electives here.

What You’ll Learn

Gain fluency in key areas of art business through a curriculum designed for real-world application:

Art Market Finance – Develop valuation models, analyze risk, and build portfolio strategies tailored to the art economy.

Cultural and Commercial Contexts – Understand how artworks function across aesthetic, historical, and economic frameworks.

Law and Ethics – Navigate provenance research, copyright law, and cultural property issues with clarity and integrity.

Global Dynamics – Explore the forces shaping the international art market, from digital platforms to emerging economies.

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

After graduating from the MA Art Business program at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, alumna Laura Peh created Cinnamon Art Stories, a unique publishing house dedicated to non-fiction children’s books which specialize in culture, sustainability, and technology. Her venture earned recognition on Prestige Singapore’s 2023 40 Under 40 list.

Master’s Degree