Master's Admissions

Application Deadlines

Applications for Fall 2027 are now open – please see deadlines below.

Fall 2027 Application Deadlines

Eligibility

To be eligible for admission, applicants must have earned a Bachelor’s degree with at least a Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2) – or equivalent – from an accredited institution by the date on which they enrol at the Institute.  

Please be advised that a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent is a mandatory requirement, work experience cannot be accepted in lieu of this qualification. 

International applicants who are unsure whether their overall mark is equivalent to a Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2) are encouraged to contact the Admissions Office at admissions@sia.edu before applying. 

We welcome applicants from a range of academic backgrounds. Where an applicant to one of our program (excluding MA Luxury Business) does not have a first degree in art history or a related subject, the offer may include a recommendation or requirement to complete an introductory Art History course prior to enrolment.

Required Documentation

All prospective students must apply using the online application. A complete application includes:

• Academic Transcripts  
• Personal Statement  
• Resume  
• Two Letters of Recommendation  
• English Language Proficiency  
• Application Fee  

If you would like to provide additional documents that you believe will support your application (such as an academic thesis, published work, business plan, etc.), please email these to admissions@sia.edu and we will upload them to your application.  

Academic Transcripts  

Academic transcripts are required from all undergraduate and post-graduate academic institutions previously attended. This document should include a list of all classes taken at the institution  

• Unofficial copies of transcripts are sufficient for the application process. Final Official Transcripts are required prior to enrollment.  
• If your undergraduate degree is still in progress, please provide the most up-to-date transcript available at the time of application.  
• If the document is not originally in English, an official certified translation must be submitted in accompaniment with the original document.  
• Final Official Transcripts are required prior to enrolment (or CAS issuance for Student Route Visa applicants). Documents are only considered Final and Official when received directly from the awarding institution and list the conferral date. Official transcripts can be sent to admissions@sia.edu. 

Personal Statement (500 – 1,000 words)  

Please provide a statement telling us about yourself, the reasons for your choice of program at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, any relevant academic or professional experience, and your future goals. The statement should clearly reference the Institute and the intended program.   

This essay is an opportunity for the admissions committee and faculty to get to know you and learn about your intentions behind studying at Sotheby’s Institute of Art. These statements should be solely written by the applicant and should avoid the use of AI.  

Curriculum Vitae or résumé  

Please provide a copy of your most up-to-date resume. This should include any relevant professional or academic experience.   

Two Letters of Reference  

We require two letters of reference as a part of our application process. References do not need to be from an art-related background, though we do recommend one professional and one academic reference.   

• Applicants will be asked to submit the name and contact details of each nominated reference during the application process. Upon submission of your application, our reference form will be sent directly to your nominated references.   
• Please note that we do not accept letters of reference provided from the applicant. Reference letters must be submitted directly from the reference. If your reference needs assistance submitting their letter, please refer them to the admissions team at admissions@sia.edu  

English Language Proficiency  

International applicants will be asked to provide an English Language proficiency exam score. In some cases, applicants may be eligible to request a waiver. Please note that waivers are not guaranteed.   

Accepted English Language Proficiency Exams  

We accept TOEFL, IELTS Academic, and Pearsons and require the following scores:  

• • • A writing score equivalent to IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 24, or Pearson PTE Academic 74.1 is required.

English Language Requirement Waiver  

• We also accept a number of additional Secure English Language tests. Please contact the Admissions Team for guidance if you are planning to take (or have completed) another test. 
• Please note if you are from, or completed an undergraduate degree in, an English-speaking country, you may be exempt from the need to provide additional evidence of your English language ability. Please visit our FAQ section for detailed guidance on this. 
• Your undergraduate or graduate degree is from a country where English is the national language, and English was the language of instruction.   

Application Fee

  A nonrefundable fee of £75 is required  

Tuition & Fees

Fall 2027 Tuition and Fees

Note: Fees are subject to annual review

Home*

Total Program Fees: £24,950

International 

Total Program Fee: £42,500

*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, 2021
• you are British but live in the EU
• you hold dual citizenship with the UK and live in the UK

A non-refundable deposit of £1,500 for Home students and £3,000 for international students is required upon acceptance to secure your place on all programs.

Tuition includes participation in the field study component.

Deferrals:

The Institute permits deferrals over one academic year only. Any scholarship awarded will not be transferred. Deferrals are approved at the discretion of the Institute. 

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Sotheby’s Institute of Art – London offers three partial tuition scholarship opportunities for eligible applicants: 

• Academic Excellence Award 
• Need-Based Awards 
• The Sotheby’s Institute Scholar Award 

Please review the information below carefully, including eligibility requirements and application deadlines. 

Academic Excellence Award

The Academic Excellence Award is an automatic scholarship worth 10% of tuition fees, awarded based on undergraduate academic achievement.

Applicants who: 

• apply to the Institute by the Regular Decision deadline; and 
• have achieved a First-Class Honours degree (1st) or international equivalent 

will automatically be considered for the Academic Excellence Award as part of the admissions decision process. 

Applicants who apply after the Regular Decision deadline will not automatically be considered for the Academic Excellence Award. 

The Academic Excellence Award may be combined with a Need-Based Award, subject to eligibility and the applicable scholarship terms. 

For further information on the Academic Excellence Award, click here. 

Need-Based Awards

*Separate scholarship application required 

Applicants who submit their programme application prior the Regular Decision deadline are welcome to apply for a Need-Based Award. 

Need-Based Awards are assessed on the basis of the applicant’s financial circumstances and the information provided in the separate scholarship application. Awards range from 10% to 25% of tuition fees. 

Awards are not guaranteed and are subject to the availability of scholarship funding. 

Need-Based Awards may be combined with the Academic Excellence Award, subject to eligibility and the applicable scholarship terms. 

Need-Based Scholarship Deadlines 

Early Action Applicants 

Priority Applicants 

Regular Decision Applicants 

Applicants who apply after the Priority deadline but by the Regular Decision deadline may still submit a Need-Based Scholarship application. However, scholarship applications submitted after March 31, 2027 are not guaranteed to be reviewed and will be considered subject to remaining scholarship funding and availability. 

For this reason, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their programme and scholarship applications by the Early Action or Priority deadlines. 

*Scholarship decisions: “By” the stated date means that applicants can expect to receive a scholarship decision on or before that date. Decisions may be communicated earlier. 

Scholarship awards are final. Re-evaluation will only be considered in exceptional circumstances where there has been a significant change in the applicant’s financial circumstances.

The Sotheby’s Institute Scholar Award

Separate scholarship application required 

The Sotheby’s Institute Scholar Award provides one 50% tuition scholarship per programme for Fall 2027. 

Eligibility and Deadlines 

Applicants who submit their programme application by the Early Action deadline are eligible to apply for The Sotheby’s Institute Scholar Award. 

Scholarship decisions are based on a holistic review of: 

• the programme application materials; 

• undergraduate academic transcripts; and 

• the separate scholarship application. 

Awards are not guaranteed. 

As a condition of receiving The Sotheby’s Institute Scholar Award, recipients are required to participate in selected Sotheby’s Institute of Art events and activities during their studies. Further details regarding participation requirements will be provided to successful recipients.

The Sotheby’s Institute Scholar Award cannot be combined with the Academic Excellence Award or a Need-Based Award. 

Postgraduate Master’s Loan

Student Loans Company (SLC) / Student Finance England 

Eligible students may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan through the Student Loans Company (SLC) / Student Finance England (SFE) to help towards the cost of their Master’s degree. 

The loan is intended to contribute towards the overall cost of studying, including tuition fees and living expenses. Eligibility and loan amounts depend on an individual’s circumstances and the rules applicable to the academic year in which the course begins. 

Applicants should review the official GOV.UK guidance and check their individual eligibility before applying. 

Apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan – GOV.UK 

Institution Details 

When completing a Student Finance England application, applicants should search for and select the institution/provider name exactly as it appears in the SFE system. 

Institute of Art London Ltd.
30 Bedford Square
London
WC1B 3EE 

Registered in England No. 3087911 

Sotheby’s Institute of Art – London Master’s Degrees 

The London campus offers the following Master’s programmes: 

• MA in Art Business 

• MA in Contemporary Art 

• MA in Historic Art and Design 

• MA in Luxury Business 

Important Information for Fall 2027 Applicants 

1. Apply through the official Student Finance England/SLC process if you are eligible. 

1. When asked to select your institution/provider, search for Institute of Art London Ltd. 

1. Applicants should check the latest GOV.UK/SFE guidance to confirm eligibility and application requirements for Fall 2027. 

1. Loan eligibility is determined by Student Finance England/SLC and is separate from the admissions process at Sotheby’s Institute of Art. 

After you Apply

Our admissions team will follow up with you regarding any outstanding documentation or required information.

If you receive an offer, a non-refundable deposit is required within 21 days to secure your place.

Term Dates

2027/2028 Academic Calendar

Visas

We provide guidance and support to incoming students through the CAS request and Student Route Visa application process.

The section is for applicants to the London campus who require a student visa to study in the United Kingdom. The Student Route Visa is the appropriate immigration permission for full time study. The Student Route applies to EU/EEA nationals who do not have settlement rights under the EU Settlement Scheme. 

Please note the Home Office change immigration rules and requirements regularly. Whilst we aim to ensure that the information contained in these pages is kept up to date there may be times when this is not the case. Please do not rely on these pages alone. Check the Home Office for all the latest immigration updates and information. For information and guidance about how to apply for a student visa click here.

Where there are delays in obtaining your UK student visa, we will assess your situation on a case-by-case basis, to determine whether you are still able to join the program.

Applicants are encouraged to contact our Visa Compliance team at visa.compliance@sothebysinstitute.com to discuss visa requirements. 

The Institute of Art London (your Student Visa Sponsor) and the Agent Quality Framework (AQF)

We have signed the AQF pledge as a symbol of our commitment to the best practices of recruiting international students. Read the UK International Education Sector’s Pledge (PDF). The AQF has been designed to enhance the partnership between the UK education sector and international agents by providing resources, tools and the industry’s best practice advice on how to successfully recruit and support international students, planning to study in the UK. As part of AQF we only work with a network of vetted and appropriately qualified approved agents (all trained by the British Council) to ensure our applicants receive professional and competent guidance, ethical advice and knowledge regarding their options of studying in the UK.

Resources and Information

If you are an international student and are considering working with an overseas agent to apply, you may find the resources and information below helpful:

• Applicant and parent guide to applying
• Identify our official agents and the regions they cover here.
• The Pledge we (and our agents) have signed in line with Visa sponsor responsibilities

Reporting an agent: If you are an international student and received unsatisfactory services from your representative whilst applying to us, you can share your feedback and report your experiences by contacting visa.compliance@edconic.com.

We have a commercial relationship with our network of education agents. A placement fee is paid to overseas representatives, who successfully refer international students to us.

Contact Us

Some of your questions may be answered in the frequently asked questions section of our website. If you do not see your question, please do not hesitate to contact us at admissions@sia.edu.