Welcome to Sotheby’s Institute of Art Gap Year!
We are really looking forward to meeting you in London. Before the start of term, please:
1. Review our Student Handbook (coming soon) and the information below.
2. Complete the Program Form. Students must complete this form before the start of term.
Pre-Departure Orientation
If you were unable to attend our virtual pre-departure orientation, you may watch a recording here.
Program Overview
During your program you’ll be guided and nurtured on a journey that opens doors to people, places and ideas that will inspire you, challenge you, even amaze you, and always help you to reflect on the world and your role within it. You’ll emerge with an understanding of the creative and cultural sectors, the people and professionals that drive them, and a wealth of skills in preparation for your future studies or career. Each week, you will be immersed in a new art world topic:
Session 1
- Week 1 (Week of Sep 12): Orientation and London Exploration
- Week 2 (Week of Sep 17): Luxury and Fashion including Feminism
- Week 3 (Week of Sep 26): Museums and Galleries including Design
- Week 4 (Week of Oct 3): Art & (Edinburgh trip)
- Week 5 (Week of Oct 10): Project Week suggested groups Curation / Public Programming / Tailoring / Art Review
- Week 6 (Week of Oct 17): The Power To Create: Art and Business
Break (Week of Oct 24). If you are staying for the full 12-week program, you may remain in student accommodation during the break.
Session 2
- Week 7 (Week of Oct 31): Orientation and London Exploration
- Week 8 (Week of Nov 7): Branding, Marketing PR and Comms including Digital Art and Entertainment
- Week 9 (Week of Nov 14): Contemporary Art and Design including Artists and Communities as well as Architecture
- Week 10 (Week of 21 Nov): Project Week
- Week 11 (Week of Nov 28): Art & (Paris / Venice trip)
- Week 12 (Week of Dec 5): The Power To Create: Curation (Paris / Venice trip)
Covid 19 Health & Safety
London Campus COVID-19 Health & Safety Resources (regularly updated)
Before Your Travel to England
Travelers no longer need to complete a UK passenger locator form, take any COVID-19 tests or quarantine before arriving in England. However, these rules are constantly updated, in light of changing scientific advice. We recommend checking the rules that apply to your home nation before you depart:
Arrivals & Departures
Sotheby’s Institute of Art- London (SIAL) Gap Year students will live at iQ Highbury (201 Isledon Rd, Finsbury Park, London N7 7JR).
Students may move in between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the first Monday of their session (Sept 12 for Session 1; Oct 31 for Session 2). Students must complete move-in before 5:00 p.m. A welcome dinner will be provided that evening. You are welcome to arrive in London earlier and make contact with us, but access to the residence is only permitted from the dates and times stated.
Students may depart at any time before 10:00 a.m. during the final Friday of their session (Oct 21 for Session 1. Dec 9 for session 2). Please note: for Session 2, the last day in iQ Highbury will be November 28 as we will be departing on on the program trip on this date. During the trip, luggage storage will be provided if required. Students will return to London from the trip in time for the Dec 9 departure.
Air Travel
Our student accommodation is accessible from all major airports in the Greater London area: London City, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, and London Stansted. Taxi service and ride sharing services (Uber, Bolt, etc.) are available from all airports. Additional information about airport transportation and other forms of public transportation is available online through the airport website or Visit London, including any train or coach connections to the city centre.
Travel Visas
Depending on your country of origin, you may not require a visa to participate in Gap Year London. Generally, the Standard Visitor visa may be the most appropriate visa to use to participate in the program; however, we strongly encourage international students to contact their country of origin’s embassy/government office to confirm. We also encourage international students to visit the UK Government Visa website for additional details. The Institute can provide letters of verification upon request. To request a verification letter, please email precollege@sia.edu.
Student Life
Accommodation
Students will be staying at iQ Highbury 201 Isledon Road, London N7 7JR, managed by our trusted accommodation provider IQ, and located in Finsbury Park. This prime location offers easy access to Sotheby's institute, Central London, Shoreditch and the West End.
Each apartment is single occupancy with its own bathroom and will have access to a shared Kitchen and open plan lounge/dining area and fully equipped including utensils, cutlery, crockery. You can also make use of the building’s social areas, including a gym, Zen Garden, cinema, games room and lounge.
If you have any concerns or accessibility requirements regarding room allocation, please indicate this in the Program Form.
The Residential Life Coordinators provided by Sotheby's institute will also reside at iQ Highbury and will be on call for any student concerns or emergencies. Students will be provided with a phone number which they can use to contact the Residential Life Coordinators 24 hours a day.
In addition, iQ Highbury will have staff on hand in the reception area, who will be the first point of call for any issues within the hall of residence. The site will be staffed 24 hours a day, iQ Highbury also provides a Duty Manager available on a mobile telephone, 7 days a week, who can be contacted if and when the need arises.
Accommodation services include:
- All utilities including gas, electricity, council tax, WIFI, water rates, sewer charges, and any other utility or service
- Provision of bed linen for each student
- Full maintenance cover to include but not limited to plumbing, heating, electrical appliances and fixtures
- Regular treatment for pest control
- 24-hour emergency cover – onsite manager
- Washer/dryer
- Cinema Room
- Bike storage
- Entertainment area/Room
- Gym
- Reception
- Elevators
- Library/Study area
- Communal Laundry (card operated)
- CCTC/ Surveillance Cameras
- Maintenance team (Daytime only)
- Controlled Access Gate (24 hours)
Meals
Students will be responsible for their own meals throughout the week. SIAL will provide one weekly dinner or lunch, usually with special guests. SIAL will make every reasonable effort to meet the dietary requirements of students for any meals provided. Please ensure you notify SIAL of these using the Program Form, via the link at the top of this page.
Shared kitchens are within each student apartment and are equipped for the use of students to cook for themselves and entertain their peers. Students will also be able to attend a cookery class during orientation week to help inspire their culinary choices.
Expenses
As a guideline, we would suggest that student's budget approximately £250 - £280 per week for food, drinks and additional spending money including weekend activities.
Travel in London and the UK
Students will travel to locations within London using Transport for London (TfL) services. Students will be provided with an Oystercard which allows unlimited travel on public transport within zones 1 and 2 (Central London) for the duration of the program, which will provide access to travel in the city during their stay in London.
Lost or damaged passes will be replaced at the student’s cost.
Travel costs for UK and overseas field trips are also included, per the program schedule. Some optional and extracurricular trips may be offered that incur modest additional travel costs.
Provisions
SIAL welcomes requests for student provisions (academic, personal, or other) from students using the Program Form. We ask that students submit requests and other important information that may affect student experience in the Gap Year Program Form as early as possible in order to provide us with sufficient time to make any necessary arrangements, and ensure that all students have a fulfilling, enjoyable and safe experience.
*We encourage students to disclose and mental or physical health conditions or concerns as soon as possible, so we can ensure that necessary provisions are in place before the program begins.
Communication
Please note that SIAL staff are unable to divulge any information about students without their written permission. Parents are strongly advised to discuss this with students before the start of the program and encourage them to complete the Consent Form.
Where consent has been given, the main phone line available for parent/guardian(s) goes directly to the Residential Life Coordinators. This number will be provided closer to the start of the program. SIAL will primarily communicate with parent/guardian(s) through email. Please be diligent about checking and reading emails from the program.
Some students might feel homesick at the start of the program, and they may need a few days to adjust to the new surroundings and routines. Residential Life Coordinators will be especially attentive to the needs of students at the start of the program. Once settled in, students typically become fully engaged in the program and calls home may become less frequent. We suggest establishing reasonable communication expectations between parent/guardian(s) and students before the start of the program.
Packing List
What to Bring
- Clothing: light and cool casual summer clothing, jacket or sweatshirt, raincoat, sandals, comfortable walking shoes, a set of nicer, professional clothes
- Weather gear: sunscreen, sunglasses, umbrella, reusable water bottle
- Academic supplies: laptop, notebook or journal
- Personal electronics: smart phone, camera, alarm clock, headphones, etc.
- Personal items: toiletries, towel, hair dryer, etc.
- Passport and copy of health insurance details
- Spending money
*Students should bring clothing that is smart casual and appropriate for class site visits to offices and workspaces (comfortable, but presentable). Formal wear is not necessary for Gap Year (dress clothes, dresses/gowns, suits and ties, dress shoes, sports jackets, etc.) but students may wish to bring a few smarter pieces for graduation and evening meals.
What NOT to Bring:
- Students may not bring flammable materials, including but not limited to candles, incense, matches, lighters, explosive devices or fireworks. Violators of this policy will be subject to immediate dismissal.
- Students are not allowed to bring weapons of any kind, including but not limited to knives, firearms, paintball guns, laser pointers, pepper spray or other dangerous items. Violators of this policy will be subject to immediate dismissal.
- Students are not allowed to use or possess drugs or unauthorized medications. Violators of this policy will be subject to immediate dismissal.
- Students may not bring pets except for licensed service animals.
- Students may not bring kitchen appliances, such as toaster ovens or hot plates.
- Students may not bring drones or any other motorized objects.
- We recommend that students not bring any valuables; SIAL does not take responsibility for lost, damaged or stolen items.
Questions?
We look forward to providing you with a truly rewarding learning experience this summer. If you have any questions as the program approaches, please feel free to contact us at gap@sia.edu.