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:
- Review our Student Handbook and the information below.
- Complete the Program Form. Students must complete this form before the start of term.
Pre-Departure Orientation
Join us on Monday, August 24 at 5:00pm BST / 12:00pm EDT for a virtual pre-departure orientation that will provide additional information to help you prepare for your time in the program. Zoom details coming soon.
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 Orientation and London Exploration
- Week 2 Luxury and Fashion
- Week 3 Art and Institutions
- Week 4 Study Trip to Edinburgh, Scotland
- Week 5 Project Week
- Week 6 Working in the Creative World - reflections and approaches
If you are staying for the full 12-week program, you may remain in student accommodation during the break.
Session 2
- Week 7 Orientation and London Exploration
- Week 8 Art & Business
- Week 9 Study trip to Venice, Italy
- Week 10 Project Week
- Week 11 Study trip to Paris, France
- Week 12 Creative careers - diverse practices and pathways
Covid 19 Health & Safety
London Campus COVID-19 Health & Safety Resources (regularly updated)
While Sotheby’s Institute of Art – London does not require students to be fully vaccinated for Covid-19, it is strongly encouraged. It is also important to note other European countries may have vaccination entry requirements, including being up to date on boosters. It is your responsibility to research and comply with the Covid-19 restrictions and vaccination requirements related to any personal travel.
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
Students may move in between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the first Monday of their session (September 11 for Session 1; October 30 for Session 2).
Students must complete move-in before 5:00 p.m., as 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.
Your arrival day is open so you can familiarise yourself with the area, buy groceries and other necessities, and settle into your London home. That evening you will meet the other students in your program at a Residence Welcome Meeting / dinner, conducted by your live-in Residence Life Coordinators.
Students may depart at any time before 11:00 a.m. during the final Friday of their session (October 20 for Session 1, December 8 for session 2).
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 Herbal Hill Gardens, a student residence managed by AES.
This prime location is a 25-minute walk, or 15 minutes by public transport, to Sotheby’s Institute, The British Museum and to London’s West End.
The building is in the bustling and vibrant area of Farringdon. Within walking distance, you will find numerous restaurants, grocery stores and wonderful food markets.
Within a 20-minute walk you will also find St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Charles Dickens Museum, and the Foundling Museum.
Your address
AES Farringdon,
Herbal Hill Gardens,
9 Herbal Hill,
London,
United Kingdom,
EC1R 5XB
Your apartment
You will be living in shared apartments, with 2 or 3 other students from our programme. Bedrooms will sleep a maximum of 2 people (2 x single beds), so you will have one roommate. Bedding is provided, as is one towel per student.
In your apartment you will have an open plan living / dining area (with sofas, a table and chairs and a TV), and a well-equipped kitchen (including a washing machine, fridge, dishwasher, cooker plus pans, crockery, cutlery etc)
Each apartment also has either one or two bathrooms / shower rooms.
The building
You will also have access to the following shared / common spaces:
The apartment building will be home to other international students hosted via AES, as well as other residents.
Gym
Located in the basement, a small basic gym is equipped with cardio and weights and is available to use at no extra charge.
Swimming pool
A small swimming pool, also located in the basement, is available to use at no extra charge, subject to rules of use.
Onsite staff
Residence life co-ordinators, provided by Sotheby’s Institute of Art, will be living in the building and will be on call for any student emergencies.
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 and one towel for each student
- Full maintenance cover to include but not limited to plumbing, heating, electrical appliances and fixtures
- Light weekly clean of each flat
For further information, please see https://angloeducational.com/apartments/aes-farringdon/
If you have any concerns or accessibility requirements regarding room allocation, please indicate this in the Program Form.
Meals
Students will be responsible for their own meals throughout the week. SIAL will provide weekly dinners or lunches throughout the programme. 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 the programme to help inspire their culinary choices.
Expenses
As a guideline, we would suggest that student's budget approximately £270 - £300 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: The weather will vary greatly in London from September to December. We recommend you therefore pack some items for most weather including jacket or sweatshirt, raincoat, winter coat, comfortable walking shoes, a set of nicer, professional clothes.
- Weather gear: sunglasses, umbrella, reusable water bottle
- Academic supplies: laptop, notebook or journal
- Personal electronics: smart phone, camera, alarm clock, headphones, etc.
- Personal items: toiletries, towels, 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 events / 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.