Master’s Degree

MA in Luxury Business

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Date
Fall 2026
Duration
1+ Year
Location
New York
Program
Master’s Degree
Mode of Learning
In-Person
Language
English
Topic
Luxury
Contact Admissions

+1 212-517-3929 admissions@sia.edu

Delve into the luxury business in New York, the global hub of commerce, creativity, and culture.

More than just a business, luxury is a language, a value proposition that encompasses a wealth of fields—from fashion and beauty to hospitality and technology. In this program, students will become fluent in its many iterations, thanks to rigorous coursework, exclusive seminars, and regular interactions with expert faculty and guest speakers from the leading luxury concerns in New York City. 

As the global hub of commerce, creativity, and culture, New York is the ultimate classroom for the study of luxury. Home to the exceptional flagship stores and business headquarters for renowned brands and conglomerates, the city is a laboratory for studying the strategies, operations, and innovations currently shaping the sector. Within this rich environment, the Sotheby’s Institute MA program offers a distinctive focus on the growing intersection of art and luxury, illuminating the creative impulses as well as the business strategies at work. 

Designed for ambitious graduates, entrepreneurs, and professionals seeking to advance or pivot their careers, the MA in Luxury Business offers an immersive education that bridges business acumen with cultural fluency, equipping graduates to excel in a fast-moving global market.

Highlights

Cultural Context

The program delves deep into the cultural, historical, and creative dimensions of luxury, fostering a nuanced understanding that sets graduates apart in the industry.

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.

First-hand Insight

Students gain a deep understanding of how luxury is created and experienced across different contexts, learning directly from industry practices and case studies.

Next Steps

Faculty

Program Director, MA in Luxury Business, New York

Mary Davis is a historian and educator specializing in fashion and its relationship to art and commerce. In a wide-ranging career, she has held positions as a professor and dean as well as posts with the President’s Commission on Organized Crime and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. She is currently a member of the Capstone Faculty at the Jackson School of Global Affairs and a Faculty Affiliate at the Center for Business and the Environment at Yale University.

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Adjunct Faculty, MA in Luxury Business, New York and Online

Elizabeth Chase is a decorative arts and design historian, educator, and advisor with over twenty years of experience working across museums, universities, auction houses, and the private market in the U.S. and Europe.

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Adjunct Faculty, MA in Luxury Business, New York

Jeppe Ugelvig is a curator, historian, and critic based in New York City. A specialist in the history of art’s intermingling with fashion and consumer culture, he is the author of two books: Fashion Work (2020) and Commodity Ecumene (2024) and numerous articles.

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Adjunct Faculty, MA in Luxury Business, New York

With 15+ years of experience in global marketing, strategy, innovation, and communications, Christie Sclater drives value for the world’s leading brands. A dynamic and purpose-driven executive, Christie employs her robust skillset to both set vision and implement strategy.

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Adjunct Professor, MA in Luxury Business, New York

Michelle Perlin is a brand strategy and external affairs leader specialized in the global arts and culture sector. She currently serves as the Director of Communications and Creative Strategy at Neue Galerie New York.

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Adjunct Faculty of MA in Luxury Business, New York

Leslie Camhi is an essayist whose writings on design, art, literature, and women's lives, including her own life and travels, appear regularly in numerous publications.

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Featured

Career Pathways

MA Luxury Business graduates will contribute to a growing area of expertise in the global luxury market and will be proficient in navigating both the business and the creative side of the field.

Every luxury company of renown has flagships located in New York, including Hermès, Chanel, Rolex, BMW, Cartier, Gucci, Tiffany & Co., LVMH, and Richemont, validation that Manhattan is the best luxury corporate environment for today’s young professional.

The Defining Frameworks of Luxury

Dr Mary Davis, Program Director for MA in Luxury Business, discusses Paul Poiret (1879-1944), the French fashion designer, perfumer, and entrepreneur renowned for pioneering innovative designs for women in the early 20th century.

Press play to discover the many facets of luxury and art history in our video series.

Details

Admissions

View admissions information.

Academic Structure

The Master’s degree is awarded for 36 credit hours. Students take 30 credits across semesters one and two and complete a 6-credit thesis or capstone project in the third semester. 

The program includes two intensive European field studies, in Milan and Paris, which will provide immersive experiences in the ateliers, innovation hubs, showrooms, and cultural sites that converge to create luxury products and experiences. Students will have behind-the-scenes access to the many leaders driving creativity, technology, innovation, and business strategy in the sector.   

View required courses and electives in our Master’s New York Catalog here. 

Tuition and Fees

Fall 2026 Entry

Semester 1: $30,200
Semester 2: $30,200
Semester 3: $15,100
Total tuition and fees: $75,500

Tuition includes participation in the field study component.

For more information on scholarships, financial aid, tuition, and program fees, click here.

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.

Accreditation

Sotheby’s Institute of Art-NY holds permanent degree-granting authority from the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York and is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

Sotheby’s Industry Fellowship

The Industry Fellowship offers a number of MA students in New York direct access to paid, professional work experience at Sotheby’s while earning academic credit. Sotheby’s Fellows work alongside experts across key departments at the auction house such as Prints & Photos, Restitution, Valuations, American Art, and Latin American Art, gaining hands-on experience, contributing to real world projects, and receiving insider exposure to how the global art and luxury market operates.

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Career Services

MA students are supported by our Global Career Services team, offering personalized guidance, professional development, and direct connections to employers. From internships to long‑term roles across the art and luxury sectors, they help you take your next step with confidence.

Explore Career Support

Mary Davis on Teaching the Language of Luxury

“It’s the only MA program in New York devoted exclusively to luxury, with a faculty comprised of leading scholars in the field and executives with extensive experience in the industry,” says Mary Davis, Program Director of the MA in Luxury Business (New York and online). In today’s evolving luxury landscape, brands are reaching beyond their traditional spheres to forge deeper connections with art, culture, and design.

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Student Spotlight

MA in Luxury Business alumna Maria Poo Alvarez reflects on her career shift from fashion PR to luxury event production and how her Sotheby’s Institute education gave her the tools to create personalized, culturally nuanced experiences.

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Living in New York City

Located in the center of Manhattan, the Institute’s New York campus offers easy access to the city’s extraordinary cultural and historical resources. First-hand encounters with artwork, exhibition spaces, and the people who run them are an integral part of the learning experience and a key aspect of the program.

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