Master's Program Online

Click here for program specific information.

You will be assessed through coursework, which will typically include essays, individual and group presentations, projects, and written exams.

All assessment remains the same as other years according to our accrediting body and internal academic standards, whether work is done in-person, virtually, or as a hybrid experience.

All grading is via a conventional grading system. Each program requires the completion of the capstone (Thesis or Master’s Project) in the third semester for graduation with an MA degree.

Yes, all students are assigned an academic advisor according to their program and intended focus of study. You will be able to connect with your academic advisor individually and in small-group sessions.

The Sotheby’s Institute Library extensive electronic resources and full stacks are available via in-house scanning services and library curbside pickup as well as designated onsite reading room reservation days.

The Sotheby’s Institute Head Librarian and Reference Librarians also provide online, bespoke research support five days a week for MA student research needs.

Online resources include: 100+ databases of full-text articles, scholarly journals, and reference sources (e.g. JSTOR, ProQuest suite, etc.), industry standard art business resources (Artnet, ArtPrice, ArtTactic, ArtBnk, and more), 100,000+ ebooks, and access to past MA student theses and master’s projects.

Sotheby’s Institute of Art-New York is accredited by NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art and Design) and NASAD has confirmed that remote instruction does not alter the validity of the New York MA degree.

To begin the online application, please click here.

To be eligible for admission, applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution. Applicants currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete all coursework and graduation requirements before enrollment.

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.

The MA Art Business (Online) is open to Domestic and International Students. To be eligible for admission, applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution.

Applicants currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree are welcome to apply. Please see the Admissions Requirements tab for further details. We welcome applicants from a range of academic and professional backgrounds.

US Residents:

At this time, we are able to offer online programs to U.S. residents with permanent residency in the following states:

MA Art Business

• Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington

MA Luxury Business

• Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington

If your state is not listed, please reach out to us at admissions@sia.edu.

Students who relocate while enrolled in the Online MA may be unable to complete their studies if they relocate to a state not listed above.

Current and prospective students should contact Admissions to discuss how relocation could alter their eligibility to continue in the program.

International Students:

International students are advised to research whether their home country will accept fully online degrees before applying to the online MA.

We welcome applicants from a range of academic backgrounds. Where an applicant to one of our programs (excluding MA Luxury Business) does not have a prior 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 enrollment.

To contact the New York admissions team, please email admissions@sia.edu.

If you wish to apply to multiple programs, or to both the London and New York campuses, you will need to use a different email address for each application.

While we can process multiple applications simultaneously, it will only be possible to deposit and secure a place for one program.

Applicants cannot secure a place on a program at both the London and New York campuses. We strongly advise applicants to only submit one application and request a change in campus or program should they wish to.

Should you want to know the status of your application, please login to your applicant portal or email admissions@sia.edu.

If you would like to change your program application, prior to the release of decision, please email admissions@sia.edu.

If you have already been offered a place on a different program, and will like to transfer, you will need to provide an updated personal statement and may need to attend a second academic interview before a decision is released.

Applicants will be asked to upload the contact information for two references during the application process.

References will receive a link to our online reference form upon application submission. Please note that letters of recommendation must be submitted directly from the reference. If there are any questions or concerns, please reach out to admissions@sia.edu.

Please email admissions@sia.edu.

We accept a range of English Language proficiency exams, the accepted exams and minimum score requirements are detailed below:

Duolingo English Test – 130

IELTS – 7

TOEFL – 5

Please note: IELTS and TOEFL scores are only valid for two years after the date of your exam.

In the application process, you will be prompted to provide proof of meeting this requirement. In some cases, an English Language Requirement Waiver may be granted.

This will be reviewed in tandem with your application. You may request an English Language Requirement Waiver if:

• Your undergraduate or graduate degree is from a country where English is the national language and English was the primary language of instruction
• Your undergraduate or graduate degree is from an institution where the degree was taught entirely in the English language.
  • You must provide documentation stating this from the institution
• You have extensive English-speaking professional experience

Please note that requesting an English Language Requirement Waiver does not automatically grant the waiver. This will be reviewed with your application materials.

• Prior to enrolling, transcripts for undergraduate degrees received outside of the U.S. and U.K. must be accompanied by a certified course-by-course credential evaluation. The evaluation will convert the grades and GPA into the United States grading scale. Please view the list of accepted providers below:
  • International Education Evaluation (IEE)
• All transcripts for graduate degrees, regardless of the institution’s country, can be sent directly from the institution to admissions@sia.edu. Postgraduate transcripts do not need to be accompanied by a course-by-course evaluation.

Submitted application, please send a scanned version to admissions@sia.edu.

Accepted students will receive a decision and deposit deadline in their acceptance letter. The plan will be confirmed upon the receipt of a non-refundable tuition deposit of $1,500.

Should circumstances mean that you are no longer able to attend after securing the place, we ask you to inform the Admissions Team by email at admissions@sia.edu.

If you do not secure your place by the decision deadline or advise the Admissions Team of any circumstance which has caused a delay to the decision, your place may not be able to be held.

After you have submitted your deposit, you will receive access to MySIA, the online portal for admitted students.

In MySIA, you will complete the information needed to issue you an I-20 for the F-1 student visa application. Instructions on how to apply for a student visa will be provided with your form I-20. You will also find instructions on how to complete health and immunization forms.

Please note: Student Services begins processing I-20 forms 4-6 months prior to the program start.

For the most up-to-date information regarding studying in the United States as a student, please visit the Study in the States website: https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students. You should also feel free to contact Student Services with any questions or concerns at studentservices@sia.edu.

Yes, we participate in Title IV Financial Aid Program.
For more information on FAFSA please visit https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

If you have any additional questions about student loans and financial assistance, please reach out to the admissions team at admissions@sia.edu.

Sotheby’s Institute of Art offers partial-tuition scholarships to qualified domestic and international candidates. You can learn more about the process and deadlines here.