For students applying to postgraduate art programmes, prestige is rarely enough. The sharper question is whether the course structure, culture and professional access match their ambitions.
Angelina received offers from both The Courtauld and Sotheby’s Institute of Art. Both offers sat within Art Business-related MA study. She was not simply choosing between two respected London institutions. She was choosing between two models of art education.
In her view, The Courtauld offered a more academic, historically grounded route. Sotheby’s felt closer to the commercial and professional art world.
That distinction matters. An MA in Art Business is not only a qualification. It gives students a way into a field where taste, trust, language, contacts and institutional fluency carry weight. The application therefore has to do more than list experience. It has to show that the applicant understands the world they want to enter.
Angelina came to Cadmium for support with her postgraduate applications and personal statements. These included The Courtauld, Sotheby’s Institute of Art and related Art and Business programmes. Together, we worked on structure, emphasis and phrasing.
The task was not to make the writing sound polished for its own sake. It was to make her experience read as direction. Her BA at King’s College London, international background, language skills, and gallery and auction house experience all mattered. The application needed to show how those elements belonged together.
Angelina has since accepted her place at Sotheby’s Institute of Art. She now receives first-class marks on her essays. In the interview below, she discusses why Sotheby’s felt like the right fit. She also reflects on applying as an international student, and on the small decisions that shape how admissions teams read an MA Art Business candidate.
Inside the MA in Art Business at Sotheby’s Institute
Cadmium: First off – congratulations on receiving offers from both The Courtauld and Sotheby’s Institute for their MA in Art Business Programme! What did you understand about the difference between those institutions at the point of decision, and what made one the stronger fit for you?
Angelina: Thank you! Both programmes are highly respected, but they felt quite different in practice. The Courtauld is very traditional and rooted in art history and academic study, whereas Sotheby’s Institute felt far more dynamic and hands-on. That energy and practical focus made it a stronger fit for me.
Cadmium: Before applying, how would you have described your long-term ambitions in the art world? Have those ambitions changed since starting at Sotheby’s?
Angelina: I have always been fascinated by the major auction houses like Sotheby’s, Christie’s and the business side of art more broadly. What drew me to it is how personal it is. You are having real conversations about aesthetics, meeting extraordinary artists and collectors, and building genuine relationships.
Cadmium: Why did Sotheby’s feel better aligned with that ambition than The Courtauld? Do you feel like they help give you access to professional opportunities that would be harder to find elsewhere?
Angelina: Sotheby’s Institute is very hands-on. There are talks by leading figures in the field, visits to galleries and fairs, and international trips to Amsterdam (TEFAF), Turin, and Venice (Biennale). Students also have access to a “work elective”, meaning that more than 20 companies come to the institute with an internship offer that you can combine with your studies.
Cadmium: How has studying there changed the way you understand the relationship between art, business, institutions, and professional opportunity?
Angelina: It’s shown me how interconnected everything is, and that the art world runs on relationships, trust, and taste as much as it does on commerce. Being inside that world, even as a student, gives you a very different understanding than reading about it from the outside. Also, the Sotheby’s Institute always pushes me out of my comfort zone, which is how you grow and learn as a student.
Cadmium: How is the MA in Art Business programme structured?
Angelina: It’s a balance of seminars, guest lectures, visits and trips. It is much more experiential than a traditional MA, you’re constantly moving between the classroom and the field, which keeps it engaging and directly relevant to the industry. Also, the modules are very broad and useful such as Art Law, Art Finance, Authentication and Professional Practice.
Cadmium: What is the atmosphere at Sotheby’s like day to day? Do you spend much time on campus?
Angelina: It’s very dynamic. You are surrounded by people who are genuinely passionate about art and its place in the world, and there’s a real sense that you’re being prepared for the industry.
The MA Art Business Application Process
Cadmium: You came to us for help with writing your applications for both MA programmes. What specifically changed in how you approached writing the application after feedback? Not just edits, but how you thought about what the application and personal statement needed to do.
Angelina: India helped me with structure and planning, and she understood what the universities actually wanted to hear from me. Beyond editing, she helped me frame my own experiences more clearly and find the right phrasing, which made a real difference when English isn’t your first language.
Cadmium: What do you think made your application stand out compared to others?
Angelina: I think it was the combination of my BA at King’s College and industry experience. As I have had internships at Sotheby’s, a modern British gallery, and an emerging American gallery in London. That range showed I wasn’t just interested in the theory, but that I had already been working in the sector.
Cadmium: As a French-speaking Swiss national, did you notice a difference in the application process for London Art Schools compared to Internationally? What are they?
Angelina: The UK application process can feel very overwhelming, especially from abroad. There are specific expectations and conventions that aren’t always obvious if you haven’t grown up with them. Having India guide me through that made it much more manageable.
Cadmium: Do you find London to be welcoming towards international students?
Angelina: Yes, London is such an international city that you rarely feel out of place. And the art world in particular is very global in its outlook.
Cadmium: While making your application, what part of your background or experience did you realise was most important to foreground in the application?
Angelina: My work experience as well as my international background. Speaking 5 languages has definitely helped me a lot.
Advice for Future MA Art Business Applicants
Cadmium: Finally, what advice would you give to students considering applying for an MA in Art Business at either The Courthauld Institute or Sotheby’s?
Angelina: Do your research and understand what makes each programme genuinely different. Don’t just apply to universities because they’re prestigious. And if you can, work with a tutor who knows the process. The little things really do matter, and it’s much easier to navigate with someone in your corner.
Cadmium: Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Angelina: Just that I am very grateful to India for her support throughout the process. Getting offers from both The Courtauld and Sotheby’s Institute was a dream outcome, and I genuinely don’t think I would have this outcome without her help.
Applying for an MA in Art Business?
A strong MA Art Business application has to do more than show interest in galleries, auction houses or the art market. It needs to make your academic background, professional experience and long-term direction read clearly to admissions teams.
Cadmium offers online-first, artist-led application mentorship for students applying to Sotheby’s Institute of Art, The Courtauld and other competitive art, art business and history of art programmes.
Explore our Portfolio & Application Mentorship if you are preparing a competitive art school or art business application, or our Writing & Research Mentorship if your personal statement, research proposal or academic writing needs clearer structure, sharper argument and stronger institutional framing. Not sure which mentorship path is best for you? Book a free 15 minute consultation.