Course description
Cultivate an in-depth awareness of the ever-changing business of luxury and its cultural settings.
Luxury isn’t what it used to be. Shifts in consumer values, buying power, access, and technology are shaping an innovative and dynamic luxury market. The Sotheby’s Institute MA in Luxury Business examines this sophisticated industry as it is diversifying and expanding, and explores synergies with other industries and cultural landscapes, such as the art world. The program also responds to a more general trend in the high-end cultural and creative industry to synergize, break barriers, and find original ways of engaging with markets and audiences on a wider scale. MA in Luxury Business uniquely develops a customer-centric perspective on luxury, including elements of design thinking and experience design.
Students will examine luxury’s social, historical, and cultural evolution. They will critically reflect on how luxury businesses deliver value to their markets through specific branding and marketing strategies. They will become familiar with the sectors of the industry and its players, and with the financial, legal, and strategic elements of business management in luxury. They will also consider intersections with other high-value cultural industries, particularly art. Graduates of this program 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. Download the Master’s prospectus.
Upcoming start dates
Training Course Content
The Master’s degree is awarded for 120 taught credits across two semesters, as well as the completion of a 60-credit dissertation over the course of an additional semester.
The first two semesters are intensively taught on four (occasionally five) days per week. During the program, specialist electives can be chosen from across all Institute Master’s programs, allowing a student to build a personalized Master’s profile. Students take two 15-credit electives across a variety of offerings for deeper expertise or to develop specialties.
The three units for this program are Luxury in Context: introduces the students to the concept of luxury and its historical development, The Luxury Market: explores consumer behavior in luxury, and Managing a Luxury Business: emphasizes the structure and operations of the luxury business.
Course delivery details
The Master’s degree is awarded for 120 taught credits across two semesters, as well as the completion of a 60-credit dissertation over the course of an additional semester.
The first two semesters are intensively taught on four (occasionally five) days per week. During the program, specialist electives can be chosen from across all Institute Master’s programs, allowing a student to build a personalized Master’s profile. Students take two 15-credit electives across a variety of offerings for deeper expertise or to develop specialties.
The three units for this program are Luxury in Context: introduces the students to the concept of luxury and its historical development, The Luxury Market: explores consumer behavior in luxury, and Managing a Luxury Business: emphasizes the structure and operations of the luxury business.
Expenses
Note: Fees are subject to annual review
Home*
- Semester 1: £10,000 (includes deposit of £3,000.00) plus travel fee (see below)
- Semester 2: £9,960
- Semester 3: £4,990
International
- Semester 1: £16,000 (includes deposit of £3,000) plus travel fee (see below)
- Semester 2: £15,970
- Semester 3: £8,000
*Circumstances that may entitle you to a “home” fee status include:
- you have settled or pre-settled status under the UK’s EU Settlement Scheme
- you are from the Republic of Ireland and living in the UK prior to December 31, 2020
- you are British but live in the EU
- you hold dual citizenship with the UK and live in the UK
Travel Fee: £3,100
Travel fees are mandatory. They cover all mandatory study trips outside of London, including transportation from the departure hub (airport or train station) to the destination, and all transportation, entry tickets and 3 or 4 star accommodation at the destination during the trip. Where the accommodation includes breakfast, this is covered by the fee. Otherwise all expenses for meals and other costs are the responsibility of the student.
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Sotheby's Institute of Art
Sotheby’s auction house was founded in 1744 when Samuel Baker, an entrepreneur, occasional publisher, and successful businessman held his first auction. Today at Sotheby’s Institute, we emphasize a keen understanding of an object’s value and history, a spirit of inquiry...