PGDip Materials Science

Overall score

I had completed an undergraduate Art History degree before enrolling in the masters in Fine and Decorative Art at Sotheby's Institute of Art, London. I found that the standard was significantly lower than what I had experienced at university in that the majority of students did not come from a strong background in art history. Many were communication majors, English, business or even science- basically any graduates who desired a "career change". In fact, in order to gain entry into the course you need 1) a degree (any kind) and 2) close to 20,000 pounds. As a result most lacked sound analytical and research skills.

Study experience

The lectures were very much targeted towards people who had no background of art history and could be compared with first year level university lectures. Contrary to all university masters degrees in art history however, there was no mandatory reading as the philosophy of the course is centered upon "object-based learning". However, this approach to art history when not supported by the study of an object's historical, aesthetic, cultural and political contexts is fairly useless. The course also claims to focus on techniques and materials, and while there is certainly value in learning from this perspective the course does not in the end teach you much more than how to identify a few different woods and that tempera paint dries at a faster rate than oil paint.

Facilities

The Institute is small and limited, not that well set up for students. The library was small and you had to rely on the Art Library at the V&A and the British Library for most of your research. There are not enough computers.

Postgraduate life

No postgraduate life really. Close friends keep in touch.

Job prospects

It claims to prepare you for auction house careers and other commercial art careers. Sotheby's auction house reserves (in 2008-09) 30 places for students (in all departments not just Fine and Decorative Art) to work as interns for 3 months, full time (including lots of overtime) and unpaid (transport and lunch expenses are not covered). This significantly narrows down the amount of people who are able to apply as only a minority can afford to live in London unpaid for 3 months with no guarantee of a job at the end (paid positions come up very seldom) and then if you are an international student (of which most in the course are) there is the additional problem of visas. While the course and the internship does certainly give you a decent chance to land yourself a paid full time job in the commercial art sector, the whole endeavour is expensive and quite frankly commercial art professionals, such as auction house experts, do not earn substantial amounts contrary to popular belief (you will earn more being an art history professor). Of the students in my class those who could afford to do the internship did, those who couldn't looked for months for paid work in the arts and most did not succeed (there are simply more people searching for jobs than there are jobs in the arts) and ended up in retail or administration in order to survive. Others simply changed career paths and pursued other goals.

This review is the subjective opinion of a postgraduatesearch.com reviewer and not of postgraduatesearch.com.

Overall score

It was a very enjoyable experience. The most important piece of advice would be to stay focused and keep track of all work given for completion.

Study experience

It was exactly what I expected, a step up from undergrad. My advice would be to keep a close relationship with lecturers and possibly study groups. Spend a lot of time reading.

Facilities

The library has more than enough PCs and the computer rooms are 24hrs. The bar is huge and friendly and there are many sports facilities.

Postgraduate life

I was a member of the ACs and there are many other exciting societies to join

Job prospects

I have already completed my postgraduate degree

This review is the subjective opinion of a postgraduatesearch.com reviewer and not of postgraduatesearch.com.

Overall score

Uni is great - campus fabulous

Study experience

Facilities

Postgraduate life

Job prospects

This review is the subjective opinion of a postgraduatesearch.com reviewer and not of postgraduatesearch.com.