About us

About Christie's Education

The master’s degrees in London and New York are dedicated to preparing students for entry into the art world, placing great importance on analytical skills, object-based learning, research and scholarship, and the practical experience of art and business as the keys to professional success. Studies are reinforced with a rigorous professional development workshop series and all students are offered an integrated art world internship as part of their degree.

Christie’s Education offers a wide range of continuing education opportunities in, New York, London and Asia, designed to introduce the fundamentals of art, collecting and art business, as well as advanced courses for those with an appetite to study at a deeper level. In addition, our online courses provide a fully immersive experience of the art world, enabling anyone in the world to access learning from any location.

Founded in London in 1978, the original mission of Christie’s Education, was to provide a general introduction to the fine and decorative arts through ‘The Christie’s Fine Arts Course’, which was designed to enhance the appreciation of works then offered through auction by our parent company. Since those early days, we have evolved and progressed and now we look forward to a new phase in our development as a specialist graduate institution.

Christie’s Education London is an associated institution of the Open University, which validates all the degree programmes. The UK’s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) 2016 report wrote “the courses run by Christie’s Education are seen as a talent pipeline into the Christie’s Group PLC group of companies and the commercial art world. Students have privileged access to sale previews, warehouses and archives as part of their learning experience, allowing specific industry focus to be achieved.”

Christie's Education is a for-profit institution wholly owned by the Christie's International PLC group of companies (Christie's).

The History of Christie's Education

Founded in London in 1978, Christie’s Education has evolved into a leading international art institute with campuses located in the cultural centers of New York and Hong Kong. The institute has expanded its core educational offering over the years to include Master's degree programs, continuing education and online learning, specializing in all facets of the global art world. 

Timeline of Key Dates

• 1978 – Christie’s Education was conceived in London by the auction house to promote the study of the global art market through hands-on experience of works of art and art world practice, the first course was ‘The Christie’s Fine Arts Course’
• 1993 – Christie’s Education expands internationally by establishing the institute in New York, offering the Master’s and Certificate program in Modern and Contemporary Art
• 1990s – Christie’s Education was established in Asia, initially offering courses in Hong Kong to coincide with the major international sales and fairs in the late 1990s
• 1998 – Christie’s Education introduces the first art business course in London pioneering art business education in the United Kingdom
• 2008 – Christie’s Education London partners with the University of Glasgow to offer undergraduate and postgraduate programs specializing in art history
• 2010 – The first Art Business Certificate program is launched in New York making it one of the first programs of its kind in the industry in the United States
• 2013 – Christie’s Education London introduces the postgraduate program MSc Art, Law and Business pioneering art business in higher education in the United Kingdom
• 2016 – Christie’s Education New York expands graduate program offering to include the M.A. in Art, Law and Business after the success of the program in London
• 2017 – Christie’s Education online courses launches offering students the flexibility to learn about the art world from any location, and Christie’s Education postgraduate program in London become accredited with The Open University
• 2019 – Christie’s Education launches the postgraduate degree program MA Art History and Art World Practice in London