Publishing

MA

Intermediate award(s): PG Dip, PG Cert
Full-Time

Beth Jones

MA Publishing

“With ambitions to start my own business in English teaching publishing, I was excited to discover the MA Publishing at Anglia Ruskin University and have been thoroughly pleased with the level of tuition and the amazing opportunities I have been offered during the year. Not only are the lectures conducted by current publishing professionals who have invaluable insight into the field, but the master classes are given by famous names who have inspired me with their experience and spirit.

I have been lucky enough to become involved in setting up a professional publishing society which has put me in direct contact with the publishing community and ensured I gain in-depth industry knowledge. Work experience at Cambridge University Press (a highly sought-after activity) has allowed me real-world practice of my university learning.

The course leader and all the lecturers have been on hand at all times for academic and professional support, something that generally makes the difference between a good course and a great course and I have made firm friendships with my peers.

A PhD or my own business beckons - choices, choices!”

Course overview

This course has been developed in close consultation with Cambridge University Press and other locally-based publishers such as Hart McLeod to meet the needs both of those who wish to work in publishing: it is a professionally focused MA, which aims to make our graduates highly employable individuals.

Our MA in Publishing consists of four taught modules taken over two years and a Major Project completed at the end of the taught part of the course. Teaching runs in two 12-week semesters from September to December, (Modules one and two) and February to May (Modules three and four). Each module meets weekly during the semester for a two-hour class which may be a lecture, seminar, workshop or masterclass. These modules are supported by skills-based short course options, as well as an events schedule of visiting speakers throughout the year which complement core taught classes.

The four taught modules cover commissioning and editing, financial management, marketing, production and publishing law. You will acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to plan and implement various elements of publishing projects in the context of ongoing digital media developments affecting the global publishing business. In addition to learning from our experienced regular tutors, you will benefit from networking and career building opportunities and projects arranged throughout the year. Your Major Project can take the form of a conventional academic project, a case study based on work experience, or a business plan.

An image about Publishing

Robert Sykes

MA Publishing

“To say I was undecided about what I wanted to do when I finished my undergraduate study would be somewhat of an understatement. I thought of many careers, but I kept returning to the idea of working within publishing. But how to go about getting a job in what is famed for being one of the most difficult sectors to launch a career in... well having a specialised qualification in the industry surely was going to help... and indeed it has. Literally weeks after completing the MA in Publishing at Anglia Ruskin I got a job as an editorial assistant with Pearson Education, one of the world's largest publishers, and a place at which I had had a work placement due to my involvement on the course.

The course was highly enjoyable, working with the lecturers and industry professionals, who were a great blend of the supportive, enquiring academics and the industry-savvy, tell you how it is, publishers. This classroom base, alongside the work experience opportunities the course provides (as well as Pearson I worked at Cambridge University Press and HarperCollins), act as a real springboard into the industry allowing you to meet the people who work in the publishing houses you want to work for.


Within the classroom we studied editing, marketing and production, as well as looking into the effects which various trends, including the digital-revolution has had, and continue to have, on the publishing industry. In one of our projects I even got to develop a publishing contract - something that none of the people in my office have ever done!

I would have no hesitation in recommending the MA in Publishing at Anglia Ruskin - work hard, take every opportunity which presents itself, and you will be on the road to Editorial Director within no time!”

Module guide

Core modules
  • Creativity and Content in Publishing

    This module covers issues, principles and practices related to the creative side of the publishing industry, including editorial, commissioning, book proposals and digital creativity. It provides key skills in quality control of content in publishing and stresses the importance of the management process in editorial projects

  • The Digital Age: Legal and Creative Issues

    This module considers up-to-the-minute issues in the international and national environment in which publishing operates. Split into two sections, it focuses, in the first instance, on the management, sale and licensing of rights in publishing and, in the second, on contemporary concerns about digital rights.

  • The Business of Publishing

    This module introduces all aspects of business in the publishing sector, including marketing, publicity, business planning, annual reports, bookselling and building affinity. It relates generic business concepts and practices to both major and small publishing houses, and draws on corporate sector examples which may be applied to publishing in the face of rapidly changing business models in the publishing sector.

  • Production Processes in Publishing

    Anglia Ruskin's flagship module, this has been designed exclusively for our students by Cambridge University Press (CUP). It introduces the design, production and distribution of book publishing products in various formats and across many platforms. It considers the processes and technologies used to transform a manuscript or data file into a finalised, ready-for-market product and delivered by a series of specially-selected industry professionals with the CUP seal of approval.

Assessment

You will be assessed via a combination of the following: essays, reports, financial and business planning and analysis of the organisation of (and critical reflection on) publishing events, individual and group presentations (with professionally prepared documentary handouts), your Major Project proposal and your final Major Project.

Bursaries

An Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Block Grant Partnership Capacity Building award is available for this course every year from 2011-13. Winners will receive a bursary in line with the AHRC's current rate, as well as a full fee waiver. The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers provides one scholarship of £6000 a year, and the chance to become a Freeman of the Company. The Cambridge University Press bursary offers a reduction on tuition fees of £1,200 for the academic year 2012/13.

For more information on how to apply for these bursaries visit the ALSS PG Study website.

Facilities

Cambridge is a beautiful and historic university city. With a student population of some 25,000, it also offers a young, vibrant and creative environment, home to some of the most varied and innovative publishers in the UK today. The Cambridge Publishing Society (CAMPUS) provides excellent opportunities to connect to this community. The city is full of student bookshops, cafes, cinemas, art galleries, museums and an exceptional number of theatre and concert venues, both mainstream and experimental. London is within easy reach of Cambridge by train or coach.

Special features

The course has several ring-fenced internships for students, which include placements with Cambridge University Press, Nexus Partnerships, Bloomsbury, Hart McLeod and Shakespeare and Company in Paris. These are competitive, and are a reflection of the high degree of professional excellence that the course fosters.

Course convenor

Dr Samantha Rayner

Links with industry and professional recognition

This is a professional course, and our links with publishing companies are highly valued and appreciated. We are fortunate in having links with local, national and international companies, and to have produced graduates who are now working successfully within the industry. The course's network of contributors and supporters mean that the content is kept relevant and current, and it is backed by an Advisory Board which includes representatives from Cambridge University Press, Polity Press, Salt Publishing, Hart McLeod and ProQuest. In addition, the Cambridge Publishing Society (CAMPUS) gives students excellent further networking opportunities.

Work placements

Work placements can be arranged, and are actively encouraged. The course has built strong connections with many publishers, and we are proud of the feedback we get from our internships. Professional behaviour is monitored closely, and supported by course leaders.

Associated careers

Our course is designed for those who wish to embark on (or develop further) a career in publishing, though the knowledge and skills acquired would also be valuable in a range of other occupations involving editorial work, marketing, business planning, and project management.
Entry Requirements: Usually a good/ 2:1 Honours degree classification (or equivalent) and/or relevant professional experience. Candidates for whom English is not a first language will be expected to demonstrate a certified level of proficiency of at least IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.
Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

We welcome applications from International and EU students. Please select one of the links below for English language and country-specific entry requirement information.

How to apply

Location

Duration

1 year

Available starts

September, January

Student finance

Visit our student finance pages for advice on funding your studies.

Open Evening

Wednesday 14 March
Postgraduate Open Evening

Faculty

Arts, Law & Social Sciences

Department

English, Communication, Film and Media

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