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This MA prepares you for a career in the challenging world of publishing. Taught by experts and practitioners and with masterclasses from industry leaders, the programme of study includes the knowledge, skills and understanding you need to become a successful publisher.
Key information
Programme starts
September 2021
Modes and duration
Application dates
Tuition fees (2021/22)
Note on fees:
The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees. Fees for flexible, modular study are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session.
Entry requirements
A minimum of a second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.
English language requirements
If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.
The English language level for this programme is: Advanced
UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level. International Preparation Courses
Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.
International students
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below.
Select your country:
About this degree
The programme equips students with both a practical insight into how this complex industry functions and a range of transferable skills. These include training in editorial, sales and marketing skills, publishing business plans and their successful delivery, contract negotiation and copyright management, production processes, digital contexts, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of five core modules (75 credits), three optional modules (45 credits), and a dissertation (60 credits).
A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits, full-time nine months or flexible study 2-5 years) is offered.
Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded a MA in Publishing. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Publishing.
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.
Compulsory modules
- Authorship
- Publishing Contexts
- Business Management in Book Publishing
- Editing, Writing and Communication in Publishing
- Sales, Marketing and Promotion
- Dissertation
Optional modules
- Academic and Journals Publishing
- Illustration and Publishing
- Book Production
- Children's and Young Adult Publishing
- Ethics in Publishing
- Booksellers and Bookselling
- Publishing Design
Dissertation/report
All MA students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 12,000 words.
Placement
Students may organise their own placements with the approval of staff. Staff will also assist students with applications and writing CVs and covering letters.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through lectures and seminars, with an emphasis on practical skills and exercises based on real-world and team working. Assessment is through essays, presentations, reports, one unseen examination, and the dissertation.
Additional costs
For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.
Accessibility
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.
Funding
For more details on the scholarships we offer please visit: UCL Publishing Centre .
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
Careers
At the end of the programme you will be a professional publisher ready to launch your career with a qualification from a university that the industry recognises and values.
Employability
UCL's MA in Publishing aims to help train leaders in the industry. We employ a rigorous applications process to ensure we recruit the very best potential publishers, and professional behaviour is at the heart of everything we do. This is an intensive programme, which provides access to the publishing industry throughout its duration, and we work with each student to give them the best support for their individual professional development. As a result, our graduates are sought-after recruits. Recent job successes have been at Bloomsbury Digital, Sage, and Penguin.
Why study this degree at UCL?
The Publishing MA aims to cover the entire spread of publishing disciplines, from fiction and trade to professional, academic, scholarly and educational.
Teaching staff possess a wide range of book trade experience and networks of contacts across all fields in the UK and internationally. Their research has helped shape how publishers have developed practices, and made an impact on the discipline as a field of academic study.
In addition, leading publishers, literary agents, authors, legal experts, booksellers and electronic authorities visit to give lectures and presentations. Students benefit from masterclasses from industry leaders on current and controversial issues and field visits to retailers, publishers and libraries.
Department: Information Studies
Application and next steps
Applications
Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.
This programme requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found in our How to apply section.
There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at: ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught/application.
Who can apply?
This programme is ideal for students interested in book and journal publishing who wish to develop a thorough understanding of the structure, organisation and dynamics of the publishing industry. It is suitable for those seeking to enter not-for-profit organisations as well as commercial companies in both the UK and internationally.
Application deadlines
- All applicants
- 31 May 2021
Applications for funding from the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) must be made by 31 December in the year before the programme start date.
For more information see our Applications page.
Apply nowWhat are we looking for?
When we assess your application we would like to learn:
- why you want to study Publishing at graduate level
- why you want to study Publishing at UCL
- what particularly attracts you to this programme
- how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this programme
- where you would like to go professionally and/or academically with your degree
UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.
Page last modified on 28 August 2021
