Student testimonials
Here are some comments from former Publishing Studies students.
"I didn't realise how much I was learning during the MA because I was having too much fun. The projects, placements and the friends I made during the program have all become valuable life experiences. The lecturers and course director work tirelessly to help you achieve your goals and make the connections needed to get you started in your career. If I had stayed in the USA to do a similar degree program it would have taken around two years to complete and been much more expensive. I also would never have had the opportunities afforded to me at City."
Robin Lupton (2007/8)
Editorial Assistant, Pearson Education
"Before the MA even began, Mary Ann, our course director, was helping us get real work experience placements. The course itself was a fantastic mix of practical training for the industry, academic business research and above all contact with professionals from all across the publishing world. I gained a real understanding of the industry, and relished the variety of problem-based learning. There was huge variety in the module assignments, from blogging to producing real print material and presenting new business ideas to CEOs. City's name opened doors for me, both getting high-profile interview candidates for my dissertation, and getting work experience placements throughout the course. The MA made my CV stand out in a crowded field and got me into interviews where I had the knowledge and confidence to get my dream job in editorial."
Rebecca Lee (2007/8)
Junior Desk Editor, Scholastic Children's Books
"I did a degree in English Literature at Durham University but found I needed an extra boost to get me that job in publishing, and City fulfilled my needs exactly.
The course gave me a good grounding in what departments there are in a publishing house, what different types of publishing one can go into, and who the big players are. There were plenty of opportunities to get work experience throughout the year, and a 5 week placement was a compulsory part of the course. By the end of the course I had the confidence to keep applying until I found the right job, as well as having the work experience that got me my interviews."
Maddy Langford (2004/5)
Editorial Assistant, Taylor & Francis
"I chose the City MA primarily because of its location: knowing that publishing was the industry for me, I realised that London was my obvious choice. The MA exceeded my expectations. The wealth of knowledge of our lecturers and guest speakers, who all had first-hand knowledge of publishing today, was invaluable. Also, the work placement was a huge bonus, especially for those who'd not seen the working realities of a publishing house. What I learned from the course, my work placement, and other placements I did during the year on my own time, without doubt helped secure me my first job as Editorial Assistant at Virgin Books. I was immediately given lots of responsibility at Virgin as my previous experience meant I began the job with an existing knowledge of editorial duties, particularly in the area of desk-editing. I'm 100% glad I did the MA and really recommend it to all those wanting to enter the publishing industry."
Donna Condon (2004/5)
Commissioning Fiction Editor at Little, Brown
The Publishing MA was a very enjoyable and worthwhile course, providing me with a wide range of knowledge in all areas of publishing and giving me a focused idea of what career I wished to pursue within the industry. The 5-week work placement was one of the many highlights of the course, and at the end of it I was offered a permanent position there. My manager later told me that my MA qualification and work experience gave me that extra edge over the other applicants.
Lucy Rowley (2004/5)
Marketing Executive, Hodder Children's Books
"Doing a MA in Publishing Studies at City University really was, to me, the foot in the door to enter the publishing industry. The course offers a very updated and thorough view of what is currently happening in the publishing world. Furthermore, the masterclasses with experts from the industry - such as Liz Calder, from Bloomsbury, publisher of Harry Potter - are quite enlightening. The work placement allowed me to get the necessary experience to apply for jobs successfully. I started to work at Scholastic straight after having finished my work placement and, from the beginning, I felt that I was prepared to face the challenge as I had a good preparation at City."
Susana Almeida (2005/6)
Marketing Services Assistant, Scholastic (Book Clubs & Fairs department)
"Coming to City to study publishing was one of the wisest decisions I've made. I have always been a book lover and wanted to set my foot into the book industry. This MA was precisely what I needed. The course provided me with an all-round and in-depth understanding of the industry. Potential employers are especially impressed with the compulsory 5-week placement. The advice given by professors and guest speakers also got me through interviews. I would recommend anyone with an ambition in publishing to take this course. This will be your entry ticket to the world of publishing."
Jeanne Cheung (2005/6)
Acquisition Editor (trainee), World Scientific
"The internships I completed through City's Publishing Studies programme proved invaluable during my job search, as I could point to practical applications of what I had studied. Also, I think employers viewed favourably the fact that I studied outside of my country, believing it to show initiative and a strong dedication to the publishing industry."
Emilie McDonough (2005/6)
Marketing/Sales Coordinator for Adler Publishing (USA)
"The Publishing MA at City University gives an overview of the whole industry that has held me in extremely good stead during my four years working for a literary agency. Far from being solely academic, the course explores the current hot topics in international publishing and gives students a chance to hear the opinions of today's industry leaders."
Oli Munson (2002/3)
Literary Agent, Blake Friedmann Literary Agency
"Studying for an MA in publishing gives you an invaluable overview of all the sectors in the industry. This makes the decision to work in one area, rather than another, an informed one and also gives you a clear sense of how all the departments and stages of the supply chain work together. Having studied English literature at University I knew a lot about how fiction works but had never heard of a bottom line or read a marketing plan. After a year I was able to bring together my interest in books with a more practical understanding of how publishing actually works. The one year MA is an excellent way of distinguishing yourself, in interview, from the hoards of other book-lovers who are trying to break into the industry."
Tara Wigley (2003/4)
Living in Sarajevo where she is a freelance editor and reader for UK-based literary agents.
"The Publishing MA from City University enabled me to gain immediate employment in my chosen field, rights sales. The variety of subjects covered in the MA allows the student to gain a broad overview in every aspect of publishing, while the dissertation and work placements allow the individual to specialise. Three years on I still work in rights and I now manage a team of four. I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in a career in publishing who perhaps does not wish to start on the bottom rung."
Sally Smith (2003/4)
Licensing Manager, The British Library
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