Full time: 1 year
Part time: 2 years
Full-time: £10,080
Part-time: £5,040 per year
Full-time: £16,980
Part-time: £8,490 per year
Full-time: £16,980
Part-time: £8,490 per year
Northampton Square
This MA is designed for aspiring professionals who recognise that the global publishing industry is changing dramatically - and who wish to equip themselves with the knowledge and skills needed by the next generation of publishers. Your first degree might be from the Humanities, the Social Sciences or the Sciences; and you might be a recent graduate or someone with work experience either in publishing or in another field.
Located in the heart of London, the commercial centre of this global industry, this MA explores how publishing is evolving in the face of digitisation.
The programme provides you with an applied understanding of how books, journals, magazines and interactive resources are conceived, developed and marketed, including the key role of authorship.
You will be encouraged to explore whether your interests lie in publishing for entertainment, education, research or information. Alongside research-led analytical assignments, you will develop a portfolio of achievements relating to the global industry which reflect the range of professional roles in contemporary publishing, including editorial, marketing, production, and both print and digital content development.
You should have:
You are also encouraged to apply if you have relevant professional experience.
Don’t meet the entry requirements? INTO City, University of London offers a range of academic and English language programmes to help prepare you for study at City, University of London. You’ll learn from experienced teachers in a dedicated international study centre.
These programmes are designed for international students who do not meet the required academic and English language requirements for direct entry. To prepare for this degree course, learn more about the Graduate Diploma in Social Sciences and the Arts.
City works in partnership with Kaplan International College (KIC) London to provide preparatory courses for international students. Pre Masters courses at KIC London offer comprehensive support to students wishing to complete their postgraduate study at City. Progression to this degree is guaranteed if you complete the KIC London Pre-Masters course at the required level.
If your first language is not English you are required to obtain a minimum overall score of 7.0 in the IELTS Academic English Language test, including at least 6.5 in the writing component of the test.
Don’t meet the English language requirements? INTO City, University of London offers English language programmes to help prepare you for study at university. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to degree courses.
International Students (EEA and Non EEA) coming to study in the UK, may need to apply for a visa or entry clearance to come to the UK to study. The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course. There are different rules for:
For more information see our main Visa page.
Applications for September 2020 are not yet open
Once open, you can apply online and will be expected to submit the following:
Please note: Academic references are not required when you submit your application. However, the admissions tutor may request them at a later date to help make a decision on your application.
Fees in each subsequent year of study (where applicable) will be subject to an annual increase of 2%. We will confirm any change to the annual tuition fee to you in writing prior to you commencing each subsequent year of study (where applicable).
City, University of London's MAs in Publishing 2018-19 invite UK offer holders to apply for a £6,000 Stationers' Foundation Bursary.
This will offer the successful candidate professional mentoring and Freedom of the Stationers' Company upon completion of your studies, sponsored by the Company for three years. Beyond the financial benefits, City's previous Bursary holders will be have gained both experience and contacts through this award, and many continue their involvement with the Company, including actively supporting the Stationers' Academy School.
Faber & Faber will be offering a scholarship in memory of the late David Tebbutt, Finance Director of Faber & Faber from 2002 until his untimely death in September 2011, for one student annually starting in 2019 to cover the full fees for full-time study on one of the following City MA programmes:
Find out more about eligibility and applying to The David Tebbutt Scholarship
Mary Ann Kernan
Mary Ann Kernan talks about City's Publishing and International Publishing MA
All MA Publishing students at City, University of London are strongly encouraged to apply for and complete placements, whether in London or other locations, subject to the approval of the Programme Director.
To join the optional MA Publishing Professional Placement module in Term 2, you need to be offered a placement by the beginning of that term (or by the end of Term 2 for part-time students). Whether or not you join that module, you will be encouraged to apply for the many placement opportunities that are shared with the programme, and supported to develop a practice-related Major Project that furthers your career goals.
Read one student's experience of placements at Amber Books and Sage
Read about a student's work experience at Penguin Random House
We offer a variety of accommodation options and support services for postgraduate students.
Read more about our postgraduate halls.
Our Accommodation Service can also help you find private accommodation.
We offer a free language course for City, University of London students.
Course timetables are normally available from July and can be accessed from our timetabling pages. These pages also provide timetables for the current academic year, though this information should be viewed as indicative and details may vary from year to year.
Please note that all academic timetables are subject to change.
We offer an extensive support network during your time here at City, University of London – from Learning Support (including disability support) and counselling to financial and career advice – leaving you free to enjoy every opportunity campus life has to offer.
Find out more about the different types of student support available.
Chat to our current students and read their blogs to gain an insight into studying at City and learn more about our undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
To make sure that you can begin or continue your studies with us during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have reviewed and adapted our courses to ensure a safe learning environment for our students and staff. We have modified the way some of our courses are delivered, with many programmes being made available online.
Contact us to find out more about how our programmes will be delivered.
The course content covers all types of publishing, from trade and specialist publications to novels and non-fiction, and provides a thorough grounding in the drivers of commercial success for both print and digital products.
You will be taught both by research experts and publishing practitioners who share specialist expertise and up-to-date industry knowledge.
Your core modules aim to establish and develop your understanding of contemporary industry conditions, including the impact of digitisation. Your options in Term 2 allow you to develop more scholarly or applied interests, and include an optional Professional Placement module.
Our publishing programmes foster a nurturing community with great guest speakers and student opportunities. Search #citypublishing and find out more.
You will learn through lectures, project work, student-led projects and presentations, workshops, online learning and research, preparation of submitted work, site visits and discussions. Your final module is a substantial Major Project, which can include an approved industry project.
Visiting lecturers from the industry contribute to the programme throughout the teaching year, and in many cases directly support your project work.
A standard module consists of 20 timetabled hours in a combination of lectures, groupwork sessions and supervised project work. Each module also requires substantial study hours towards both individual and group assessments.
Note: Students select four elective modules, which must include a minimum of 2 PBM modules
*Modules for 2021/22 to be confirmed.
Part-time students take the course over two years and normally chose an equal number of elective modules between the two years. All modules are 15 credits unless otherwise stated.
The programme specification contains more information on how the course is organised, the requirements for progression for each part and credits required for awards.
City’s Publishing graduates develop careers in a variety of organisations, with the majority of each class achieving a publishing role within months of graduating. The roles of a recent class show the range of possible careers in global publishing, include:
Applications for September 2020 are not yet open
Once open, you can apply online and will be expected to submit the following:
Please note: Academic references are not required when you submit your application. However, the admissions tutor may request them at a later date to help make a decision on your application.
Find out more about City and all our postgraduate degree programmes.
