MA Publishing

Content

The world-leading MA in Publishing at the London College of Communication combines theoretical and practical approaches to publishing media. Forward thinking, creative and entrepreneurial, this course will give you hands-on experience of multi-platform publishing.  With the opportunity to specialize in magazine or book publishing you will nevertheless be introduced to concepts across both media throughout the course and explore how publishing is changing and evolving in the international arena.

With choices of assessments you can choose your journey through the course with options for a major project that suits your interests. Practical live projects and events, collaborations with other creative people, engagement with industry networks and participation in professional activities are all central to the course as you develop a unique and flexible skills set for your future careers.

Throughout the course there is a variety of teaching and learning environments including group work on practical publishing projects, simulations, hackdays, seminars and individual research projects. You will be involved in a co-creation project working on our annual Publishing Innovation Conference which is an ideal opportunity to network. You will also undertake live projects with industry – recently we have worked with the Penguin Random House and the Design Museum. You will also have access to specialist digital publishing platforms to enable you to build your own projects and portfolio.

New perspectives on the global marketplace for publishing are gained from visiting another country for one week as the international residential summer school. Specialist staff who all have experience in industry help you develop a professional approach to publishing.

Assessment

Assessment is based on written reports and group presentations underpinned by theoretical and practical team projects. The final phase for the MA is a choice of a dissertation, an artefact or prototype with related research report or a business proposal.

Structure

Each course is divided into units, which are credit-rated. The minimum unit size is 20 credits. The MA course structure involves six units, totaling 180 credits.

The first stage of the course, broadly the Autumn Term, introduces publishing theory and analyses aspects of content and audience.

Unit 1 Content surveys the theoretical context and environment in which publishing sits.

Unit 2 Content explores aspects of content, analysing  and evaluating ways to source and develop it as well as design and produce different sorts of content in different media: there is an emphasis on practical workshops making and testing print and digital prototypes.

Unit 3 Audience looks at innovative and creative ways to identify and engage diverse audiences for published content. The outcomes from this first stage of the course ensure you learn critical approaches and make connections across your growing holistic understanding of publishing and the related disciplines.

The second stage, which is mostly covered in the Spring term, provides opportunities to develop creative and collaborative approaches to publishing enabling you to experiment effectively, connect with other creative people and develop your thinking around future publishing applications.

Unit 4 Collaborative Unit specifically looks at executing a collaborative project working with other creative people.

Unit 5 Future Applications for Content offers the opportunity to conceptualise an experimental publishing product or service.

Unit 6 Professional Practice and Enterprise starts you on your professional journey with a module that can include a choice of undertaking work experience, developing a networking opportunity or planning out a business funding document for an enterprise project.

The final stage, Unit 7 Major Project, is your opportunity to develop a significant project of your own building on your learning from the previous stages.  Choices of output here allow you to explore a publishing idea or concept depending on your particular interests and personal approach: so you may work on a dissertation involving primary research, create a publishing artefact, prototype or specification with a related research piece or develop a detailed, researched business proposition. A critical and analytical approach, as appropriate to higher level of study, will be reflected across all of these options ensuring this research stage is challenging and stimulating.

Complementing the above taught and assessed learning units the course includes the following additional activities:

• Industry Guest Speakers come to run workshops, lectures and conversations throughout the course
• Extension workshops: Students have the opportunity to attend additional specialist workshops that focus on developing knowledge and/or skills in specific areas of interest
• Events and International Residential Summer School: This covers events and visits for learning and networking, and a one week residential summer school and opportunity to visit publishers outside of the United Kingdom.
• There is the opportunity to apply to undertake one term at University of Cergy Pontoise in Paris as part of the Erasmus programme.

If you are unable to continue or decide to exit the course, there are other possible exit awards depending on the credits you have.

This course aims to:

• Develop your intellectual, imaginative, creative and entrepreneurial skills through the synthesis of theoretical frameworks and practical approaches to publishing that situate publishing in a broader, interdisciplinary context.
• Critically engage with theories of publishing, content and audience to explore and understand how to create and adapt publishing tools and processes for a variety of different creative environments.
• To develop critical and analytical skills to make effective choices for the development and application of publishing media in a variety of sectors including abilities to assess risk, make decisions and solve problems in a rapidly changing environment.
• Enable you to manage complexity and create and adopt systematic, interdisciplinary and evidential approaches to publishing decisions.
• To hone communication abilities to synthesise and present information on publishing issues and developments directed to a variety of audiences and contexts.
• Develop creative and experimental responses to the publishing environment to make published products, events and services.
• Collaborate and participate in co-creation and live industry projects to develop creative and imaginative thinking around the development of new product ideas as well as apply management skills to bring projects to fruition.
• Develop a knowledgeable and reflective approach to the working environment in which you will operate in the future, developing an entrepreneurial outlook, sensitivity to changing environments globally and building the skills of an effective life-long learner.
• Enable you to conceptualise and make tangible creative and sustainable publishing ideas and solutions.
• To develop intellectual and imaginative skills to conceptualise, construct and execute a piece of detailed research, critically engaging with advanced scholarship, for a fully realised major project leading to new thinking or experimentation in an aspect of publishing.

Additional Costs

Living costs

We estimate that your living costs during your time at UAL will be between £240 and £1,000 for each month of study. These costs do not include rent and bills payments, and are likely to vary significantly depending on your personal needs and wants.

UAL has multiple sites across London and so you should be mindful of the potential costs that may be incurred in travelling to and from these locations. Additionally you may be required to visit museums, galleries and other venues in and around London as part of your learning and there may be a cost for such travel which you should also budget for.

In reaching this estimate we have conducted a living costs survey to complement existing student expenditure data from a variety of sources, including the National Union of Students (NUS)

Material Costs and Charges Information

You will be expected to meet the additional costs which may arise as a result of materials and or compulsory field trips connected with your course. We estimate that these costs could be between £100 and £500, but this amount may vary depending upon the range of materials and techniques which you may wish to adopt. You may also choose to go on other field trips or research visits and the costs of these could be between £50 and £ 150.

This information has been provided to ensure you are fully aware of, and consider very carefully, the likely living and additional costs associated with your chosen course. To help with the cost of studying with us, we offer a range of scholarships and bursaries. The amount of funding provided by each award varies, with some covering the full cost of tuition and others providing a contribution towards living costs. Eligibility will depend on criteria such as your chosen subject or course, level of study and nationality. Use our Scholarships Search to see if there’s an award that you can apply for.

Course Structure

The information outlined is an indicative structure of the course. Whilst we will aim to deliver the course as described on this page, there may be situations where it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, for example because of regulatory requirements or operational efficiencies, before or after enrolment. If this occurs, we will communicate all major changes to all applicants and students who have either applied or enrolled on the course.

Please note that due to staff research agreements or availability, not all of the optional modules listed may be available every year.

In addition, the provision of course options which depend upon the availability of specialist teaching, or on a placement at another institution, cannot be guaranteed. Please check this element of the course with the course team before making a decision to apply.

Programme Director: Simon Hinde 

Course Leader: Frania Hall

Keith Martin, Senior Lecturer Publishing Media

Simon Das, Senior Lecturer

Our MA Publishing graduates are highly prized by the international publishing industry, across both print and digital media. The course has an excellent record of graduates entering employment. The heritage of the College and our alumni cut across all sectors of communication, design and media professional practice areas, at home and internationally.

Typically, our graduates enter first level entry jobs across all of the different functional areas of publishing editorial, production, digital and marketing and sales. They are highly sought after by publishing employers because our graduates can hit the ground running and add value immediately. Accordingly, we find that their careers accelerate beyond the normal and they move up to executive and managerial positions quicker than most.

The transferable skills you will gain on this course can be applied to a wide range of management, media and communications areas, functions and sectors. These can be applied across the private corporate and SME sectors, or the public sector, including international and voluntary not for profit organisations. Some of our past graduates have started their own publishing micro-businesses, or have developed careers related to the digital communications sector.

Importantly, besides the traditional functions, the course equips our graduates with the adaptable skills to enter the new jobs that are emerging across media sectors, whether as a digital producer in a well-known book company, an online content editor for a global magazine or a digital marketer for a new media business. Our graduates are often found taking up roles which require a publishing specialism within media and communications services, creative agencies and brands. Being flexible, having the ability to take the initiative and thinking ahead of the curve are key attributes for our graduates. 

Student Jobs and Careers at UAL

We know what it takes to be successful in your chosen field. Your tutors are professionals in their own right and understand what you need to help you establish your career. 

Careers and Employability is dedicated to helping students build up work-relevant skills, knowledge, experience and networks throughout your time here. 

Creative Opportunities is the UAL job and work placement website for students and graduates, advertising hundreds of creative opportunities each month. This includes ArtsTemps in-house recruitment agency, placing students and graduates in paid temping roles within the University.

UAL houses a number of organisations which promote aspects of career development in the arts and media, and which hold regular workshops and careers fairs. These include:

• Own-It (intellectual property issues)
• ArtQuest (career development resource for artists and designers)

Recruitment and admissions

Students are admitted on to the course having gained the necessary entry requirements. An Honours degree of 2.i and above is required, or an equivalent international degree. In some circumstances a 2.ii is considered (this might be based on personal circumstances or strength of interest and clear capability to undertake the course as indicated in the application form and interview). Applicants who do not meet the standard entry requirements must provide evidence of experience, which may be considered within the AP(e)L procedures.

Language requirements (International/EU)

All classes are conducted in English. If English is not your first language you will be asked to provide evidence of your English language ability when you enrol.

• IELTS 7.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 6.0 in each skills is required.
• If your first language is not English, you can check if you have achieved the correct IELTS level on the Language Requirements page.

For further information about visas and application advice please view the Study at UAL International pages.

Selection Criteria

All applications will be considered by the course team who will consider key elements when making a decision on your suitability to join the course:

1. Firstly they will look at your qualifications and transcript (or projected results)
2. Then they will scrutinise your personal statement and any previous work experience

Academic or professional references, portfolio, project plan or direct work experience are not required for the course.

Offers will be made based on the following selection criteria, which applicants are expected to demonstrate:

• Critical knowledge of and enthusiasm for publishing
• Clear indication of intellectual engagement with current observable trends related to publishing
• Some relevant experience in role that can in some way be related to publishing (it can be a school or university project) and the ability to reflect on that experience
• Clear understanding of requirements of a master’s level course particularly in relation to a final major project
• Ability to undertake the course and work at the appropriate master’s level, including in relation to academic writing
• Ability to work autonomously on projects and collaborate effectively in groups

Personal Statement

You will be required to submit a personal statement describing why you want to study MA Publishing at LCC. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate a critical knowledge of and enthusiasm for publishing, and a well-articulated rationale for applying for the course. You should include some ideas about future plans around a professional life after the course.

No portfolio or project plan is required, and no direct work experience is required.

Interview advice

The course leader will review your application, and may wish to interview you. Interviews will take place at LCC where possible, or via Skype/telephone, or by email.

Home / EU and International students

Funding opportunities available for this course:

• £1000 fee discount for UAL alumni
  

UK applicants

Stationers' Foundation Award

Any questions? Please email funding@arts.ac.uk or visit Postgraduate Funding page.

You can begin your application for this course using our online application form – the link to this is below. Before you apply, we recommend you take some time to read the course Entry Requirements section to learn about the application process, including detailed guidance on the extra information we will ask you to provide later in the process. 

Required information for all postgraduate course applications

You will need to enter the following information in the online application form:

• Personal details (including full name; date of birth; nationality; permanent address and English language level)
• Current and/or previous education and qualification details
• Employment history

Before you can submit the form, you’ll also need to agree to the terms and conditions for how we process your data – these are explained in the form.

Please note, if you’re an international applicant we will need to contact you separately to ask for copies of certain documents (for example, English language qualification/certificate and copies of any previous UK study visas).

Extra information required for applications to this course

Once you have submitted the online application form, we will send you a confirmation email.

From January 2017 you will be emailed a link to our online application tool, where you should submit the extra information we require for the selection process:

Personal statement

The course leader will then review your work, may invite you to interview, and will then make a decision on your application, from January 2017.

The admissions team will be in touch after that to let you know the outcome and to guide you through the next steps.

Start your application now

Applications are accepted, and offers made, throughout the year. Early application is advised.

Apply now

The application form can be saved as you fill it out, so you don’t need to complete it all at once. You will also have the chance to review all the information and make any necessary amendments before you submit the application form.

We will send you emails as you progress through the application process, so do check your inbox (and junk folder, just in case). These emails will contain important information about your application, and links to the online forms you should use to submit the extra information required.

If you haven’t found the information you’re looking for or want to ask us a question about this course, please fill out our enquiry form.

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