This world leading MA Publishing course at University of the Arts London allows you to hit the ground running. It combines theoretical and practice-based approaches to teaching and learning so you can prepare for future employment by obtaining a strategic, practical and integrated command of publishing within digital and multi-platform publishing and international contexts.

The course offers the choice of two teaching and learning specialisms: a book multi-platform publishing or a magazine multi-platform specialism. It is aimed at people who are aiming to advance their careers to management level within the global publishing industry. Graduates who have completed our postgraduate publishing courses since 1969 can be found throughout the world in senior positions within publishing and communications practice.

The course design and curriculum takes an integrated multiplatform stance. Digital applications are covered throughout your time at the College, across units within either chosen learning specialism. The course is led by specialist staff and enables you to take the lead in the management and production of creative content for a range of audiences via different platforms (web, digital mobile tablets and devices, print etc).

Throughout the course there is an emphasis on group work, practical publishing projects and engagement with industry through leading guest speakers, visits and placements.

Our unique resources will allow you to realise the production and publishing of actual books, magazines, websites or conference events when applying publishing and project management methods in Phase 2.

You will also develop the necessary research techniques to undertake a major research study or dissertation and you will complete the study of two electives. New perspectives on publishing are gained from visiting another country for one week as part of the international residential summer school for MA students.

The course is taught within the general areas and lecture theatres at the College and the specialised publishing facilities, which includes the MA Publishing Studio for practice-based learning. In addition you will have access to the offset printing and digital equipment in the Print Room.

This course is taught within the School of Media.

Assessment

Assessment is based on written reports and group presentations underpinned by theoretical and practical team projects. The final phase for the MA includes the writing up of a report of 12,000 to 15,000 words on your major research study.

Course management

Course Director: Desmond O'Rourke (d.o-rourke@lcc.arts.ac.uk)
Deputy Course Director: Dr David Penfold (d.penfold@lcc.arts.ac.uk)

Academic course queries by specialism

MA Publishing - Book specialism: Frania Hall (f.hall@lcc.arts.ac.uk)
MA Publishing - Magazine specialism: Desmond O'Rourke (d.o-rourke@lcc.arts.ac.uk)

Links

MA Publishing website

Publishing Innovation Conference

The MA Publishing course is structured over three phases, as within an academic study period of 45 weeks. The course commences at the beginning of October and ends the following September. Each phase is 15 weeks in study duration. Teaching and learning, where appropriate, is delivered and adapted to your chosen publishing specialism: either (1) book multi-platform publishing or (2) magazine multi-platform publishing and one learning unit, Content Creation and Development, is dedicated by specialism.

Phase 1 - 60 credits

• Publishing Culture in the Digital Context: This unit includes - research study development and historical cultural perspectives - cultural media consumption
• Content Creation and Development: This unit includes - market environment - content development - legal frameworks for content
• Content Design, Production and Delivery: This unit includes - design and colour management - content management and print and digital production - marketing and delivery

Phase 2 - 60 credits

• Publishing Management, Practice and Research: This unit includes - publishing management - publishing practice - publishing research
• Future Applications for Digital Content: This unit includes - new digital content market and audience applications - new market strategies and business models - information architecture - cross media content management, including metadata

Phase 3 - 60 credits

• Major Project: This unit includes - a written dissertation to a publishing issue or topic - 12,000 to 15,000 words

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

• Industry Guest Speakers' Programme: A separate roster to each publishing specialism including digital - book or magazine
• Extension Workshops: In addition students have the opportunity to attend additional specialist workshops that focus on developing knowledge and/or skills in specific areas of interest such as copy editing, academic journals, enterprise, blurb writing and giving presentations, and preparation for work experience with approaches and CV development. These workshops will have an emphasis on practical activities for increasing professional development
• Events and International Residential Summer School: Events and visits for learning and networking, a one week residential summer school and opportunities to visit publishers outside of the United Kingdom

MA Publishing website

Our 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 because the heritage of the College and our alumni links 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 prized 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 across the private corporate and SME sectors plus 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 sectors, the course prepares our graduates to enter the new jobs within integrated cross media and digital publishing, and within media and communications services' units in private, public, not for profit and international organisations. Many graduates now also find job roles as executives in digital marketing and social media and as online content editors.

Student profiles
Read student profile: Jiang Li - MA Publishing - Magazine specialism
Read student profile: Victoria Pavry - MA Publishing - Book specialism


MA Publishing website

Enterprise and employability 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. Staff in our Centre for Student Enterprise and Employability (SEE) are dedicated to helping you build up work-relevant skills, knowledge, experience and networks throughout your time here. You will also benefit from our many relationships with industry, which give our students exclusive opportunities and access to networks and funding.

Artists and designers tell us they value UAL's informed engagement with their career and professional practice development and our ability to offer them practical advice, guidance and opportunities across the wide spectrum of possible professional pathways - as entrepreneurs and employees. Staff value the resources and skills UAL makes available to help them deliver effective professional and career development through the curriculum.

Find out more

ArtsTemps (SEE) is the UAL in-house recruitment agency placing students and graduates in paid temping roles within the University. 

Creative Opportunities (SEE) is the UAL job vacancy and work placement website for students and graduates and advertises hundreds of creative job and placement opportunities each month.

Get more information and advice on employment and creative careers for all UAL students and graduates.

The normal entry requirement for this course is an honours degree. Other qualifications however that are deemed to be equivalent to an honours degree, along with any relevant professional or commercial experience, can be considered in lieu of an honours degree. Applicants will normally be required to attend an interview if resident in the UK. All applicants are required to submit a personal statement with their rationale for applying to the course, plus two references, and any other relevant supporting evidence or portfolio, if applicable.

We welcome all graduates committed to starting or to extending a career in publishing, but if your first degree was for a practical subject e.g. fine art, or design, or digital media, we would like you to submit examples of written work undertaken in your degree or other work to demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively with critical reasoning, as the course relies primarily on written work for assessments. If there is any doubt we may ask you to submit additional statements or evidence by essay or report.

English Language Ability

International and EU students: If your first language is not English you should check you have achieved the correct IELTS level in English. Further information is available on our International Applications page.

MA Publishing website

Application route

You need to apply to this course through the College. UK and EU students should download this application form (PDF 4MB). International students should use the international postgraduate application form (PDF 2MB). Applications should be sent to Postgraduate Admissions, Central Administration Office, 5th Floor Tower Block, London College of Communication, Elephant and Castle, London, SE1 6SB.

Home/EU student fee discounts

If you have successfully completed a UAL undergraduate degree, PgDip or PgCert you will qualify for a £1,000 discount from your tuition fees. For further information please contact info@lcc.arts.ac.uk

Admissions enquiries

For enquiries about admissions please call the postgraduate admissions team on +44 (0)20 7514 6599 or email info@lcc.arts.ac.uk (for UK and EU student enquiries) or international@lcc.arts.ac.uk (for international enquiries).