Publishing

Program Overview

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Overview

Our PhD research programmes will allow you to join one of our research projects or explore your own interests in Publishing, supported by the expertise of our staff.

Full Description

You’ll be allocated two supervisors, with additional staff members available if necessary and possible professional support from the publishing industry. Our supervisors are experienced in most areas of publishing histories and practices, as well as design, digital media, creative writing and cultural theory.

You’ll conduct your research in a collaborative environment with strong links to research networks in our University and the wider community. We host and take part in many research events for staff and postgraduate students, including regular Faculty and departmental research seminars and international conferences. Our seminars will give you the chance to present papers in a supportive setting. We also have strong links with Cambridge Publishing Society (CAMPUS) and the StoryLab Research Group.

These events, along with our online environment, will help you connect with other research students from a range of disciplines.

You could also benefit from financial support. We allocate a substantial sum every year towards postgraduate travel and conference expenses, as well as some bursaries.

All your subject-specific studies will be enhanced and supported by our University-wide training sessions, where you’ll gain important research expertise in areas like ethics, presentations, intellectual property and digital scholarship.

Completion Times

• MPhil: full-time 1-3 years, part-time 2-4 years.
• PhD via progression from MPhil, including that period: full-time 2.5-5 years, part-time 3.5-6 years.
• PhD: full-time 2-4 years, part-time 3-6 years.

PhD Project Opportunities

• World-leading research at ARU
• The Centre for Science Fiction and Fantasy
• StoryLab
• School of Creative Industries research

Supervision and Support

Our permanent supervisory staff members are recognised experts in their field, and have produced a number of influential books, journal articles and edited collections.

Where You'll Research

Your Department and Faculty

Using our creative expertise and industry connections in Cambridge and beyond, we create experiences that entertain, educate, inspire and improve lives.

At Cambridge School of Creative Industries, we believe in the importance of experimentation and risk-taking to create experiences that entertain, educate, inspire and improve lives.

Whether writing bestselling fiction, creating challenging documentaries or sharing a piano with people on the autism spectrum, the expertise of our staff goes far beyond teaching. Their research produces significant funding success, leading to important publications and international conferences.

Where Can I Study?

• Cambridge

Specialist Facilities

You’ll have access to our two new media suites, equipped with professional publishing software like InDesign, the world-famous University of Cambridge Library, our own campus library and many multimedia, video and radio production facilities.

Our Faculty has a dedicated PhD room, where our doctoral students can all meet up to work and take an active part in our postgraduate student community.

Fees & Funding

Course Fees

• UK students, 2024/25 (per year): £4,786
• UK students, 2024/25 (part-time, per year): £2,392
• International students, 2024/25 (per year): £15,900
• International students, 2024/25 (part-time, per year): £7,950

Bench Fees

In some cases extra costs known as bench fees will be charged for a postgraduate research degree. These are to cover additional/exceptional costs directly related to a specific research project.

Some examples of these costs are (the list is not exhaustive): equipment hire, access costs to specialist equipment/workshops, volunteer expenses, specialist tissue/cell culture, specialist reagents or materials, specialist software, access to specialist databases, data collection costs, specialist media, recording or digital storage needs.

We charge bench fees in bands. They may apply for every year of your course. These bands are the same for full- and part-time students.

If you have to pay bench fees this will be made clear at your interview, and stated in your offer letter.

For 2024/25 the bench fee bands are:

1. £500
2. £1,200
3. £2,200
4. £4,500
5. £8,900

PhD by Published Work

• Initial registration: £1,500
• Full registration: £4,500

Writing Up Fees 2024/25

• £1,200

Careers

We’ll provide you with many opportunities for career development and training, including help with arranging placements in publishing and publishing-related companies. We’ll do our best to provide you with a professional mentor, making sure that your project is of value to the industry and giving you the best chance for employment on completion.

We also offer research skills sessions, including writing up a paper for publication; placing an academic article; giving a conference paper; the doctoral writing style; updates on research methods and literature searches; internet training; editing skills for doctoral research; subsequent monograph publication; and dealing with festivals, agents, and publishers. You might also be able to take on teaching responsibilities in the department, or organise research events like seminars and conferences.

We offer a suite of short courses in publishing-related areas, which will give you more opportunities to develop your professional skills on campus.

In conjunction with the University’s research support, you can request specific support for writing-up, conference papers, general research methods and other research skills if you need it.

Entry Requirements

• MPhil or PhD with progression from MPhil: You’ll need a Bachelor degree or equivalent with first or upper second class honours, in a related subject area.
• PhD: You’ll need a Master degree or equivalent in a related subject area.

Please note we consider candidates for PhD with progression from MPhil in the first instance. If you want to be considered for direct entry to the PhD route then this can be discussed at interview if you are shortlisted. Please note you’ll also need to provide academic justification for this request.

If English is not your first language, you'll require a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, with a minimum of 5.5 in each component (or equivalent test). If you don't meet our English language requirements, we offer a range of courses which could help you achieve the level required for entry.

Important Additional Notes

Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the programme as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your research programme.

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Program Outline

Careers:

• Career development and training opportunities, including placements in publishing and publishing-related companies
• Professional mentorship to ensure project relevance to the industry and enhance employment prospects
• Research skills sessions, including writing for publication, conference presentations, doctoral writing style, research methods, internet training, editing skills, monograph publication, and working with festivals, agents, and publishers
• Opportunities for teaching responsibilities in the department and organizing research events
• Short courses in publishing-related areas to develop professional skills
• Writing-up, conference papers, general research methods, and other research skills support as needed

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Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

UK students, 2023/24 (per year) £4,712 UK students, 2023/24 (part-time, per year) £2,356 International students, 2023/24 (per year) £15,000 International students, 2023/24 (part-time, per year) £7,500 UK students, 2024/25 (per year) £4,786 UK students, 2024/25 (part-time, per year) £2,392 International students, 2024/25 (per year) £15,900 International students, 2024/25 (part-time, per year) £7,950