Program start date | Application deadline |
2025-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
MSc Publishing
Overview
Our intensive, industry-focused publishing programme is the ‘standard bearer for publishing education in the UK’ and will open doors for you.
The Professional Publishers Association
We provide the specialist training and experience you need to succeed in the fast-paced, vibrant world of publishing.
Our focus is vocational and will provide you with industry-specific and research skills demanded by employers, invaluable contacts that will open doors, and a placement that will provide you with crucial experience.
MSc Publishing works closely with the Professional Publishers Association (PPA), and was recently awarded the prestigious Creative Skillset Tick.
Edinburgh Napier is the only University to have doubly-accredited postgraduate publishing provision.
Typical entry point to this course is in September. Please enquire for more information.
Mode of Study:
Full-time
Duration:
1 year
Start date:
Sep
Placement:
Yes
Course details
Our programme works with industry and will open doors for you. Our team has strong relationships with thought leaders across industry, commerce and academia which helps to ensure you are at the forefront of the latest thinking, processes and technology. The expansion of digital media has created a need for highly specialised skills in publishing.
This course will give you the specialist training and experience demanded by publishing employers. You'll develop skills in critical thinking and problem solving, and will graduate with an excellent understanding of the industry in an international context.
You will become familiar with every aspect of the publishing process, meet industry professionals and attend prestigious events such as the London International Book Fair, the Edinburgh International Book Festival and Magfest. You'll have further opportunities to meet with industry professionals and make valuable contacts at UNESCO Literary Salons, book launches, author readings and literary events.
We are also linked with the internationally renowned Scottish Centre for the Book based at Edinburgh Napier University.
How you’ll be taught
This is a one year full-time course starting in September and is split up into three trimesters.
You’ll learn by a variety of teaching methods including lectures, tutorials and independent study.
Work placement
An 80 hour work placement module is offered on this course during trimester 2 as part of the Publishing Placement and Professional Development module.
Facilities
Our Merchiston campus, situated in the heart of Edinburgh, is home to creative industries students along with engineering and computing. This mix of disciplines helps create an inspiring, innovative and collaborative atmosphere.
Inside you’ll also find the 500-seat Jack Kilby Computing Centre (open 24 hours a day in Trimesters 1 and 2), the library and the Edinburgh Napier Students’ Association.
Modules
- Dissertation (JAC11106)
- This module allows students to undertake independent research into a specialised area of interest about the Publishing industry. Students may choose an appropriate topic with guidance from the module leader or supervisor and all students are assigned individual supervisors. During Trimester 2 and 3 there will be a series of taught seminars to prepare students for their independent study, covering research ethics and methods, literature reviews, framing and generating research questions, critical analysis, scholarly writing and presentation. This 60 credit module is the culmination of the MSc Publishing programme and is an opportunity for students to evidence their in-depth knowledge of key themes, issues and principles related to Publishing. The final assessment for this module is a 15,000 word dissertation which is submitted in Trimester 3.
- Fiction and the Fiction Market (CLP11133)
- You will develop an understanding of the creative and business aspects of the fiction market. The growth and current prominence of fiction publishing in the global publishing industry and the significance of copyright, rights sales and legal relationships will be explored. You will be taken through the different stages in the publishing process for fiction and analyse the principles and practices involved. Derivative works, for example translations, will represent a key element in understanding the use of rights. You will critically examine the development of editorial policy, budgeting, marketing, author development, and design and illustration. You will undertake marketing research, publicity and promotional campaign appraisal and market analysis. You will explore commercial marketing strategies of modern fiction publishers. A unique focus of this module is its consideration of the ethical vis a vis the commercial realities of fiction publishing.
- Publishing Placement and Professional Development (CLP11103)
- Many companies expect students to have experience of working within the publishing industry before applying for their first position. The aim of this module therefore, is to enable students to consolidate and apply the academic study which they have undertaken in the first trimester of this programme and provide the opportunity to experience the commercial realities of industry. The module also aims to introduce and prepare students to experience some of those elements in professional life and employment which cannot be taught in an academic environment.
- Publishing Production (CLP11138)
- You will learn how to create a product from concept to creation. You will undertake all the functions of a publisher, to include the demonstration of marketing, editorial, design, production and financial skills. You will explore the legal framework in which publishing operates, including contracts and intellectual property rights.
- Publishing in Context (CLP11100)
- In this module you will critically explore the way in which publishing has developed as an industry, from the creation of the first printing press until the present day, in order to contextualise contemporary business and management structures of the industry. You will examine the size, structure, and organisation of different contemporary publishing sectors (such as Trade, Academic and Education). You will learn about different publishing business models and other management theories to examine the internal structures of large and small publishing companies. Further, you will examine the impact of digitisation on the industry (in terms of creativity, marketing and production) and how digital disruption, along with different business models, affect the dynamics between publishers, authors, retailers, and other industry stakeholders. Lastly, you will examine the broader societal, political, ethical, and regulatory contexts of the publishing industry and learn about the importance of intellectual property rights in an evolving multinational and multimedia context.
- Publishing in Practice (CLP11137)
- You will learn how to identify and evaluate markets, publishing priorities and resources; develop and maintain a publishing list; collaborate with authors, contributors, developers and providers of material for publication; manage editorial projects; control editorial quality; edit texts and images; proofread text and collate corrections; estimate and control production costs; assess the value of production and publication schedules. You will learn about page layout, typography, image reproduction, and saving and transferring documents according to a specified brief, ready for publication and presentation.
Entry requirements
- The entry requirement for this course is a Bachelor (Honours) Degree at 2:1 or above in any discipline.
- We may also consider lesser qualifications if you have sufficient relevant work experience within the industry.
English language
- If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test. The English Language requirements for this programme are an IELTS (Academic) overall band score of 6.5 with no individual component below 6.5.
International students
- We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
- Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
- BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
- All Graduate Apprenticeship courses.
Admissions policies
- We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study.
- Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.
Fees & funding
- The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying.
- We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.
Tuition fees for 2024/25
- Students from Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland: £7,280
- Overseas and EU: £18,800
Careers
- This comprehensive programme designed for aspiring publishers and media professionals will let you explore the art and business of publishing and immerse yourself in the world of books, magazines, and digital media.
- Career opportunities include:
- Book, magazine or journal publishing (editing, design, production, sales or marketing)
- Consumer and corporate publishing
- Online and digital publishing
- Publishing entrepreneur
- Throughout the course, you'll explore a wide range of topics, from editorial and production processes to marketing, distribution, and digital publishing.
- Through hands-on projects, and collaborations with industry partners, you'll gain practical experience working in various sectors of the publishing industry and develop a deep understanding of its challenges and opportunities.
- Upon completion, you'll emerge as a skilled and adaptable publishing professional, ready to pursue a career in publishing houses, literary agencies, digital media companies, or self-publishing platforms.
- Whether you aspire to work as an editor, marketer, literary agent, or entrepreneur, our MSc in Publishing will provide you with the knowledge, skills, and connections to succeed in the fast-paced and competitive world of publishing.