Program Overview

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Publishing and English BA (Hons)

Course Description

Publishing and English at Derby is an exciting, diverse and challenging course that not only incorporates the close analysis of literature, but also considers the situations in which literature is produced and read. This means your studies will include the intellectual and cultural history of art, film, philosophy, linguistics and sociology, as well as contemporary cultural politics. You will be introduced to a range of cultural expression from across the globe and from diverse historical periods.

Why Study Publishing and English?

The UK market for written information and creative content of all types is of enormous significance to cultural and political life, as well as to economic growth. However, we live in a fast-changing society where consumers are bombarded with fake news and a flood of information daily. This means that carefully curated and diverse content is more important than ever.

The publishing industry is rapidly adapting to this evolving digital marketplace. It is a resilient, creative and global industry that continues to grow year-on-year. To do so, it relies on professionals who are commercially and digitally aware, and who feel passionate about books, writing and reading. Could that be you?

We Blend the Creative and the Commercial

In today's publishing industry, authors, editors, literary agents and other professionals need to collaborate with each other to an unprecedented degree. If they have an understanding of each other’s roles and priorities, they can do this well. That’s why this course looks at the industry from both the perspective of the writer and the perspective of the publishing professional.

Choose Your Pathway

Studying a Publishing and English Joint Honours degree allows you to choose whether you major in one subject or study them both equally.

You begin this degree by studying both subjects equally in your first year. By the end of your first year, you will then decide whether you would like to major or minor in a chosen subject or continue to study them both equally.

• BA (Hons) Publishing and English: You study Publishing and English equally.
• BA (Hons) Publishing with English: Publishing is the major subject and English is the minor subject.
• BA (Hons) English with Publishing: English is the major subject and Publishing is the minor subject.

What is a Joint Honours Degree?

A Joint Honours degree offers students the opportunity to study two subjects.

A Joint Honours degree is a great option if:

• You want to study two subjects you’re passionate about
• You’ve got a specific career in mind and want to create a tailored degree to prepare you for the future
• You want to study a new subject alongside one you’re already familiar with

What You Will Study

The modules below indicate the range of modules you may study as part of this combination, however prescribed and optional modules will vary depending on whether you choose to study both subjects equally, or choose to major or minor in a subject.

• Year one
• Year two
• Year three

Year One

Core modules:

• Introduction to Creative Writing and Publishing
• Markets and Media
• Editorial
• Theorising Literature and Meaning (PDP)
• Mutants and Monsters: Interpreting Fantasy
• Shakespeare and Early Modernity

How You Will Learn

You'll learn through a mixture of:

• Lectures, seminars and tutorials
• Creative writing workshops
• Project work
• Technology-enhanced learning
• Peer reviews and presentations
• We also arrange visits to literary festivals, local and national museums, cultural heritage sites and other areas of interest for 'location writing' exercises.

How You Are Assessed

Our assessment strategy is designed to produce confident, articulate graduates with a broad set of skills. There are no exams and forms of assessment include seminar debates, group presentations and conference papers alongside essays and longer research projects. We place great emphasis on developing your research skills, with independent projects playing a key part in the second and third year of the course.

Careers

We will provide you with the skills to critically engage with the world in which you live, as well as developing your understanding of cultural difference and of the capacity of language to produce unintended effects and meanings. Such awareness is hugely valuable to employers.

The UK publishing industry is proportionately the largest and most successful in the world, so you'll have an extensive range of career opportunities open to you. You could work as an author, editor or publisher of books, magazines or digital content. You could also consider a career as a literary agent, bookseller, or events co-ordinator at a book festival.

Outside of the publishing world, employers across all sectors always need people who can write and communicate well. The key skills you'll develop on this course — including writing, editing, group work and presentations — are essential for many roles, most obviously copywriters, marketers, advertising executives, events managers and publicists.

Graduates from our previous BA in Writing and Publishing went on to jobs in copywriting, arts development, librarianship, archive and record keeping, computer games and website design, teaching, marketing and law.

You may also choose to continue your studies at postgraduate level, for example on our MA Creative Writing or MA Publishing courses.

Entry Requirements

2025 Entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2025 entry.

• UCAS points: 112
• A Level: BBC
• BTEC: DMM
• GCSE: GCSE Maths and English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification
• Access to HE: Pass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 15, Merit: 24, Pass: 6
• English language requirements: IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)

Fees and Funding

2025/26

• Full-time: £9,535 per year (UK), £16,900 per year (International)
• Part-time: N/A

Additional Costs and Optional Extras

• Included in your fees: Mandatory study visits and some social events
• Optional costs not included in your fees: Some social events

How to Apply

• UK students: Apply through UCAS or directly to the University
• International students: Apply through our online application portal or through one of our trusted local representatives

Teaching Hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course Updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.