Is the MA Publishing Studies for senior or entry-level publishing roles?

It supports both. Career-track graduates use the MA Publishing Studies to enter publishing at strong assistant-editor level; working publishing staff use it to move from assistant to commissioning, rights or strategic roles. Discuss your career goals with admissions at application.

Does the MA Publishing Studies cover independent publishing?

Yes. The publishing strategy and economics modules treat independent publishing as a serious adjacent practice. Several MA Publishing Studies graduates each year launch independent presses or publishing ventures during or just after the course.

Can I take the MA Publishing Studies part-time?

Yes. The MA Publishing Studies can be taken over two years part-time, with online and distance modes designed for working publishing professionals. Most working students complete the dissertation in the second year.

What kind of dissertation do MA Publishing Studies students produce?

Past MA Publishing Studies dissertations have ranged from rights-strategy case studies to analyses of audio publishing growth and editorial diversity practice. The 12,000–15,000-word dissertation is on a question of your choice, with named supervisor matched to your topic.

What fees, scholarships and instalments are available?

Fees for the MA Publishing Studies vary by mode, intake and student status. LSJHML offers automatic scholarship review for every applicant, instalment plans and a small early-application discount. Contact admissions for the current schedule.

MA Publishing Studies in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MA Publishing Studies at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a one-year UK postgraduate degree for working publishing professionals, Bachelor's-level graduates aiming directly at senior entry, and career-changers from journalism, academia or bookselling. The course is built in dialogue with the Publishers Association, the Society of Young Publishers and the Independent Publishers Guild.

You will work through advanced commissioning, rights and publishing strategy, study the contemporary economics of trade and independent publishing, and produce a 12,000–15,000-word dissertation on a publishing question of your own.

Key Features

UK Master's degree — one year full-time or two years part-time, with online and distance routes available.
Advanced commissioning module — read submissions, write reader's reports at editor level, defend an acquisition in editorial board.
Rights strategy module covering domestic, foreign, translation, audio, adaptation and emerging-format rights.
Publishing strategy module — list design, brand-building, audience strategy at Master's depth.
Industry-led masterclasses from working senior commissioning editors, rights directors and publishing strategists.
12,000–15,000-word dissertation on a publishing question, supervised by a working senior practitioner or academic.

What You Will Learn

The MA Publishing Studies is structured around the working life of a senior publishing professional — acquire, edit, produce, position, sell, account. You finish able to make and defend acquisition decisions, design a publishing list strategy, manage a rights pipeline, and write a Master's dissertation on a question facing the industry.

Advanced commissioning — submission evaluation, P&L modelling, acquisition defence at editor level.
Advanced editing — substantive and structural editing at Master's standard.
Rights strategy — domestic, foreign, translation, audio, adaptation, emerging-format rights pipelines.
Publishing strategy — list design, brand-building, audience strategy.
Marketing and publicity at senior level — campaign design, publication-day choreography, retail and direct strategy.
Publishing law — contracts, intellectual property, libel pre-publication, contemporary online safety.
Publishing economics — trade structures, independent models, audio and digital growth, the freelance market.
Dissertation research methods — design, industry-engaged research, academic writing.

Who This MA Is For

Working publishing professionals with two-plus years' experience moving into senior roles.
Bachelor's graduates in publishing, English or humanities aiming directly at senior-track entry.
Career-changers from journalism, academia or bookselling moving into publishing leadership.
Independent publishers and indie press founders wanting a structured Master's credential to support scaling.

Career Pathways

The MA Publishing Studies supports progression into senior editorial, rights and strategic roles across trade, independent and academic publishing. Typical post-MA destinations include:

Commissioning Editor (senior role, trade or academic press)
Rights Manager (senior role, rights department or agency)
Production Editor (senior role with multi-list responsibility)
Marketing and Publicity Manager (senior in-house role)
Indie Press Founder (with business-planning support from the MA's strategy modules)
Publishing Strategist (consultancy, in-house strategy role, agent)

The MA also supports founding an independent press or progression into senior strategic roles at established publishers.

Entry Requirements

A UK 2:2 honours degree (or international equivalent) in a related subject, OR a 2:2 in any subject with two years of relevant professional experience in publishing or adjacent industries.
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
Personal statement (max 1 page) outlining your motivation, publishing background and intended specialism.
Two academic or professional references.
Applicants without a related undergraduate degree may be considered with significant industry experience and a written sample.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.