Study publishing at the University of Derby

27 Oct 2016

The UK is home to one of the world’s largest and highest grossing publishing industries, boasting over 230,000 jobs! And in just one year, from 2014 to 2015, this employment figure increased by a whopping four percent. In 2014, sales of books produced by UK based publishers rung up at a cool £3.3 billion, proving that the industry is not only alive and well, but continues to grow and thrive.

With such a fertile employment landscape, you might be wondering how securing a job in this field can often seem so difficult. But one world-class UK university is providing students with the skills to make this specialised employment quest significantly easier; the College of Law, Humanities & Social Sciences at the University of Derby is the first in the UK to offer degrees specifically designed for those seeking careers in the publishing field.

Luckily, you won’t need to worry about your lack of experience at Derby. The university is committed to ensuring graduates always leave ‘work-ready’. The Careers and Employability services at Derby are there to guide you from the moment you start your course for up to three years after you graduate! To find out more about Derby’s career services, visit their webpage or get in touch via email at sea@derby.ac.uk.

No matter what you want to do with your Publishing degree, be it writing your own novels or publishing other people’s work, Derby will give you the information, skills, and experience you’ll need in order to excel. Let’s take a look at Derby’s two publishing pathways open at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels:

BA (Hons) Writing and Publishing

Thanks to a unique blend of creativity, innovation, and practical experience, the BA Writing and Publishing degree will provide you with inspiration, expertise and connections. After graduation, you’ll be well-equipped to obtain a career in book or magazine publishing as well as editing or writing. If you want to forge your own path into publishing, you’ll also learn the skills needed to create a successful start-up business.

Lecturers boast extensive experience in almost all aspects of publishing, from editing and journalism to ethics and design. You’ll gain experience with Derby’s in-house commercial publisher, Peregrine Books, on top of valuable transferable skills. Students are also given the chance to take part in an internship with any of Derby’s professional publishing partners.

Image courtesy of the University of Derby

MA Publishing

This one-year Master’s course goes a step further than the BA, honing in on the changes and challenges currently facing the publishing sector. You’ll get an inside look at the industry by studying subjects such as book design, marketing, and entrepreneurship. You’ll learn all there is to know about traditional and digital publishing – not just from your lecturers, but from guest speakers such as published authors, literary agents, and editors as well.

Derby’s MA Publishing students benefit from the same opportunities to gain experience as your undergraduate counterparts and then some; whether you take on volunteer positions at book launches and fairs or become part of the university’s in-house publishing team, your CV will be chock-full of the relevant experience modern employers constantly look for. As if that wasn’t enough, lecturers can also assist you in finding internships at publishing houses.

After you graduate, you’ll be equipped with an arsenal of transferable skills. If you change your mind and decide you’d rather go into illustration or web design, you can do that with the skills you’ve learned on the MA publishing course.

Image courtesy of the University of Derby

Education is about more than just learning – it’s also about evolving and experiencing. The University of Derby is committed to ensuring it provides students and graduates with opportunities to do all three. With this one-of-a-kind, industry specific degree, in addition to Derby’s supportive career services, you’ll be one step closer to securing your dream career in publishing. Ready to say goodbye to your fears and embark on an exciting career journey?

Need answers to specific questions about the course or the campus? Get in touch with Alastair Carnegie Hodge, Publishing course leader, via email at a.hodge@derby.ac.uk today.

Follow the University of Derby on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn