MRes Publishing Studies

at University of Stirling

The MRes Publishing Studies is a one-year, full-time course designed to enable you to research aspects of contemporary or historical publishing. The course has both a September and a February intake, and benefits from access to the modules in the MLitt in Publishing Studies, independent research modules and a dissertation. There’s an option to take the course part-time over two years.
 

Modules
The module information below provides an example of the types of course module you may study. The details listed are for the current academic year (September 2021). Modules and start dates are regularly reviewed and may be subject to change in future years.
 

Year 1, Autumn semester

Compulsory module

• Publishing Dynamics (PUBPP16)    20 credits
   

Option module
 

Select 20 to 40 credits from PUBPP26 or PUBPP29 list

• Content Management: Manuscript to Market (PUBPP26)    20 credits
• Publishing Project (PUBPP29)    40 credits
   

Year 1, Spring semester

Option module

Select 0 to 20 credits from MRes Publishing Studies options list

• Publishing, Literature and Society (PUBPP30)    20 credits
• Digital Publishing: Theory and Practice (PUBPP31)    20 credits
• Skills for Publishing Management (PUBPP33)    20 credits
• Publishing in the Workplace (PUBPP34)    20 credits
• an option should only be selected in spring if PUBPP26 is chosen in autumn
   

Year 1, Summer semester

Dissertation
 

Select 100 credits from Dissertation list

• Dissertation (PUBPPDS)    100 credits

Academic requirements
A minimum of a second class honours degree or equivalent. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply.
 

Other routes of entry
If you don’t currently meet the academic requirements for this course, INTO University of Stirling offers a variety of preparation programmes that can earn you the qualifications and skills you need for direct entry.
 

English language requirements
 

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

• IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill 
• Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) 169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill
• Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) 180 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill
• IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing
• IBT TOEFL Special Home Edition Test 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing
• Trinity ISE II Pass overall with a Pass in each sub-skill, ISE III Pass overall and in all sub-skills, ISE IV Pass overall and in all sub-skills
• Aptis (4 skills) CEFR B2 overall and B2 in all sub-skills
• Duolingo 95 overall with a minimum of 90 in all sub-skills
• LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator - High Pass overall with minimum 25 in each sub-skill

Overseas (non-EU) students

2022/23 - £17,275
2023/24 - £17,775
 

Course fees

Fees shown are for a full-time, one-year Masters course.

• If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
• If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
   

Cost of living
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
 

European Union and overseas students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.

This research-focused Masters course can be used to advance existing publishing careers, or for students to pursue further study at PhD-level. We have over 40 years’ worth of graduates now working in the publishing and related industries across the world. Entry level jobs our students have gone into in recent years include:

• Publicity Assistant, Canongate
• Publicity Assistant, Faber & Faber
• Marketing Assistant, Taylor & Francis
• Events & Marketing Assistant, The Bookseller
• Sales & Marketing Assistant, McGraw Hill
• Production Assistant, Oxford University Press
• Editorial Assistant, Oxford University Press
• Production Editor, Cicerone Press
• Publishing Assistant, Cengage Learning
• Web editor, Digital Publishing Department, China Social Sciences Press
• Foreign Rights Specialist, Suncolor Publishing Group
• Web Editor, BooksfromScotland.com
   

Some of our alumni who have worked in the publishing industry have gone onto the following job roles:

• Group Sales Director and President (Asia Region), Taylor & Francis
• Chief Executive, Publishing Scotland
• Managing Editor, Little Island Books
• Higher Education Texts and eBook Sales Manager, Taylor and Francis (Asia Pacific)
• Director, World Book Day
• Production Editor, Taylor & Francis
• Founder and Publisher, Tapsalteerie and Lumphanan Press