MA Children's Publishing at Bath Spa University

Children's and Young Adult books are internationally successful, high-growth areas of publishing in terms of innovation, revenues and employment.

This creative, industry-focused course offers a deep and immersive learning experience across editorial, marketing, rights and contracts, and design and production. Additionally, business strategy, audience and market research, user experience and digital product development, collaboration and project management are all covered, along with careers coaching.  

The course has been carefully designed to offer each student the flexibility to tailor coursework and a final extended project to their own interests and ambitions. 

You'll have access to up-to-date information from industry speakers and field trips to key events, which might include the Bath Children's Literature Festival, the London International Book Fair and the Bologna Children's Book Fair.

Publishing at Bath Spa is characterised by innovative approaches, creative studio-based collaborative working and high-quality making across all published forms, from handmade and print to digital and live.

This practice-based subject involves creative experimentation, intellectual and critical engagement with ideas, research and stories. It involves the application of creativity, imagination, critical judgement and commercial awareness in the conceptualisation, shaping and production of engaging content. A distinctive feature of the course will be the creative-digital-tech approach to innovation, drawing on our expertise in both digital publishing and physical books e.g. story apps and pop-up books.

A particular strength of this MA is in picturebooks, which form a significant part of the international children's publishing industry. The international context is an important component of the course in terms of translation, rights, illustration, and sales; as is an awareness of audience, market and merchandise.

In-built flexibility enables students to tailor the course to suit their interests and chosen specialism, such as new product development, editorial, marketing, design or production; young adult, educational and picturebooks. Students will graduate with a stunning professional portfolio demonstrating relevant knowledge and experience in the specific area in which they wish to build a career.

Careers

You'll receive expert advice on developing an appropriate industry CV to accompany your digital portfolio, as well as specialist publishing careers advice.

MA Children's Publishing graduates will be prepared for a wide range of roles within the publishing industry such as editorial, design and production, and marketing. In addition, transferable skills will make you attractive to recruiters in digital content development, digital marketing, merchandising and education. You might also set up your own businesses or continue your studies at PhD level.