MSc Publishing at Edinburgh Napier University: A Student Experience
- Apr 11
- 2 min read
By Emma Martin
I am no stranger to Edinburgh; it has so much to offer, and I’ve even come to appreciate the initially eyewatering number of stairs and hills that characterise the city. After finishing my undergraduate degree here, I jumped at the opportunity to pursue a masters in publishing, and Edinburgh Napier University has just that. An insight into my experience on the course so far…
The Programme at a Glance
Edinburgh Napier’s MSc publishing course comprises three trimesters, with teaching in the first two and the third for writing a dissertation. I’ve had the opportunity to work on a whole host of exciting projects and develop not only my theoretical knowledge of publishing but also my practical skills editing, designing, marketing, and beyond. Adobe Creative Cloud used to be fear-inducing, but having pushed past that I’ve surprised myself and discovered a love for design.
Favourite Haunts
The Merchiston neighbourhood is home to Edinburgh Napier’s School of Arts and Creative Industries. The campus itself has multiple cafes and caters to everyone – I myself have been fuelled by more baked potatoes and lattes from the canteen than I care to count. Off-campus, the area is full of independent cafes and shops, and naturally as a publishing student I have also perused the local bookshops extensively (passing The Edinburgh Bookshop on my way to campus is a test of willpower not to stop in every time).
Standout Experiences
One of the best things about the programme is the diverse opportunities it has afforded me. As part of Magazine Challenge, I oversaw the creation of a magazine from start to finish in one week (not standard industry practice I was reliably informed, but very insightful nonetheless), hosted an evening of short story readings at the Edinburgh Literary Salon, and shadow judged the 2025 Saltire Book Awards fiction category. I would be remiss not to also mention the thrilling opportunity I’ve had to do a work placement with Luna Press!
Through these experiences I have made wonderful connections and worked with many brilliant minds. While the course has naturally come with some stress particularly around assessment deadlines, I wholeheartedly recommend it for anyone considering pursuing a degree in publishing, and to have this on offer in Edinburgh makes it all the more enjoyable.
Comments