Oxford Brookes UniversityPublishing work experience
Unrivalled access to work experience through our connections in all parts of the industry
All our publishing students have the opportunity to do work experience during their course. This enables them to apply what they learn in a real environment, gain a greater understanding of how the industry works, and develop a network of contacts that will be invaluable to them in their career in publishing. Typically they have the chance to do a variety of work placements in a range of departments or market sectors.
We have a member of staff with responsibility for work experience and internships. In the academic year 2011/12 over 50 employers offered work placements to our students. There are also opportunities for work placements in other countries, including in the publishing divisions of international NGOs. For example, over recent years Oxford Brookes students have won places on the prestigious World Bank Publishing Internship Prize; in each of the last four years, two of our students were awarded prestigious internships at the International Labour Organization in Geneva. In the summer of 2011, six of our students had paid internships at Elsevier in Amsterdam.
The following is just a selection of companies and organizations offering work experience to our students:
A&C Black, Barefoot Books, Black Dog Publishing, Bloomsbury Publishing, Boardworks, Cambridge University Press, David Fickling Books, Dorling Kindersley, Elsevier, Faber & Faber, Felicity Bryan Literary Agency, Edinburgh University Press, GTI Publications, Guardian Books, Gullane Children's Books, Hachette, HarperCollins, Hodder Education, How To Books, Infinite Ideas, International Labour Office, Macmillan, Mitchell Beazley and Conran Octopus, New Internationalist, W.W. Norton, Oneworld, Osprey, Oxfam, Oxford University Press, Pearson, Pegasus Theatre, Piccadilly Press, Quadrille, Routledge, Simon and Schuster, SPCK, Story Museum, Sweet & Maxwell, Taylor & Francis, Walker Books, Wiley-Blackwell, World Health Organization, Xrefer.
International students
International students can do work experience alongside their studies, and many publishers welcome their skills and knowledge.
Feedback from Students
Lauren Moore, reflects on ‘Working in Publishing’ Event
Working in Publishing Day – OICPS Thursday 7th March 2013
OICPS students, both undergraduate and postgraduate were invited to attend the annual ‘Working in Publishing’ day, which offered not only the chance to speed-date with a whole host of representatives from the publishing industry, but also CV and prospecting workshops with essential job application tips.
Posted on 25 Mar 2013 around 2pm • Filed Under Publishing Work Experience •
Sophie Hall, MA Publishing
In making the decision to do the MA in Publishing at Oxford Brookes, I was really convinced by the international aspects of the course. Working with students from all over the world was a great social experience and allowed me insight into publishing and reading cultures in places as diverse as China, India, and South Africa, to name just a few.
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Posted on 25 Mar 2013 around 12pm • Filed Under Publishing Alumni • Filed Under Publishing Work Experience •
Jorinde Singh - MA Publishing
Internship at ILO in Geneva
I started the MA in publishing at Oxford Brookes as a complete publishing novice. I had a background in library science but almost no knowledge about the publishing world. This changed rapidly over the first months of the course. At that point I felt confident in applying for an internship with the International Labour Organization in Geneva. After an interview at the London Book Fair, I got the news that I had been selected
Posted on 29 Mar 2012 around 6pm • Filed Under Publishing • Filed Under Publishing Work Experience •
Jenny Peebles - MA Publishing
Internship at ILO in Geneva
I came to the MA in Publishing at Oxford Brookes from a background in the arts sector, and although I had worked on numerous publications, I had no formal training in the skills required in today's publishing industry. My twelve months in Oxford learning from the excellent tutors – and working with a brilliant bunch of peers – changed that considerably. The opportunity to intern at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva came just after the half-way point in the MA, at which time a lot of the students are thinking about their first professional steps after the course. I was interviewed at the London Book Fair in April and by the end of August was on my way to Geneva with my fellow intern, Jorinde. Being an intern with another student from Brookes is actually a great way to quickly feel at ease, even if, as was our case, we hadn't had much chance to work together on the MA. Having someone with whom to find your feet in the first few weeks works very well, and when one of you can't remember a crucial shortcut in InDesign, the other can often step into the breach.
Posted on 29 Mar 2012 around 6pm • Filed Under Publishing • Filed Under Publishing Work Experience •
Sophie Hall, MA Publishing
From September 2012, Sophie Hall is doing a 3-month internship in Geneva, in the Publications Office of the International Labour Organization. Previously she undertook a placement at Attwooll Associates, the Oxford-based consultancy and licensing agency specializing in electronic and print media, in North American and UK markets. She writes about this below:
Posted on 01 Feb 2012 around 10am • Filed Under MA Publishing • Filed Under Publishing Work Experience •
Aaron O’Dowling-Keane- MA in Publishing and internship at the International Labour Organization
I did my interview for the Brooke’s MA in Publishing whilst sitting under a mosquito net in a remote village in Tanzania where I’d been working as a teacher in a local school. Evidently, from the outset the international element of the MA was important to me. And the publishing department didn’t let me down, from the diverse make-up of the students, to international book fairs, to the courses I chose for the second semester - International Publishing Management and Publishing and Language - my passion for the global world of publishing was more than satisfied. One of the biggest international opportunities that came my way via Brookes was the chance to intern in the publishing department of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN specialized agency for labour. The ILO is based in Geneva.
Posted on 14 Mar 2011 around 6pm • Filed Under Publishing Alumni • Filed Under Publishing Work Experience •
Ola Wolenska – MA Publishing 2011
Ola Wolenska was awarded the Hachette UK Publishing Scholarship for the year 2010-11. She writes about her experiences in Oxford and her work placements at Hachette in London.
Applying to Oxford Brookes University for the MA in Publishing was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I grew up surrounded by books, journals and magazines, having an academic professional for my mum and an aunt in magazines distribution. Literature has had a great influence on my development and who I am right now.
Posted on 08 Mar 2011 around 10am • Filed Under Publishing • Filed Under MA Publishing • Filed Under Publishing Work Experience • Filed Under Scholarship and Funding •
Jenny Peebles, MA in Publishing
Jenny Peebles, MA in Publishing student and recipient of an AHRC Scholarship, writes of her experience of the course and the benefits of being funded:
'The Publishing department at Oxford Brookes has a history of students achieving funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council and – although the award comes from the Council and not from the university – this past success was a significant factor in my decision to apply to Brookes. Getting an AHRC scholarship has been fantastic; it allows me to study for an MA that is not only incredibly interesting, but that I'm confident will really enhance my employment opportunities.
Posted on 18 Feb 2011 around 4pm • Filed Under Publishing • Filed Under Publishing Work Experience •
Pippa Haggart, Bloomsbury Publishing
I recently completed a two week work experience placement in the Publicity department at Bloomsbury Publishing. During the placement I was invited to sit in on editorial, marketing and publicity meetings. I was given a wide range of challenging tasks, and I even got to spend one evening working at a book launch! Bloomsbury placements are great because you get to work alongside interns in other departments and this helps you to network and meet new people. I really enjoyed my time at Bloomsbury and would definitely recommend it to any Oxford Brookes student that wants to experience working in a successful publishing house.
Pippa Haggart, BA French and Publishing
Posted on 07 Feb 2011 around 2pm • Filed Under Publishing • Filed Under Publishing Work Experience •
Pippa Haggart, Orion Publishing Group
Pippa Haggart is a third-year undergraduate studying French and Publishing. She writes about doing work experience this summer at the Orion Publishing Group:
During two weeks in September 2010 I worked in Publicity at Orion and had a fantastic time. Being a publishing student, Orion allowed me to undertake tasks such as writing press releases, designing and producing show cards, and researching their markets in order to get their books the best possible exposure. I was also trusted to assist the Senior Publicity Manager of Weidenfeld & Nicolson on part of her publicity schedule for Handling Edna, the new title from author and comedian Barry Humphries. This was an exciting and challenging experience which allowed me to work in the heart of publicity: as well as working closely with the author, I helped to organize interviews and photo shoots with several national newspapers.
Posted on 21 Sep 2010 around 5pm • Filed Under Publishing Work Experience •
Unber Sheikh, MA Publishing 2010
When I applied for the MA in Publishing I underestimated the profound impact it would have on both my personal and professional development. Before applying I, like many, had felt the effects of this country’s worst economic downturn through an unexpected period of unemployment. During my job search, I came across the MA in Publishing at Oxford Brookes University and applied hoping that it would help improve my situation. It’s one year on and I can honestly say that I have no regrets. ...
Posted on 16 Aug 2010 around 5pm • Filed Under Publishing Work Experience •
Cambridge Publishing Scholarship
Charlotte Armstrong was awarded the Cambridge Publishing Scholarship for the year 2009-10. She writes about her experience on the MA Publishing at Oxford Brookes:
During my undergraduate degree in English Lit, I became interested in getting into publishing. I had always loved books, and really enjoyed the publishing-related activities I had been involved in at uni, such as being involved in the student newspaper. However, I realised that I actually had little practical understanding of the publishing industry, or indeed any real business acumen, and decided to apply for the Brookes Publishing MA to address these shortcomings. I cannot emphasize enough how much the course has helped me develop my early enthusiasm and experiences into more practical, career-focused aims. ...
Posted on 11 Jun 2010 around 10am • Filed Under Publishing Work Experience •
Polly Silk - MA Publishing 2010
Polly Silk was awarded the Hachette UK Publishing Scholarship for the year 2009-10. She writes about her experience on the MA Publishing at Oxford Brookes.
Although I had known for some time that I wanted to pursue a career in publishing, before coming to Brookes I had only a vague idea of the ‘big picture’ of the workings of the industry, having worked at a literary agency during the final year of my undergraduate degree. The MA has given me so much: a huge range of practical skills, from operating design software packages to producing marketing plans, and a truly broad overview of the real business of producing and promoting content. The tutors, all either currently or previously involved in the industry, have been amazing; they have given great support and guidance throughout the course and offered students unrivalled networking opportunities through their great range of industry connections. I have had so many new and fascinating experiences on the MA – travelling to the Frankfurt, Bologna and London book fairs, participating in a speed-dating style networking event and, just last month, attending a children’s publishing summer school in Florence.
Posted on 08 Jun 2010 around 9am • Filed Under Publishing • Filed Under MA Publishing • Filed Under Publishing Work Experience • Filed Under Scholarship and Funding •
Renada Arens - MA Publishing
Renada Arens was awarded the Macmillan Publishing Scholarship for the year 2009-10. She writes about her experience on the Master’s in Publishing at Oxford Brookes.
‘I have wanted to work in publishing since I was fifteen years old. With that goal in mind, I studied English literature and planned to get an editorial job upon completing my undergraduate degree in the States.
Posted on 24 May 2010 around 11am • Filed Under Publishing • Filed Under MA Publishing • Filed Under Publishing Work Experience • Filed Under Scholarship and Funding •
Heather Benn, OUP and Infinite Ideas
I started the MA course believing work experience to be a necessary evil I had to undertake for the sake of my CV. Having already spent two years working in marketing, I doubted I would benefit much from making photocopies, sorting post or performing other mundane tasks I felt sure would be expected of me.
I secured my first placement with the Educational Secondary Marketing team at Oxford University Press in September and within a month my opinions on the subject were quickly changing. The friendly and supportive team were keen to ensure my experience with them was worthwhile and I was soon undertaking more challenging projects like authoring email marketing campaigns or preparing design briefs for promotional material. I was recently asked to prepare a PR plan for a title which bore a striking resemblance to the major project in my Marketing module. ...
Posted on 01 Feb 2010 around 3pm • Filed Under Publishing Work Experience •
Andrew Stanley – Work experience and networking
I secured three work experience placements during my time on the MA Publishing programme. The first I found by going out to the pub with all the men from the year above and turning socialising into a bit of friendly networking. The other two I found through the opportunities which are posted on the OICPS web page. ...
Posted on 16 Nov 2009 around 11am • Filed Under Publishing • Filed Under Publishing Work Experience •
Marina Debattista – Pearson Education
Marina Debattista, a student on the MA Publishing programme, writes about her work experience at Pearson Education.
Posted on 16 Nov 2009 around 11am • Filed Under Publishing Work Experience •
Publishing internship in Geneva
Helen Swain, a student on the master’s in publishing programme, writes about her internship in Geneva in the publications department of the International Labour Office …
Posted on 27 Oct 2009 around 3pm • Filed Under Publishing Alumni • Filed Under Publishing Work Experience •
Jennifer Lunsford - Work experience and networking
In the space of about seven months I have been fortunate enough to have had three work experience placements, not to mention paid freelance work and ultimately multiple permanent job offers. The key for me has been, truly and genuinely, networking. And a bit of help from the staff in the publishing department at Oxford Brookes, who provide a wide range of work experience opportunities for students. ...
Posted on 16 Jul 2009 around 10am • Filed Under Publishing Work Experience •
Alexandra McGregor – Piccadilly Press
Piccadilly Press is a small publisher producing books for children and teens, with a list encapsulating everything from picture books to a specialty in teen ‘chick lit'. I was lucky enough to get involved in some of the work they do during a work placement in May 2009. ...
Posted on 22 Jun 2009 around 3pm • Filed Under Publishing Work Experience •
Feedback from Companies
Pegasus Theatre
Generation Pegasus, Oxford Youth Theatre's magazine, is now well established in its current format and having the calibre of a student like our OICPS placement on board has been fantastic, he has been professional, creative and committed.Posted on 13 Feb 2008 around 11am • Filed Under Publishing Companies •
b small publishing
We have been very pleased indeed with our OICPS student. We had never had a work experience student before and were anxious that, as a very small office, we would have to spend too much time explaining things.Posted on 26 Jun 2007 around 12pm • Filed Under Publishing Companies •
A Local Publishing Company
Incredibly punctual (always early and always left late), conscientious and helpful, with a real gift for writing. Of great use and I would recommend having a placement student to others in the future.Posted on 14 Jun 2006 around 2pm • Filed Under Publishing Companies •
An Oxford Publishing Company
Hard working, quick to learn and easy-going. A very positive attitutde to the placement and didn’t complain about the more tedious or less glamourous elements of it. They worked hard and we’d have them back.Posted on 14 Jun 2006 around 2pm • Filed Under Publishing Companies •
HarperCollins
Helpful & eager to do anything, very accurate editorial skills, doesn’t mind mucking in when neccessary, very friendly, punctual, communicative etc. So we’ve been very pleased. And yes, I think it’s a good scheme that should continue in the future.Posted on 14 Jun 2006 around 2pm • Filed Under Publishing Companies •
Oxford University Press
2 work experience students now employed! - It is great to have them both on board, keen, well-informed and bright. You obviously train ‘em well on the MA. We look forward to the next set of work experience students :-)Posted on 14 Jun 2006 around 2pm • Filed Under Publishing Companies •
Attwooll Associates
Our Oxford International Centre for Publishing Studies student has been really great. Most of the work has been web-based research done in their own time and space, and so the success of the work experience is down to their character: hard-working, conscientious, bright, and self-starting.
Posted on 14 Jun 2006 around 11am • Filed Under Publishing Companies •