Being on the UCL’s MA Publishing course has been one of the most fantastic opportunities I’ve ever had. While having been able to make more friends and learn new things, I’ve also been able to boost my chances of getting into the industry and securing a career.

When I look back on the first week of the course, I remember worrying so much, because I didn’t know if this was the right course for me. The main reason for this was searching on Twitter for my new course mates and finding that the majority of them were English or Literature graduates while I was a recent graduate in Graphic Arts. I was terrified that I didn’t have the same skills the rest of my cohort had, and that I would probably fail this course.

Well, I’m writing this as I’m just about to undertake the second term, and I have to say I’m still alive! It’s been hard at times, but I really don’t regret joining this course, and it has given me confidence in skills that I thought I didn’t have and ones I didn’t think I needed from my past course. I’ve found that I’ve done a lot more designing and illustrations than I had done in my year after my graduation!

So here are a few tips for those who are interested in applying for the 2016-2017 MA Publishing course but who might not have an English/Literature BA degree. Hopefully, it will encourage and inspire you to use your skills to your advantage!

• Don’t feel intimidated!

On the first day of the course, you and every other of your classmates will be in the same boat. You will all be learning together, so there is no level of disadvantage for anyone. Just try to keep positive and remember you are on the course because you share the same passions and interests as those of your classmates, no matter if you’ve studied a different course!

• Use your skills to your advantage!

Publishing has many varied areas from design to finance. So there are plenty of opportunities for the skills you have learned to shine! The skills you have will always work as an advantage to you and help to make you stand out from the others on the course. Also, if they are taught in class and people are struggling, make sure you’re available to give them a helping hand. It’s also key to keep your skills on your publishing CV, even though they may not seem relatable – you never know if they may come in handy.

• Take as many opportunities as you can!

From internships to a call for help from tutors – make sure they know what you are skilled and interested in. If you work hard and show you’re interested with your skills, you will get noticed. It’s so important in the professional world to demonstrate you have a unique selling point because you’ll be more memorable to people who may have a job for you under their sleeves!

These are tips that I have learned from this first term on the course. It’s so important to make sure that you believe in yourself, and if you have a strong love for books and a passion for reading – you’ll fit in here just fine!

Good luck to you if you’re just about to send in your application, or just about to finish your graduate exams. Hope to see you soon at UCL!

Each week we are planning to present a student profile for future employers to see. These profiles can include anything you think relevant, including personal information, CV, work experience, information on where you’d like to work – really anything you fancy.

In order to make it fair, we will be running competitions each week in order to choose the student to focus on. This week, the competition is…

Compose a Tweet that describes everything you love about the UCL Publishing course.

Tweets can include photos, links and videos, but must include #UCLPubLove and be posted by midnight on Tuesday 28th October. The student who writes the best Tweet will be featured on here next week in whatever form they prefer.

Happy Tweeting!

… from the new blog team at UCL’s Centre for Publishing!

We’re really excited to be running the blog platform for our department, and we hope you enjoy reading as much as we enjoy creating! So you know who we are if you ever have any questions, or want us to post anything for you, we’ve created little profiles for all 6 of us below.

Yasmin Morrissey @MorrisseyYasmin

Where are you from?: Half Irish, half Egyptian but raised in London.

What did you study for your undergraduate and where?: I studied Law, in Cork, Ireland.

What is your favourite book?: I have a few depending on my mood. I don’t want to be too typical and say Harry Potter (even though it is really) so I will say Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith.

What Publishing Project are you working on?:  I am working on the Norvik Press project.

What has been the highlight of the course so far?:  Difficult question. I think having our first meeting with Norvik Press as a team and deciding who will be doing what on the project. Working with a great team and it’s making me feel very excited.

Likes/Dislikes: Likes = Books, bears, cooking, Bulldogs, travelling and chocolate. Dislikes = Cucumber, sausages, waking up early and football.

Lucy Broughton @lucyybroughton

Where are you from?: Southampton.

What did you study for your undergraduate and where?: I studied History at the University of Warwick.

What is your favourite book?:  I hate this question because I never know the answer, so I’m just going to list some favourites… The Lord of the Rings, Pride and Prejudice, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Lindsey Kelk’s I heart… series, The Book Thief, The Secret Garden, nearly anything YA.

What Publishing Project are you working on?:  The Bookseller Children’s project.

What has been the highlight of the course so far?:  The treasure hunt! I may be slightly biased because I won the subsequent blog competition and a beautiful copy of The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell…

Likes/Dislikes: Likes = Books obviously… films (even the bad ones), indie and folk music, travelling, Italian food, sleeping in, Topshop and ASOS. Dislikes = Spiders, pink, running, spoilers, extreme historical inaccuracies.

Caroline Murphy @carolinealice93