publishing masters dissertation

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From Masters dissertation to publication

In this post, Grace Lewis, an Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research PhD student at the University of Leeds, shares her experience of writing a journal article from her MPH dissertation completed with the Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh.

Having completed the MPH online programme in 2019, I was invited to write a blog post about the experience of writing a journal article from my masters dissertation. I hope to share a few tips based on my learning from this experience. My background is as an Orthoptist in the NHS (many people look puzzled at the Orthoptist title - you can find out more here ).

I had been fortunate early in my career to be seconded as a research assistant working on a crosssectional study and so I had some experience as a co-author in amongst a list of much more experienced authors. In this blog, I’ll tell you a little about my experience of a first author role. 

I had been keen to take the dissertation route right from the start of the MPH to help with my goal of returning to research. Whilst studying MPH modules I developed an interest in tobacco-related health research. Like many ‘topics’ in public health, tobacco can be linked to numerous diseases and poses continuing challenges globally. With multiple complex factors involved in tobacco control, such as the publics’ choices and the psychology around smoking, the addiction factor, the policies for smoking reduction and legislation, and politico-legal will (only to name a few!) - this mix fascinated me and made me reflect on my childhood, pre-indoor non-smoking legislation, when public smoking was common-place indoors.

I had a challenging time with choosing a dissertation or study type. I was living overseas with limited local language skills and no real local network to develop a primary study from scratch. I had decided a systematic review or policy brief were not my first choices. On discussion with the dissertation leader and my eventual supervisor our interests in tobacco research and smoke free home promotion were aligned. I was invited to analyse newly emerging qualitative data from a smoke-free home study in Edinburgh and take my analysis in whichever direction I saw fit (with discussion), based upon the data. I was nervous to embark on this remotely whilst also being new to qualitative research. However, the connection to a live smoke-free home promotion project seemed like the perfect fit for me. In short, the dissertation explored parents’ experiences of stigma when using nicotine replacement therapy during a feasibility study to enable smoke-free homes for their families.

The journey to publication

With my dissertation almost done and dusted, Neneh asked if I might consider writing for publication. This was a little scary, as I’ve always struggled with writing concisely- how was I going to get all of the important points across from my dissertation, in a shortened version and still have it to a standard acceptable to reviewers and editors? Of course, the answer was lots of drafts and editing.

So, what was my writing process?/how did I get started?

I decided I should write a first draft in a generic journal-like format and see how it turned out. I knew it would be too long to begin with, but it gave me a starting point and stopped me from procrastinating! It is worth having an abstract that you and your co-authors are really happy with early on, in case you are asked for this prior to a full draft.

I had fortunately hoarded my dissertation notes, such as reflective diaries and memos, which helped me to remember my train of thought from months earlier.

Write a draft or choose a journal first?

It could be argued best to decide on the journal you’d like to submit to first. You’ll probably have an idea of some journals that might be a good fit, based on your MPH reading. Your supervisor will be able to suggest some and may have experience of the process involved for each journal, their likely turn-around time and such.

I did not want to rush my choice of journal to submit to first, as choosing what might turn out to be a bad fit would likely mean having to re-draft for submission to another journal. This meant I had a draft written before choosing a journal. There isn’t a right or wrong way (as far as I know, but I’m still learning), just things to consider.

Some points to think about

Impact factors

Having been out on a career break before starting the MPH, I was not too familiar with journal impact factors, and whilst not all journals publish an impact factor, some authors consider these important and you may wish to look at this when choosing a journal to submit to.

Most open access journals will add a publication fee known as an article processing charge (APC). For students especially, these are not cheap. If you had funding for your masters, there may be some funds available to you for an APC. It was suggested to me to write to the editors and ask if they might waive the APC as I was still a student and had moved onto a different university. This is where having your abstract ready will be useful.

Instructions for manuscripts

Most journals have instructions available online. It’s worth prereading these to be sure you are happy to write in their prescribed way, as some are more prescriptive than others.

Project managing

You will become a mini project manager as first author. You will write the first draft and ask for co-author comments and edits, arrange meetings, if needed, to discuss drafts and write re-drafts until you are all agreed on a final pre-submission draft. You will be dealing with all admin associated with your submission process and liaising with your co-authors, sometimes under journal timelines. This will include things like writing cover letters to editors, writing responses to reviewers and re-drafting, if needed, for re-review. Followed by re-drafting again for other journals should you need to move on from your first choice, if the article is not accepted.

Time management is something you may be thinking about if considering writing for publication (I certainly had questions about this a year or so ago)- So, how long does the whole process take? Each writing experience will be different, but I fitted mine in around a full-time job followed by a fulltime PhD, by writing mostly on Saturday mornings whilst my kids were at sports clubs. The article was published about one year after I had submitted my dissertation.

The right-journal-fit for your article should make life easier

I really agonised over which journal to submit to first. In searching and re-searching I found a special issue calling for papers that fitted my dissertation project perfectly and I was very glad that I had not rushed into submitting it elsewhere  prior to that (another point worth remembering is that many journals will not accept a manuscript that is under consideration elsewhere).

Remember your co-authors will likely have been through the writing and submission process many times as first and co-authors. Ask the questions that seem “silly” to put your mind at ease and allow you to focus rather than spend time unduly worrying about any doubts you may have. Co-author comments, feedback, and discussions with you about the article will be vital and will help build your confidence for the final submission.

Is it worth it?

You will need to invest time and potentially money if you cannot secure funds for the APC. As MPH students or graduates you will know that research waste is, well, potentially wasteful on many levels  and that there is an ever-increasing focus on sharing findings (and data, where appropriate) to maximise impact. Being a first author and/or co-author is great for your CV and applications- one of my PhD interview questions was along the lines of “are you planning to publish anything from your masters dissertation?” If you plan to stay in research or start a career in research it is a great starting point. Even if you aren’t staying in research, having a publication shows dedication and commitment to seeing a project through to another level and it can give a great sense of achievement.

Every experience is different, so it is worth speaking to contacts and colleagues for advice too, at least to be aware of potential pitfalls. My experience was positive and although it is easy to get swayed by hearing others’ negative experiences with journal reviews and rejections, there are positive stories out there too and a lot to be learned during the process.

If you decide this is for you, try to stay positive, and be willing to learn as you go. Good luck!

About Grace Lewis

"I am the current Student Representative on the Advocacy Committee at the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research. I graduated from the University of Sheffield with a BMedSci (Hons) in Orthoptics and have seven years’ experience as a clinical Orthoptist in the NHS. I have some experience in quantitative and qualitative research methodology, and an interest in improving health-related quality of life. I completed a Master’s in Public Health (distinction) at the University of Edinburgh. During my master’s dissertation I developed an interest in novel familial interventions to improve child and family health, particularly respiratory health." 

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Publishing a Master’s Thesis: A Guide for Novice Authors

Robert g. resta.

1 Swedish Cancer Institute, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA USA

Patricia McCarthy Veach

2 Department of Educational Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA

Sarah Charles

3 Jefferson Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA USA

Kristen Vogel

4 Center for Medical Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL USA

Terri Blase

5 Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Advocate Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn, IL USA

Christina G. S. Palmer

6 Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA USA

7 Department of Human Genetics, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA USA

8 UCLA Semel Institute, 760 Westwood Plaza, Room 47-422, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA

Publication of original research, clinical experiences, and critical reviews of literature are vital to the growth of the genetic counseling field, delivery of genetic counseling services, and professional development of genetic counselors. Busy clinical schedules, lack of time and funding, and training that emphasizes clinical skills over research skills may make it difficult for new genetic counselors to turn their thesis projects into publications. This paper summarizes and elaborates upon a presentation aimed at de-mystifying the publishing process given at the 2008 National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Education Conference. Specific topics include familiarizing prospective authors, particularly genetic counseling students, with the basics of the publication process and related ethical considerations. Former students’ experiences with publishing master’s theses also are described in hopes of encouraging new genetic counselors to submit for publication papers based on their thesis projects.

Introduction

Scholarship is important for growth of a profession and for clinical care. For these reasons, the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) endorses scholarly activities through Practice Based Competency IV.5 (American Board of Genetic Counseling 2009 ). Boyer ( 1990 ) describes four types of scholarship (Scholarship of Discovery, Scholarship of Integration, Scholarship of Application, and Scholarship of Teaching), all of which are endorsed by ABGC and required of accredited genetic counseling training programs. The first three types of scholarship, which involve generating new knowledge or applying existing knowledge to an important problem, are the basis of the ABGC’s requirement that students in accredited programs engage in scholarship and complete a scholarly product. The ABGC defines a scholarly product to include: a master’s thesis, an independent research project, a literature review/case report, a formal needs assessment, design and implementation of an innovative patient, professional, or community educational program, and/or preparation of a grant proposal.

The purpose of this article is to encourage students to disseminate their scholarly work (except grant proposals) through a journal publication. This article was developed from an Educational Breakout Session (EBS) at the 2008 National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) Annual Education Conference and draws upon the experiences of a past editor and current assistant editor of the Journal of Genetic Counseling ( JOGC ), a student mentor, and recent genetic counseling graduates who successfully turned their student thesis projects into peer-reviewed publications.

Engaging in scholarship is important for increasing genetic counselors’ self-knowledge, but dissemination of scholarship is essential for the growth of the genetic counseling field. McGaghie and Webster ( 2009 ) identify a wide range of types of scholarly products that promote broad dissemination of information, including peer-reviewed journal articles (e.g., original research, case reports, review articles), book chapters, books or monographs, edited books, essays, editorials, book reviews, letters, conference reports, educational materials, reports of teaching practices, curriculum description, videos, simulations, simulators, and web-based tutorials. As evidence of the importance of disseminating scholarship to the field of genetic counseling, dissemination of scholarly products is actively promoted by the NSGC, the major professional organization for the genetic counseling profession. A prominent example of NSGC’s commitment to dissemination is the JOGC , a professional journal devoted to disseminating peer-reviewed information relevant to the practice of genetic counseling. The success of this journal over nearly two decades is a strong indicator of the value genetic counselors place on publishing journal articles as an essential product of scholarship.

Individuals who have completed a master’s thesis or equivalent should consider publication. This “call to publish” student work is based on evidence that a large proportion of students engage in a scholarly activity with publication potential. A recent survey of 531 genetic counselors suggests that 75% of respondents fulfilled their scholarly activity requirement via a master’s thesis (Clark et al. 2006 ). Among this group, 21% classified their thesis as “hypothesis driven” and 20% classified it as a “descriptive study.” Although the research may be relatively small scale given the time and resource constraints of short training programs (≤2 years), it nonetheless offers a rich and varied source of information about the practice of genetic counseling that could be shared with the broader community through publication. Yet Clark et al. ( 2006 ) found that only 21.6% of respondents who completed a master’s thesis had submitted a manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. It appears that many students do not submit their research for professional publication, perhaps due to a combination of time constraints, lack of mentoring and support, unfamiliarity with the publication process, lack of professional confidence, and fear of rejection (Clark et al. 2006 ; Cohen et al. 2008 ; Driscoll and Driscoll 2002 ; Keen 2006 ). Because this is one aspect of scholarship that has received limited attention, guidance regarding the details and vicissitudes of the publication process, and acknowledgement that master’s theses can be successfully published, are needed.

Of course, one might question why students should or would publish the results of their graduate work. The answer is complex, without a “one size fits all,” because scholarship can be intrinsically and/or extrinsically motivated. McGaghie and Webster ( 2009 ) describe intrinsic motives as including sharing knowledge, career advancement, status improvement, collegial approval, personal pleasure, and response to challenge; extrinsic motives include academic pressure, commitment to patient care, practice improvement, and promoting the use of new technologies. Although the reasons genetic counselors publish articles have not been empirically evaluated, Clark et al. ( 2006 ) (i) concluded that a substantial number of genetic counselors consider active involvement in research (a form of scholarship and precursor to publication) to be a core role, and (ii) found that respondents endorsed a range of intrinsic and extrinsic motives for their involvement in research. These reasons included interest in the subject, contributing to the field, personal development/satisfaction, diversifying job responsibilities, job requirements, lack of existing research on a particular topic, and career advancement. It is reasonable to infer that these reasons would extend to publication as well.

The work that culminates in a master’s thesis provides the basis for a professional journal article. However, writing a professional journal article differs from writing a master’s thesis. This article, therefore, provides practical ideas and considerations about the process for developing a master’s thesis into a peer-reviewed journal article and describes successful case examples. Research and publication occur in stages and include many important topics. Previous genetic counseling professional development articles have partially or comprehensively addressed the topics of developing and conducting a research project (Beeson 1997 ), writing a manuscript (Bowen 2003 ), and the peer-review process (Weil 2004 ). This paper expands on previous articles by describing the publication process and discussing publication ethics, with emphasis on aspects pertinent to publishing a master’s thesis. It is hoped that this article will encourage genetic counselors to publish their research.

The primary audience for this article is genetic counselors who are conducting a master’s thesis or equivalent or who completed a thesis in the last few years which remains unpublished. The secondary audience is other novice authors and affiliated faculty of genetic counseling training programs. Although the focus of this paper is on journal publications which are subject to a peer-review process (e.g., original research, clinical reports, and reviews), some of the basic information applies to a variety of publishing forms.

The Publication Process

Publish before it perishes.

Like produce and dairy products, data have a limited shelf life. Research results may be rendered marginal by new research, social changes, and shifts in research trends. For example, a study of patient reluctance to undergo genetic testing due to concerns about health insurance discrimination conducted in December 2007 would have been obsolete when the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (Pub.L. 110–233, 122 Stat. 881, enacted May 21, 2008) was enacted 5 months later. Or studies of whether patients think they might undergo testing if a gene for a particular condition were identified become less relevant once the gene is actually mapped and sequenced.

The hardest part about writing is actually writing. Making the time to sit down and compose a report of research findings is a very difficult first step. As noted in the three case examples, this is particularly true for a recent graduate whose time is occupied with searching for a new job, moving to a new city, and learning the details of a new job. However, the longer you wait, the more difficult it becomes, and the greater the risk that your data will grow stale. If you do not write it, the paper will likely not get written. The three case examples identify strong mentorship, ongoing communication with co-authors, constructive criticism, and commitment to publication by every author as key elements for successfully preparing a manuscript. The following sections describe basic processes for preparing a paper. See also Table  1 for helpful references about technical aspects of manuscript preparation.

Table 1

Selected Resources For Manuscript Preparation

Choosing a Journal

Research delivered to an inappropriate audience is ignored. Many journals publish genetic counseling research—as demonstrated by the three case examples—and therefore, choosing the right journal is critical (Thompson 2007 ). The first step is to decide who the audience should be. Is it important to reach genetic counselors? Medical geneticists? Or is the audience outside of the genetic counseling community? Some genetic counseling research is of interest to researchers in patient education, decision-making, or the social sciences. Clinicians such as surgeons, radiology technicians, psychologists, and family practice physicians might benefit from a greater understanding of genetic counseling and how it interfaces with their specialties.

The next step is to decide whether the journal is interested in the type of research conducted. For example, does the journal publish articles mostly on medical and clinical issues? Does it publish qualitative research? A description of the scope, aims, and types of research that are published is located in the “Instructions to Contributors” section on the web page of most journals. A look at the journal’s editorial board might also provide a good idea of a journal’s theoretical approaches, philosophical orientation, and research interests. Another strategy is to contact the journal’s editor or a member of the editorial board prior to submitting a manuscript to discuss the appropriateness of the manuscript for the journal. Many editors welcome such pre-submission contact since it reduces their workload of reading inappropriate manuscripts.

A journal’s “impact factor” may be important to some authors when considering where to publish a manuscript. The impact factor is a—perhaps imperfect—statistical measure of a journal’s importance. The impact factor was developed in the early 1960s by Eugene Garfield and Irving Sher and is technically defined as A/B, where A = the number of times articles published in that journal were cited and B = the number of citable articles published by the journal (letters and editorials are not usually citable articles) (Garfield 1994 ). An impact factor of one indicates that on average, articles published in the journal were cited once by other authors.

A journal’s impact factor can vary greatly from year to year, and its practical utility is widely debated (Andersen et al. 2006 ; Chew et al. 2006 ; Greenwood 2007 ; Ha et al. 2006 ; The PLoS Medicine Editors 2006 ). Genetic counselors often publish small studies and case reports. The journals that might publish such papers usually have impact factors of ten or less. Thus the impact factor may be a less important consideration for many genetic counselors when deciding where to publish.

A publisher’s copyright policy may also influence the choice of where to publish. The majority of publishers own the copyright (United States Copyright Office 2008 ) and authors do not have the right to copy, re-use, or distribute their own publications without buying reprints, which can be a significant source of income for publishers. Some journals, like the Public Library of Science (PLoS), are completely Open Access and make all articles fully available online. Other journals have Delayed Open Access, which makes articles publicly available after a specified period of time, often a year or two. Many journals, such as the JOGC , promote Hybrid Open Access in which authors, for a fee, can make their articles publicly available. Some journals will make select articles publicly available, usually those that attract media attention. For grant-funded research, consider the requirements of the funding source; some granting agencies require that the research results be made publicly available at some point.

Peer Review

Peer review is the process in which two or three experts evaluate a manuscript to determine whether it is worthy of publication. Peer review is the backbone of scholarly publishing; no research manuscript gets published until a team of reviewers and journal editors vets it. Ideally, reviewers are objective, constructively critical, open-minded, fair, and insightful. Some journals blind the reviewer to the author’s identity, in hopes that the authors’ reputations or professional relationships will not influence the review. Some journals will let authors suggest reviewers or request that certain people not review a manuscript. A journal’s peer review policies may be another important consideration in choosing where to submit a manuscript.

In practice, peer review is not always ideal (Benose et al. 2007 ; Curfman et al. 2008 ; Hames 2007 ; Wager et al. 2006 ). Nonetheless, no better or viable alternative has been proposed. Reviews may sometimes appear to be arbitrary, unfair, and poorly performed. Reading such reviews can be very difficult and frustrating, even for experienced authors. However, it is a reviewer’s job to be critical, and there may be elements of truth in even the most negative reviews. Some editors may be willing to send a manuscript to another reviewer if an original reviewer produces a harshly critical or poorly thought out critique. Some journals have a formal appeals process if a manuscript is rejected or an author feels a review is inaccurate, inappropriate, or biased. However, sometimes it is simply easier to submit the manuscript to a different journal. Case # 2 describes a successful example where submitting a manuscript to a different journal led to publication.

The manuscript rejection rate varies widely across journals, but about half of all manuscripts are rejected or require significant revisions (Armstrong et al. 2008 ; Hall and Wilcox 2007 ; Liesegang et al. 2007 ). About half of rejected manuscripts are published in other journals (Armstrong et al. 2008 ; Hall and Wilcox 2007 ; Liesegang et al. 2007 ). Even among articles that are accepted for publication, the vast majority will require significant revisions. All three case examples describe manuscripts that underwent significant revision. Thus, prospective authors should not be disheartened if a manuscript is rejected or needs extensive re-writing; this is the rule rather than the exception . Many editors are willing to work with authors who have questions about specific comments or how best to incorporate the reviewers’ suggestions. Busy journal editors would rather answer questions up front than have to laboriously edit a revised manuscript and send it back for further revisions.

Peer review, and the subsequent manuscript revisions, along with the number of manuscripts submitted to the journal, are probably the most critical bottlenecks in determining how long it takes before a manuscript appears in print. Typically, a year or more may pass from the time of submission to the publication date. The three case examples include their timeframes to highlight the need for perseverance and patience with the publication process.

The clearest way for authors to respond to editors’ and reviewers’ comments is to prepare a table that lists each comment and how the authors addressed them, item by item. Some reviewers’ comments may be inaccurate or simply unrealistic (e.g. “The authors should re-do the entire research study...”); these can be discussed in the table or in the cover letter that accompanies the table. Additional information about the peer-review process can be found in Weil ( 2004 ).

Acceptance!

Once a manuscript is accepted for publication, the publisher or the journal editor will send a copyright transfer statement that spells out ownership of the article. This statement must be signed and returned in short order before the manuscript will be published. The corresponding author will receive page proofs, usually electronically, which must be read by the author for accuracy and returned fairly quickly (usually 2–3 days). Many publishers are reluctant to make significant changes in the page proofs, and they may charge for substantial revisions. Thus, the version of the manuscript that is submitted to the journal before the page proofs are generated should be very close to what the author wishes to see in print. Usually at this time publishers will offer the author the option to purchase reprints to allow the author to share the publication with other researchers, co-authors, and colleagues. Some journals will provide a limited number of free reprints or a complimentary copy of the issue of the journal in which the paper appears. The steps in the publication process are summarized in Table  2 .

Table 2

Steps in the Publication Process

a ∼50% of manuscripts are rejected or require significant revision before being accepted for publication

Ethics of Publishing

“Scholarship (like life) is not always fair or precise.” (Thompson 1994 )

Manuscript preparation and submission for publication can be complicated by ethical issues. Many authors may not be aware of these ethical conundrums, let alone have a plan for addressing them. Ethics is not a stagnant concept. As research methodologies and research questions evolve, new ethical issues in publishing arise. This section contains a description of several issues broadly relevant to the publishing practice of genetic counselors, particularly as students or recent graduates. However, it is important for genetic counselors-as-authors to keep abreast of ethical issues relevant to their own work.

“Ethics” are principles that govern the behavior of individuals or groups (Merriam-Webster 1974 ). Ethical codes of conduct exist in order to preserve the integrity of a profession, ensure the public’s welfare, and protect scholars. Ethical issues particularly relevant to writing for publication, include: (1) authorship determination, (2) disclosure and conflicts of interest, (3) plagiarism, (4) subject confidentiality, (5) accuracy of information, and (6) publishing in multiple sources.

Authorship Determination

Consider the following situation: A student conducted an excellent study for her master’s thesis project. At the beginning of the project, her supervisor promised her that she would have first authorship on any manuscripts based on the project. However, when the time came to write the paper, the student procrastinated. Finally, after the supervisor repeatedly “nagged” her, she submitted a draft to her, but it was very poorly written. The supervisor decided the only way to salvage the paper was to totally rewrite it herself. Now the supervisor thinks that she deserves to be the first author. Is this ethical? Does it matter if the project was the student’s master’s thesis rather than a project in which she was voluntarily involved? Are there guidelines that might be implemented in advance to handle this kind of situation?

This complex situation may be all too familiar for many supervisors and students. It raises issues about valuing contributions to the publication process, the power differential between supervisors and students, determining when renegotiation of authorship is warranted, and setting expectations and priorities up front. Whenever manuscripts are authored by more than one individual, order of authorship should be negotiated as early in the process as possible. Only individuals who have actually contributed to the work should be listed as authors. Their order should indicate “...the relative scientific or professional contributions of the individuals involved, regardless of their status” (Shadish 1994 ) (p. 1096). In the sciences, the first and last authors typically are the individuals that made the greatest contributions to the project (Laflin et al. 2005 ). Many journals require a listing of each author’s contribution to the manuscript in order to make sure each person meets the journal’s requirements to be listed as an author.

Student authors pose a special situation. Doctoral students usually are the first authors of papers based on their dissertation research (Nguyen and Nguyen 2006 ). Authorship order is less clear for masters’ projects because masters’ students may lack sufficient knowledge and skills to conduct a project and prepare a manuscript of publishable quality without considerable input from their supervisor (Shadish 1994 ). Thompson ( 1994 ) recommends that when there is any question as to who made the primary contribution, the student should receive higher authorship. His recommendation helps to protect the person who has less power in the situation. Often students are involved in studies that are not based on their own master’s or doctoral research, but rather are connected to an existing research program, such as case examples 1 and 2. In those situations, some authors contend that their involvement should be creative and intellectual in order to warrant authorship; otherwise, student input can be credited in an acknowledgement section (Fine and Kurdek 1993 ; Holaday and Yost 1995 ; Thompson 1994 ).

Negotiating authorship is an important step that should begin in the initial stages of a project. This step usually involves assessing and agreeing upon each person’s tasks, contributions, and efforts. The amount of supervision required for an individual’s contributions is usually considered as well (Fine and Kurdek 1993 ). Sometimes renegotiation of authorship order is necessary due to unexpected changes and/or substantial revision of the manuscript. The key is to remember that authorship is negotiated. Questions to consider throughout this negotiation process include: Who had the original idea for the basis of the publication? Who designed and conducted the study that generated the data? Who will write most of the first draft of the paper? Is the study part of someone’s research lab? Students should maintain early and on-going communication with their co-authors about their investment of time and efforts and the outcomes of those efforts (Sandler and Russell 2005 ). However, scholarly contribution is more important than actual time and effort expended when determining authorship. For more information regarding authorship determination, it may be useful to review guidelines for discussing and clarifying authorship order (Gibelman and Gelman 1999 ) or developing individualized contracts for research collaboration (Stith et al. 1992 ). These guidelines also may be useful for initiating discussion of authorship as part of the curriculum in genetic counseling training programs.

Take another look at the authorship scenario. At the time of the original negotiation of authorship, it is likely that the supervisor (and other parties) believed the student warranted first authorship due to her creative contributions and time allotted to the study. In most authors’ minds, first authorship is equated with substantial contribution to writing the manuscript, usually the first draft, so it is important the student understand this is part of the responsibilities of being first author. Typically students have no experience writing a journal article, and so some procrastination is likely. In this scenario, the authorship dilemma may have been averted by having in place a plan to mentor the student, providing support, and delineating a specific process for writing the first draft of the manuscript.

Manuscripts invariably undergo substantial revision as co-authors and reviewers weigh in, so it is not unusual that the supervisor would revise the student’s first draft. This activity does not prima facie warrant a change in authorship order. However, by developing a specific plan to support the student’s writing, it may minimize the extent of the supervisor’s revisions. It is possible, though, that the student’s procrastination and poor writing should initiate a renegotiation of authorship order because the level and nature of her contributions to the work may be changing. The supervisor and student should discuss the reasons for changing authorship order; the supervisor should not unilaterally make this change without discussion. Keep in mind that the bar for changing authorship should be much higher if the paper is based on the student’s master’s thesis than if it is based on a project in which she was voluntarily involved. It is also important to inform students early in the process that most research is a collaborative effort, requiring time, energy, and sometimes funding, and therefore their collaborators have expectations that their contributions will be rewarded through publication. Developing an a priori policy for renegotiation may often reduce misunderstandings and minimize conflict.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Consider the following situation: A student conducted a study to evaluate a new program that her clinic is offering to its patients. She interviewed ten patients who participated in the program about their experience. Nine of these patients were in general agreement about the value of the program, while the 10th patient was quite negative about her experience. The student’s impression of this patient is that she is a generally negative person. The student believes that the patient came into the program expecting not to like it. Furthermore, the student is concerned her clinic will lose funding for this program if she reports this patient’s responses. The student decides to exclude her data from the paper. Is this decision ethical? Why or why not?

One ethical issue raised in this scenario involves determining when it is appropriate to exclude data points. Data collected from research can be messy, and it is not unusual for some data points to be excluded from analyses. However, there must be an explicit methodology for excluding data points or subjects, and this information usually is reported in the manuscript. Examples for exclusions include: missing data (e.g., a participant did not complete a majority of the items on a questionnaire); measurement error (e.g., the recorded measurement of a biological process or part of the anatomy is simply impossible); small sample sizes (e.g., an insufficient number of individuals from a minority group participated in the research resulting in numbers too small for meaningful analysis). In the scenario described above, the rationale provided for excluding the 10th patient’s experience is not sufficient to warrant exclusion. Instead, it appears that exclusion of this individual is based on a desire to promote the new program in the student’s clinic. In order to eliminate this form of conflict of interest, one could consider involving a clinic outsider in the analysis and interpretation of the data. By including a clinic outsider in the project, editor and reviewer concerns about the integrity of the data, analyses, and conclusions will be allayed.

Most journals provide another “safeguard,” by requiring a statement about possible conflicts of interest. A conflict of interest statement requires the author to acknowledge in writing the nature of any circumstances that might bias the process and/or outcome of their work. For example, any project and published report that might result in direct financial gains for an author(s) should be disclosed to a journal’s editor and to the readership. Examples of possible conflicts of interest include conducting a study of the effectiveness of a genetic test funded by the company that developed and is marketing the test, or a program evaluation study whose outcome would determine the continuation of the investigators/authors’ jobs.

Plagiarism is a familiar concept to most people. Everyone generally understands the importance of “giving credit where credit is due.” Yet, the National Science Foundation estimates that the prevalence of plagiarism may be as high as 50% (Roig 2001 ). Probably many of these incidents are unintentional and/or occur because the authors were unaware of some of the nuances regarding plagiarism. Although there is some variability within and across disciplines about the specific behaviors that constitute plagiarism, there is general agreement about two broad types (Roig 2001 ): cryptamnesia -an individual thinks their idea is original when it actually was presented by someone else previously; and inappropriate paraphrasing —an individual uses another person’s published text without properly citing that use, and/or using their statements with little or no modification. Specific examples of inappropriate paraphrasing include: (1) publishing another person’s work as one’s own; (2) copying part of another author’s paper and claiming it as one’s own; (3) copying text from another source without using quotations marks and without citing that source in the text; (4) paraphrasing text from another source without providing an in-text citation; (5) summarizing material from another source without clearly connecting the summary to that source; and (6) using copyrighted materials without author/publisher permission (East 2006 ; Lester and Lester Jr. 1992 ).

Additional types of plagiarism include ambiguous use of citations. For instance, an individual includes a citation in a paragraph but does not clearly indicate which content in the paragraph is from the cited work. Another type of plagiarism is self-plagiarism . Self-plagiarism occurs when an individual includes published work of their own for which they do not own the copyright (e.g., reprinting a table from one of their previously published papers); repeating verbatim text from a previously published article. Permission to reprint material from the publisher must be obtained.

Plagiarism is a serious ethical breach which can result in a legal penalty. Strategies for avoiding plagiarism include limiting the use of direct quotes; avoiding the use of secondary sources—it is always better to read and cite an original source when available; and restating ideas in one’s own words while providing in-text citation of the work that contains the original ideas (East 2006 ; Lambie et al. 2008 ; Lester and Lester Jr. 1992 ). When in doubt regarding the originality of one’s words, it is best to cite the source(s) on which they are based. In this regard, it may help to bear in mind that readers will assume all words in the paper are the author’s unless the source(s) are cited.

Subject Confidentiality

Published papers must be written in a way that no subjects can be recognized by others without their written consent (Gavey and Braun 1997 ). Given the unique nature of genetics, family members may also need to provide written consent (McCarthy Veach et al. 2001 ). When possible, identifying information should be removed or disguised (e.g., use of pseudonyms) and data based on multiple subjects should be reported in aggregate (group) form. Institutional review boards (IRBs) play a critical role in assuring protection of subject confidentiality. Many journals require authors to indicate either in the paper or a cover letter that they have obtained institutional review board approval to conduct their animal or human subjects study. In some cases, an ethics board may have been consulted regarding ethical dilemmas reported in a clinical paper and this should be acknowledged in the paper.

Accuracy of Information

Authors are responsible for rigorously checking the accuracy of their facts, data, and conclusions. However, despite one’s best efforts, substantial errors sometimes are not discovered until after a paper is published. In that case, the corresponding author should contact the journal immediately and ask that an erratum be published. On a related note, authors have a professional responsibility to make data sets reported in published papers available to other professionals. This practice allows for verification of the findings and conclusions, and it also makes possible research replications and extensions of the original study. The length of time for retaining research records depends on institutional policy and sponsor policy, so it is important to be aware of how these policies apply to the research generated by a master’s thesis. Often institutional review boards require researchers to state how long they will maintain a data set, and the researchers must adhere to that time frame.

Another accuracy issue concerns modifying and reporting the use of published material (e.g., an interview protocol, psychological instrument, curriculum) without clearly describing the precise nature of the modifications. Interpretation of findings and their comparison to other studies using the “same” instrumentation may be severely compromised when an author fails to report modifications. Further, professional courtesy suggests that permission be sought from the author before changing her or his material. Also, use of published material requires crediting the author(s) of that material by including relevant citations.

Publishing in Multiple Sources

In the sciences, a manuscript should not be under review by more than one journal at a time. It is, however, acceptable to submit material for presentation at a conference prior to its actual publication in a journal, as the authors in case examples 1 and 3 did. Some conferences publish proceedings , and some journals will not publish work that is already published in a Proceedings unless the two papers differ substantially. When in doubt, it is good practice to contact a journal’s editor to determine the journal’s policy. Journals typically only publish original work, but on occasion there may be interest in reprinting an article. Reprinting a previously published paper requires written permission from the owner of the publication copyright. As a matter of courtesy, one should also seek the corresponding author’s permission, even if the author does not own the copyright.

Examples of Success

The benefits of sharing knowledge within the medical community and with the public via publication have been delineated. The publication of original work contributes to the advancement of the genetic counseling field overall, and at the individual level, authorship establishes a level of professional credibility, enhancing opportunities for future employability, funding and job satisfaction. The opportunity to develop a genetic counseling master’s thesis into a manuscript should therefore not be overlooked. Below are the personal accounts of three recent graduates who successfully transformed their individual master’s theses into published manuscripts. These examples were not systematically ascertained, and as such, do not necessarily represent all experiences with trying to publish a master’s thesis. These stories provide “first-hand accounts” of the authors’ experiences and, while acknowledging the challenges, demonstrate commitment to publishing their own projects throughout their careers. Table  3 contains a list of helpful hints gleaned from these cases.

Table 3

Helpful Hints for First Time Authors

Case 1: Consider Writing Your Thesis and Journal Article Concurrently

As a result of personal determination, and above all, strong mentorship, I was able to turn my master’s thesis work into a manuscript published in Patient Education and Counseling , titled “Satisfaction with genetic counseling for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations among African American women” (Charles et al. 2006 ). My work was a small component of an existing research project being conducted within a university academically affiliated with my genetic counseling training program. The project was an evaluation of the overall effects of “Culturally Tailored vs. Standard Genetic Counseling Protocol” among African American women.

I started by reviewing previous publications this group of researchers had produced and using these as a guide for my first draft, followed by multiple revisions. Approximately 17 months elapsed between first submission and publication. We submitted the manuscript in its original form in May 2005. We received the reviewers’ comments later that summer, and submitted revisions five months later. The article was accepted in that same month, published online five months later and in print seven months after the online version appeared. Shortly after graduating from my program I submitted an abstract of the work to NSGC for presentation at the 2005 Annual Education Conference, and subsequently learned that it was selected for the NSGC Beth Fine Student Abstract award.

My experience may be unusual because I worked on the manuscript and thesis project concurrently. Composing separate but related documents while still juggling second year genetic counseling student responsibilities was certainly a challenge. Preparing a comprehensive thesis project is a very different task than manuscript composition, the latter of which is more focused and narrow in scope. Challenges posed by this concurrent approach included ensuring that text requirements and deadlines specific to each document were met, as well as incorporating and addressing the reviews of both the training program and peer-reviewers. The main benefits of this approach were that I was still in school and therefore geographically close to my mentors, which facilitated ongoing communication throughout the process, and that the manuscript was under review by a journal before I started my new job.

Factors contributing to the successful publication of this project include mentorship, accountability, and commitment to publication by every author. Supportive, constructively critical, and well published, my mentors had high standards and knew the process. Frankly, I did not want to disappoint them. I found setting deadlines and meeting them, along with the accountability of in-person meetings (as opposed to email), to be effective approaches. Finally, publishing the project was a stated goal of the authors at the initiation of the project. I will not claim that the process was easy, but the goal is certainly attainable and worthwhile.

Case 2: You Need Not Publish Every Thesis Finding—Pick The Most Interesting and Relevant

As is the case for many graduate students, the first time I attempted to publish was after I completed my thesis. My thesis concerned the development of a minority research recruitment database and was the result of my graduate research on underserved populations.

Following graduation, I started my first job as a genetic counselor in a new city. During the overwhelming process of adjusting to “my new life,” my thesis advisor asked me to submit a manuscript to the American Journal of Public Health in response to a call for abstracts on genetics topics. Unfortunately, the deadline was only one week away. I scrambled to cut down my lengthy thesis to a reasonable length and submitted it, knowing that it was not my best work given the time constraint. Needless to say, it was rejected.

I decided that before resubmitting the manuscript to a different journal, I would need to take a different approach to the paper, more or less starting over. While my research results were interesting, they were limited in their application. I decided to publish instead on the success of our research initiative, as other researchers could learn from our process. Since I was changing the focus of the manuscript, I had to do an additional literature search and produce much of the writing from scratch. Most of this work had to be completed in my free time. While it was difficult to stay motivated, working on my manuscript when first starting a job was manageable as my caseload was lightest in the beginning. After several weeks of hard work, I submitted the manuscript to Health Promotion Practice .

About one month later, the editor contacted me and asked me to resubmit my manuscript with revisions. Three different reviewers provided feedback. Initially, it was overwhelming to read through their comments and frustrating, particularly when the reviewers contradicted each other. Despite my frustration, with my co-authors’ guidance I forged ahead and resubmitted, only to have the editor and reviewers ask for additional revisions. There were comments from the same three reviewers, however, far fewer in number. Still, I was beginning to think they would never accept the manuscript. I once again called upon my co-authors for guidance and was able to address the reviewers’ comments and resubmit the manuscript once again.

This time when I heard from the editor, the manuscript was finally accepted. What started out as a 120 page thesis ended up being published as an eight page paper (Vogel et al. 2007 ). It took approximately 8 months of writing and revising before the manuscript was finally accepted and an additional year before it came out in print. While the entire process was a true test of patience and determination, it was ultimately worth it. The experience gave me the foundation to carry on my research career and continue to publish successfully.

Case 3: Expectations and Mentorship are Crucial

I defended my thesis, received my Master’s degree, and was about to move back to the Midwest to start my new job as a genetic counselor, but my long “To-Do” list had one remaining item: Publish master’s thesis. I started the initial master’s thesis process with the expectation from one of my thesis advisors, and now a co-author, that research is not “put down and set aside” until published. I never questioned the process; if I was going to work with this advisor, I would be publishing. I was excited to undertake this challenge and impressed by my thesis advisor’s dedication, mentorship, and desire to see our hard work recognized. Nearly two years later, I could proudly say that this expectation, held by all of my thesis advisors and me, was accomplished. The manuscript, published in the JOGC , describes qualitative research regarding communication of genetic test results within a family (Blase et al. 2007 ).

In the beginning, I was unfamiliar with the publication process, but because of the support and guidance of my advisors, I began to learn the process, and so the frustrations and uncertainties were minimal. I also had a great working relationship with my co-authors that included communicating regularly and setting and meeting deadlines. After deciding the JOGC was the most appropriate venue for my research, I spent a good deal of time reducing and reformatting the 80 page thesis to a 20–25 page manuscript to meet the journal’s guidelines. Given the page constraints, this process necessitated determining which data to focus on and re-framing some information to appropriately fit the readers of my selected journal. Conversations with my advisors were instrumental in this phase.

There was nothing quick about publishing my master’s thesis. I graduated in June 2005, received an email shortly thereafter from one of my advisors about how to begin constructing a first draft of a manuscript, and began working on the manuscript in July 2005. I submitted the manuscript to JOGC in May 2006 and subsequently was informed by the editor that based on the reviews, revisions were required before the manuscript could be considered for publication. In September 2006, after two rounds of revisions, my manuscript was accepted, and by June 2007 it was published in the journal.

Although ultimately I was successful in publishing my master’s thesis, the process had its moments of frustration. I remember getting my first round of comments from the reviewers; I thought I was never going to get to the point of publication. My co-authors supported and encouraged me by explaining that revisions are truly part of the process. I was overwhelmed by the reviewers’ list of questions and changes after my initial submission, followed by additional reviews and revisions. Not only did I have to figure out how to keep the manuscript a priority in light of my new job, but I had to weed through and address the reviewers’ comments, and the suggestions of each co-author. The guidance of my thesis advisors, now co-authors, helped me navigate this process.

I have gained much through this experience. The process has opened doors for me including opportunities to work with other professionals with impressive publishing experiences, as well as speaking and poster presentation opportunities at national conferences. I also have greater confidence about the publishing process. What seemed like such a daunting and impossible task is now an attainable outcome. Although my master’s thesis was my most recent publication, the thought of taking on the publication process again is not nearly as intimidating as I once thought.

Publication of original research, clinical experience, and literature reviews are vital to the growth of the genetic counseling field and to the delivery of genetic counseling services. Publishing also promotes personal growth by counting toward maintenance of ABGC-certification as well as establishing the author as a credible and respected authority both within and outside the genetic counseling field. This professional recognition in turn can lead to employment opportunities, speaking engagements, research funding, and career advancement.

Submitting a manuscript for publication also can be an intellectually challenging, emotionally trying, and time-consuming task. But similar to life’s other difficult tasks, the rewards and satisfaction are commensurately great—to see your name in print, have your work cited by other authors, and know that you have contributed in a meaningful way to the practice and understanding of genetic counseling. Transforming a master’s thesis into a journal article is an obvious first step in developing and sustaining a commitment to publishing for our genetic counseling profession. Common themes in the three success experiences include the importance of mentorship and clear expectations for publishing, recognition of the length of the process and concomitant need for perseverance in the face of revisions, awareness of personal and professional benefits in terms of presentations at national meetings, awards, and motivation to continue publishing. Hopefully the information provided in this article will help to de-mystify the publishing process, promote consideration of ethical issues in publishing, and stimulate genetic counseling students and new graduates to embrace a “Publish for Success” philosophy.

Acknowledgments

This paper was developed from an Educational Breakout Session (EBS) sponsored by the Jane Engelberg Memorial Fellowship Advisory Group at the 2008 NSGC Annual Education Conference.

Open Access

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.

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Research Guides

Submit and publish your thesis.

• The Graduate Thesis: What is it?
• Thesis Defences
• Deadlines and Fees
• Formatting in MS Word
• Formatting in LaTeX
• Making Thesis Accessible
• Thesis Embargo
• Review and Release
• Your Rights as an Author
• Re-using Third Party Materials
• Creative Commons Licenses for Theses
• Turning Thesis into an Article
• Turning Thesis into a Book
• Other Venues of Publication

Publishing from your thesis before or after graduation

"Will repository submission affect my publishing plans?"

... this is a common question for someone looking to publish from their thesis before or after graduation.

Most journals welcome submissions based on a thesis or dissertation. Some may have additional requirements, such as to:

• Let them know about the university’s requirement to make your thesis publicly available
• Submit a manuscript that is substantially different than the thesis content
• Embargo the thesis until after publication, etc.

Your steps will depend on the following scenarios:

Scenario 1 - you ARE NOT planning on publishing your thesis before or after graduation

In this case:

• You can submit your thesis without an embargo
• Your thesis will become publicly available in TSpace  and Library and Archives Canada after your convocation and will be widely indexed via search engines and indexes
• Use the TSpace-generated permanent URL to share and cite your thesis - see example of such citation below

Tajdaran, K. (2015). Enhancement of Peripheral Nerve Regeneration with Controlled Release of Glial Cell Line-derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF) (Master’s Thesis, University of Toronto). Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1807/74747

Scenario 2 - You ARE planning on publishing your thesis AFTER graduation

Most journals are interested in “original, previously unpublished” research. Some journals consider theses as a form of “prior publications”, others do not, and the majority does not have a clear definition. It will be best to check journal policy before you submit your thesis.

Nature Research will consider submissions containing material that has previously formed part of a PhD or other academic thesis which has been published according to the requirements of the institution awarding the qualification.

►►►How to check journal policies:

• MIT Libraries' list of policy excerpts from major publishers
• Journal’s website - usually under Information for Authors or Copyright / Permissions or Editorial Policy; or in the publication agreement if available online
• If such information cannot be located online, contact the editors directly
• If the journal requires that you place an embargo on your thesis until after publication, see the SGS instructions on how to request an embargo on your thesis .

Scenario 3 - You ARE planning on publishing (or have already published) from your thesis BEFORE graduation

You may want or be expected to publish parts of your thesis before your thesis is submitted, such as with an integrated/publication-based/sandwich thesis. The most important thing to keep in mind here is copyright. You own copyright of your written materials, and a publisher may require copyright transfer of your manuscript.

You need to ensure you retain certain rights or obtain permission in order to satisfy the university’s requirement of making your thesis openly accessible via TSpace, ProQuest and Library and Archives Canada (LAC). For more details on these repositories, see the  Review and Release  section of this guide.

Check whether the journal requires prior notification about U of T’s open access requirement for theses. Some journals want to be notified of this mandate whether or not they restrict the re-use of articles in theses.

Check whether the publisher requires copyright transfer . This should be stated on their website, in the publication agreement, or you can inquire directly with the journal.

If the publisher does not require copyright transfer , i.e. author retains copyright, then you can reuse your article/chapter in your thesis; no permission needed.

If the publisher requires copyright transfer , follow these steps:

Check if the publisher has special provisions for reusing your published work in your thesis. They may permit the inclusion of a non-final version, such as your submitted or accepted manuscript. See more below on understanding different article versions for sharing .

►►►How to check journal policies:  See MIT Libraries' list of policy excerpts from major publishers or the journal/publisher website.

For example, Taylor and Francis policy allows to:

Include your article Author’s Original Manuscript (AOM) or Accepted Manuscript(AM) , depending on the embargo period in your thesis or dissertation. The Version of Record cannot be used. https://authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com/copyright-and-you/

Check if the article is distributed under a Creative Commons license. This may allow re-use.

►►►How to check journal's CC license:  See the journal/publisher website or contact the journal directly.

If the publisher requires copyright transfer, has no special provisions and does not publish under a CC license, you will need to contact them to request permission to include your article in your thesis. You can:

• Negotiate making the article available as part of the thesis in TSpace, ProQuest, and LAC Theses Portal; 
• Request an embargo [link to Lisa’ section on embargo] if the publisher only permits open sharing after some time post-publication;
• If permission is denied you may include in place of the chapter an abstract and a link to the article on the journal website.

If you have specific questions about your situation, publisher policy or author rights, contact the Scholarly Communications and Copyright Office at [email protected] for a consultation (best before you publish!)

Understanding different versions of a published article

A publisher may distinguish between the versions of an article that you may be allowed to include in your thesis:

• Submitted manuscript / pre-print - version you initially send in (often permitted)
• Accepted manuscript / post-print - version after peer review but before copyediting, layout editing, formatting, etc. (sometimes permitted; publisher may require an embargo/access restriction for a period of time)
• Version of record / final publisher’s PDF - version that appears in the journal (many publishers do not permit sharing this version)

►►►How to check article versions permitted for sharing:

• MIT Libraries’s list of policy excerpts from major publishers
• Sherpa/RoMEO database of publisher policies
• Journal’s website - usually under Information for Authors or Copyright/Permissions or Editorial Policy; or in the publication agreement if available online
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Thesis and Dissertation: Getting Started

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The resources in this section are designed to provide guidance for the first steps of the thesis or dissertation writing process. They offer tools to support the planning and managing of your project, including writing out your weekly schedule, outlining your goals, and organzing the various working elements of your project.

Weekly Goals Sheet (a.k.a. Life Map) [Word Doc]

This editable handout provides a place for you to fill in available time blocks on a weekly chart that will help you visualize the amount of time you have available to write. By using this chart, you will be able to work your writing goals into your schedule and put these goals into perspective with your day-to-day plans and responsibilities each week. This handout also contains a formula to help you determine the minimum number of pages you would need to write per day in order to complete your writing on time.

Setting a Production Schedule (Word Doc)

This editable handout can help you make sense of the various steps involved in the production of your thesis or dissertation and determine how long each step might take. A large part of this process involves (1) seeking out the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding specific document formatting requirements, (2) understanding research protocol limitations, (3) making note of deadlines, and (4) understanding your personal writing habits.

Creating a Roadmap (PDF)

Part of organizing your writing involves having a clear sense of how the different working parts relate to one another. Creating a roadmap for your dissertation early on can help you determine what the final document will include and how all the pieces are connected. This resource offers guidance on several approaches to creating a roadmap, including creating lists, maps, nut-shells, visuals, and different methods for outlining. It is important to remember that you can create more than one roadmap (or more than one type of roadmap) depending on how the different approaches discussed here meet your needs.

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Home > Postgraduate study > Postgraduate courses > Publishing MA

Publishing MA

Why choose this course.

This course examines all aspects of the global publishing industry, such as structure, business models, production, legal, acquisition, idea creation, product development, editing, marketing, publicity, copyright, rights, and sales and distribution of physical and digital products.

You will put your skills into practice through a dissertation or practical project over a 10-day work placement, which can lead to references and employment opportunities.

You will produce books for commercial publication through Kingston University Press and collaborate with authors and partner organisations.

Reasons to choose Kingston University

• Teaching staff are active practitioners, each with at least 20 years commercial publishing experience.
• Input from industry practitioners helps this course give you skills for the workplace. Masterclasses and guest lectures keep you informed of current issues in the industry.
• The course includes practical training in using Nielsen BookScan, BSI proofreading symbols, Adobe InDesign and PremierPro.

The Art School Experience

As part of  Kingston School of Art , students on this course benefit from joining a creative community where collaborative working and critical practice are encouraged.

Our  workshops and studios  are open to all disciplines, enabling students and staff to work together, share ideas and explore multi-disciplinary making.

What you will study

You will learn everything you need to know about the publishing industry: its structure, acquisition and development of content, print and digital production processes, sales, marketing and distribution.

You will also develop and demonstrate your analytical skills and competence through discussions, assignments and the culminating dissertation or practical project.

Your experienced teaching team is supported by expert guest speakers and a widely envied masterclass series featuring leading publishers and publishing professionals to keep you up to date with industry developments.

You'll need to take two compulsory modules, totalling 60 credits. You can then choose two optional taught modules, totalling 60 credits, as well as either a dissertation or practical project (worth another 60 credits).

Optional placement year

This course meets the needs of commercial publishers, allowing you to gain key skills and to learn how processes work in a practical context. Its relevance is ensured by input about employers' needs from our advisory board of publishing professionals, resulting in a course that evolves alongside the industry.

Throughout your studies, you'll develop key skills and get prepared for a career in all sectors of the book and journal industries, and across all specialisms.

Core modules

Create: the business of publishing.

This module initiates you into the collaborative, creative business of commercial publishing and facilitates the development of your research, critical thinking and entrepreneurial skills. From books and magazines to apps and websites, you will explore the structure and operation of successful publishing companies, the stakeholders, tools and processes crucial to the development of profitable multi-platform products and services and the fundamental and disruptive business models used by both traditional companies and new industry-entrants.

After an immersive introduction to the complex and challenging nature of 21st century publishing, the module offers the opportunity for the generation and critical evaluation of your own publishing ideas. This involves using industry-standard sources and approaches to research and analyse markets, identify appropriate business models and operational strategies and build and present persuasive business cases.

Throughout, there is an emphasis on building robust and well-evidenced arguments to win support for theoretical assertions and practical publishing concepts. You also have the opportunity to work with your peers, and to critically evaluate each other's publishing proposals.

Do: Work Placements, Networking and Career Planning

The Kingston Publishing MA aims to equip you to participate actively in the current, fast-changing creative economy, and this module provides the opportunity to develop your employability and plan your future.  It offers you the chance to network with industry professionals, and to learn hands-on through placement in a real publishing environment – experiences which are vital in understanding how the business operates, and in securing employment.

The module begins with a series of masterclasses by a wide range of experts on key contemporary issues. The seminar which follows each event allows you to further engage in these critical debates, increasing the confidence and insight essential for networking and job seeking. Placements offer you the opportunity to match your interests with the diversity of situations in which publishing expertise is needed. During the module you will undertake a minimum of ten days with a host organisation. An active programme of preparation support is offered during this process. The work experience allows you to apply the knowledge and skills acquired through academic study. Critical reflection on the placement and on personal and professional development throughout the module ensures that you capitalize on your experiences.

Throughout the module you will be guided through practice in all aspects of career planning – from examining industry roles, sector and entrepreneurial opportunities, to the practical honing of skills in job searching, producing successful CVs and job applications, and interview preparation.

Choose two of the following

Make: content development and production.

This hands-on module gives students the key theory and the core practical skills needed to effectively manage content from raw material to finished print and digital presentation. Working in teams, students will carry out essential editorial and production tasks to produce a live published product. This group publication project enables students to collaborate to demonstrate the teamwork skills required for timely delivery, and to develop a thorough understanding of workflow and the associated processes. It also enables students to show how material gets turned into a market-appropriate product, ready for stakeholder approval and launch. The module enables students to illustrate how value gets added within the publishing supply chain, and to appreciate the content management systems and metadata vital in today's publishing environment. By working on in-class exercises and assignment projects students will acquire and apply the key skills necessary to operate within a professional publishing context. Students will engage with project management, budgeting and costing, briefing, the different types of editing, design and layout, proofreading, and delivery. This module enhances employability by allowing students to use industry standard tools and packages, such as HTML, InDesign and Photoshop, and to improve understanding of basic typographic and design principles, the application of typesetting/mark-up skills, and production of publication ready files. Practising these hands-on skills will enhance students' understanding of how attention to detail can improve a product, make it the best it can be, and ensure it is presented profitably to its intended market.

Share: Strategic Marketing and Sales

This module considers the various individuals and communities (colleagues, shareholders, retailers, distributors, customers and other stakeholders) involved in the business of content delivery, and how most effectively to disseminate information and influence their behaviour, in order to promote effective marketing and sales.

This module will enable students to understand the principles of marketing and sales, and develop associated skills in applying them to meet the demands of modern publishing. Students will undertake exercises and discussions about the various applications of sales and marketing within the publishing industry and consider their relevance through all stages of the publishing process.

Through this process students will learn how best to investigate the market for demand, how to predict that demand, and how to prepare, market and distribute information about a product or service, whether in whole or part, to promote profitable fulfilment of that demand.

Publishers operate in an international context and so must market and sell their products to customers around the globe. Students will therefore consider how publishers organise themselves to deliver international operations successfully, and explore associated cultural, pricing and communication issues.

Choose one of the following

Practical publishing project.

The Practical publishing project provides students with the opportunity to conceive, plan, manage and deliver a substantial publishing-related output in order to achieve specified goals. Examples of potential projects include producing and publishing a book, app or magazine, researching and presenting a start-up business plan or developing and implementing a major market research exercise. In all instances, students are expected to define a specific audience and relevant stakeholders, as well as personal development and project objectives. Students will also develop a structured project plan and a post-project critical evaluation, in order to identify personal goals for future professional development.

Depending on the nature of the chosen project, students will engage with different ranges of knowledge and skills, from practical print or digital production methods and processes to software expertise, market research (including questionnaire design, data analysis and interpretation) and business planning. Although students are expected to take responsibility for their own learning, they are supported and mentored by an individual supervisor at key points in the process.

Publishing Dissertation

The Publishing dissertation module provides students with the opportunity to independently conceive, explore, investigate and then deliver a significant study within the publishing industry and allied fields. The theoretical underpinning may vary according to the approach taken and the research questions chosen, but the outcome should be a sustained and coherent piece of detailed work, capable of publication and wider dissemination.

Depending on the issue chosen, students will engage with a range of professionals within the industry, and within related fields. Although students are expected to take responsibility for their own learning, they are supported and mentored by an individual supervisor during the process.

Many postgraduate courses at Kingston University allow students to do a 12-month work placement as part of their course. The responsibility for finding the work placement is with the student; we cannot guarantee the work placement, just the opportunity to undertake it. As the work placement is an assessed part of the course, it is covered by a student's Student Route 4 visa.

This has proven popular with Publishing students, with the majority securing a placement within publishing or a related industry.

Find out more about the postgraduate work placement scheme .

Please note

Optional modules only run if there is enough demand. If we have an insufficient number of students interested in an optional module, that module will not be offered for this course.

Entry requirements

Typical offer.

A 2:2 or above honours degree or equivalent and a demonstrable enthusiasm for publishing.

Applicants with relevant work experience will be considered on an individual basis.

Additional requirements

Copies of transcripts and certificates which confirm qualifications obtained and pending with the complete breakdown of all subjects studied and marks obtained. These should clearly show the qualification awarded and the final overall grade/mark. If they are not in English, we will also require copies translated into English by an authorised translator.

A personal statement of at least 500 words which should outline your reasons for applying for the course.

Prior learning – AP(E)L

Applicants with prior qualifications and learning may be exempt from appropriate parts of a course in accordance with the University's policy for the assessment of prior learning and prior experiential learning. Contact the faculty office for further information.

International

All non-UK applicants must meet our English language requirement, which is Academic IELTS of 6.5 overall with 5.5 in all elements. Make sure you read our full  guidance about English language requirements , which includes details of other qualifications we consider.

Applicants who do not meet the English language requirements could be eligible to join our  pre-sessional English language course .

Applicants from a recognised  majority English speaking countries (MESCs)  do not need to meet these requirements.

Country-specific information

You will find more information on country specific entry requirements in the International section of our website.

Find your country:

• Middle East

Teaching and assessment

You will be taught via a variety of methods, including lectures, seminars, one-to-one tutorials and hands-on workshops.

You will undertake individual and group assignments including presentations, critical reflections, blogs, an exam as well as industry-specific tasks such as pitching your own publishing idea, developing a marketing communications strategy and analysing the business model of a publisher of your choice. You will be given opportunities to practise and receive feedback in preparation for all assignments.

The course content evolves each year. For example, with video becoming one of the most important marketing tools, we have recently added practical workshops in video creation to the marketing module, with input from industry professionals.

Guided independent study (self-managed time)

When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This typically involves reading and analysing articles, regulations, policy documents and key texts, documenting individual projects, preparing coursework assignments and completing your PEDRs, etc.

Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS, the University's online virtual learning platform.

Support for postgraduate students

At Kingston University, we know that postgraduate students have particular needs and therefore we have a range of support available to help you during your time here.

Your workload

9% of your time is spent in timetabled learning and teaching and activity.

Contact hours may vary depending on your modules.

Type of teaching and learning

• Scheduled learning and teaching: 206 hours
• Guided independent study (self-managed time): 2124 hours
• Placement: 70 hours

Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. Depending on optional modules chosen, this breakdown may change.

How you will be assessed

Assessment typically comprises exams, practicals (e.g. presentations, performance) and coursework (e.g. essays, reports, self-assessment, portfolios or dissertation). The approximate percentage for how you will be assessed on this course is as follows, though depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose.

Type of assessment

• Coursework: 100%

Feedback summary

We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.

Class sizes

To give you an indication of class sizes, this course, and the MA Creative Writing and Publishing normally enrol a total of around 30 students. Lecture sizes will vary between modules and academic years, but seminar groups will not exceed 15 students.

Who teaches this course?

You will learn from a mixture of permanent teaching staff, masterclass speakers and guest lecturers. All are publishing professionals with many years of experience.

Lecturers have each worked in publishing for at least two decades. They include the well-known industry commentator and author of How to Market Books , Professor Alison Baverstock, and current practitioners Emma Tait and Clare Somerville. They are also experienced industry trainers and qualified higher education teachers.

Postgraduate students may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader.

Ms Emma Tait

Course leader.

Professor Alison Baverstock

Admissions tutor.

Ms Maria Ahmed

Ms Lynne Eve

Clare Somerville

Fees for this course, 2024/25 fees for this course, home 2024/25.

• MA full time £11,900
• MA part time £6,545

International 2024/25

• MA full time £19,900
• MA part time £10,945

2023/24 fees for this course

Home 2023/24.

• MA full time £10,900
• MA part time £5,995

International 2023/24

• MA full time £17,700
• MA part time £9,735

Tuition fee information for future course years

If you start your second year straight after Year 1, you will pay the same fee for both years.

If you take a break before starting your second year, or if you repeat modules from Year 1 in Year 2, the fee for your second year may increase.

Fees for the optional placement year

If you choose to take a placement as part of this course, you will be invoiced for the placement fee in Year 2. Find out more about the postgraduate work placement scheme and the costs for the placement year.

Postgraduate loans

If you are a UK student, resident in England and are aged under the age of 60, you will be able to apply for a loan to study for a postgraduate degree. For more information, read the postgraduate loan information on the government's website .

Scholarships and bursaries

Kingston University offers a range of postgraduate scholarships, including:

• Inspire the Future scholarship
• Postgraduate scholarships for international students

If you are an international student, find out more about  scholarships and bursaries .

We also offer the following discounts for Kingston University alumni:

• Alumni discount
• Progression Scholarship

Stationers' Company bursaries

The Stationers' Company offers up to 12 bursaries each year to postgraduate students on specific courses, including Kingston University's Publishing MA. Successful students will each receive a bursary of £6,000 and will be offered the opportunity to receive mentoring during their studies from an appropriate member of the Stationers' Company, taking into account the specific interests of the student.

On successful completion of their masters programme, the award winners will be presented with the Freedom of the Stationers' Company and it is expected that they will participate in the life of the Company. Dispensation for payment of the annual membership fee will be given for the following three years.

Applicants must normally be under 25, resident in the UK, and classified as paying UK tuition fees. If you are between 25 and 30 and wish to apply, please discuss your application with the relevant course director and administrator. Applicants must hold a conditional or unconditional offer for Kingston University's Publishing MA.

Find out more and see how to apply.

Additional costs

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs that are not covered by tuition fees which students will need to consider when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.

Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. You may prefer to buy your own copy of key textbooks, this can cost between £50 and £250 per year.

Computer equipment

There are open-access networked computers available across the University, plus laptops available to loan . You may find it useful to have your own PC, laptop or tablet which you can use around campus and in halls of residences. Free WiFi is available on each of the campuses. You may wish to purchase your own computer, which can cost £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.

Photocopying and printing

In the majority of cases written coursework can be submitted online. There may be instances when you will be required to submit work in a printed format. Printing, binding and photocopying costs are not included in your tuition fees, this may cost up to £100 per year.

Travel costs are not included in your tuition fees but we do have a free intersite bus service which links the campuses, Surbiton train station, Kingston upon Thames train station, Norbiton train station and halls of residence.

The campus at Penrhyn Road, where this course is taught, is a hive of activity. It houses the main student restaurant, the learning resources centre (LRC), and a host of teaching rooms and lecture theatres.

The LRC offers:

• specialist resources for Publishing MA students including The Bookseller and a number of specialist journals
• subject libraries, plus a free inter-library loan scheme to other libraries in the Greater London area
• online database subscriptions
• a growing selection of resource materials

At the heart of the campus is the John Galsworthy building, a six-storey complex that brings together lecture theatres, flexible teaching space and information technology suites around a landscaped courtyard.

The Iris Murdoch Archives

Kingston University hosts two major archives relating to Iris Murdoch – a significant philosopher and one of the 20th century's greatest novelists. These archives currently comprise:

• Iris Murdoch's Oxford library (more than 1,000 volumes, many of them heavily annotated by Murdoch)
• the papers, tapes, interviews and manuscripts collected by Peter Conradi, Iris Murdoch's official biographer and Murdoch scholar
• various letter runs and documents donated by well-wishers

Resources in London

Kingston is just a 30-minute train journey from central London. Here you can access a wealth of additional libraries and archives, including the British Library.

After you graduate

Once you graduate from Kingston, you'll be part of a professional community of publishers, who keep in touch by meeting in person, or through our active social networks.

Read what some of our graduates have gone on to do and how studying at Kingston helped them kick-start their professional careers. You can also find out more about where our other graduates are working:

Graduate destinations

Our graduates have gone on to work in a range of roles in publishing and other industries. Here are just some examples:

• Blake Friedmann Literary, TV and Film Agency
• BMJ Publishing Group (journals)
• Brandwidth (digital production)
• City & Guilds Publishing (editorial)
• Encyclopaedia Britannica (marketing)
• Hachette Children's Books (digital rights)
• Little Tiger Press (editorial and marketing)
• Montash Associates (recruitment)
• Nosy Crow (sales, production and marketing)
• Penguin (production, art department, marketing)
• Random House (marketing, production, digital publishing)
• Usborne Publishing (publicity)
• Wiley (production)

What our graduates say

An MA gives you the opportunity to study something you love in glorious depth. It allows you time and resources to explore your particular interest, become involved in it and maybe even further its development in some way. It can help you to realise your true potential and push you to the very limits of ambition. The Kingston MA pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best possible way. I know that for me, it was absolutely the right thing to do.

Alice Saggers, international editions assistant, Phaidon Press

With specific tips, strategies and notes, feedback from tutors has been exceptional and timely, always playing a crucial role in the development of our critical thinking and assignments. Through masterclass sessions, industry conferences, networking opportunities and even field trips, our tutors provide a staggering amount of opportunities to engage and get involved with the publishing industry.

Lisa Vanterpool, public relations and social media strategist, InkWell Management

I recommend the Kingston Publishing MA because it's the perfect publishing 'finishing school', giving you the skills you need before sending you off to your career.

Kjell Eldor, manager, Blackwell's

Kingston's Publishing MA allowed me to turn my love of books into a career. By providing an understanding of the business behind the books – and introducing me to my current employer – Kingston gave me a great start in a fantastic industry.

Andrew Turner, media communication executive, Quercus Publishing

In my work I have to be aware of every project in the publishing house, and be ready to answer questions and help out at many points throughout the publishing process. It takes a lot of organisation and concentration!  

I chose to study at Kingston because the location was good and I managed to secure a scholarship. The course content was interesting, with good links to industry. The MA gave me the opportunity to make the transition from academia into the world of work almost seamlessly.

I found the experience of working as co-project manager on the student writing anthology Ripple invaluable. I was able to put all my new-found knowledge into practice. I learnt a lot from my successes, and my mistakes!

Frankie Jones, editorial assistant, City & Guilds Publishing

Our course leader and the teaching staff made sure we had the right skills for the publishing industry, through internships at publishing companies, workshops with publishing professionals and coursework that included creating business plans. The course was challenging at times but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It boosted my confidence and helped me land a job in a reputable publishing company.

In my current role, I look after e-marketing, such as updating social media platforms and creating e-bulletins. I also research and coordinate conferences and other promotional activities. The practical training I received on my course and the network of connections I made helped me secure a role I was interested in.

Nyamto Jailem (Angelina) Wangsha, marketing assistant, Pickering & Chatto Publishers

The masterclasses are an excellent way to learn about different job roles in the publishing industry. The speakers work in all areas of publishing so it's very insightful to hear different perspectives on the business. It also gives you the opportunity to ask questions and get first-hand answers from professionals. It can be a great way to network too – I ended up securing a work placement at Weidenfeld & Nicolson by talking to publishing director, Alan Samson, before he gave a masterclass.

Amy Cartwright, business development executive, Charity Retail Association

Links with business and industry

Our close links with the publishing industry, including publishers, agents, literary festival organisers and authors, mean that you will benefit from:

• an academic teaching team that has both commercial publishing experience and contextual/theoretical knowledge of the industry
• input from guest speakers, who add an extra perspective to your studies
• masterclasses and other events with leading publishing professionals, commentators and authors on the latest trends
• input into the course from our Advisory Board
• work placements and the chance of winning an industry-sponsored prize

Advisory boards

The Publishing MA benefits from the input of two dynamic advisory boards, both of which are keen to support our students and advocate for our course.

The Publishing Advisory Board comprises a group of experienced professionals from throughout all sectors of the industry.

The Alumni Advisory Board comprises Kingston graduates with successful careers in publishing who are keen to give back to Kingston.

Each member gives guest lectures and contributes to placement and dissertation study, as well as advising on their area of specialism to ensure the course continues to equip students with the skills and knowledge they need.

Publishing Advisory Board

• Dr Christopher Fletcher, Keeper of Special Collections, Bodleian Library
• Andrew Hansen, Vice-President, Prestel Publishing
• Nicholas Jones, Founder and Chairman, Strathmore Publishing
• Philip Jones, Editor, The Bookseller
• Emma Lowe, Publishing Account Director, Glassboxx
• Alicia Lui, Founder and Managing Director, Singing Grass Communications
• Georgina Moore, Director of Books and Publishing, Midas Public Relations
• Sophie O'Neill, Managing Director, Inpress
• Diane Spivey, Publishing and Rights Consultant
• Jeremy Trevathan, Managing Director, Macmillan Adult Division
• Simon Trewin, CEO, Literary Agent and Creative Director, Simon Trewin Ltd
• Andrew Welham, Non-Executive Director, Flame Tree Publishing; Executive Consultant, Think Selection
• Kate Wilson, Founder and CEO, Nosy Crow
• Gordon Wise, Senior Literary Agent, Curtis Brown Group

Alumni Advisory Board

• John Baker (MA Publishing, 2018), Literary and Screen Agent, Bell Lomax Moreton
• Laura Battle (MA Publishing, 2019), Key Account Manager, Abrams and Chronicle
• Elle Brenton-Rounding (BA English, 2015; MA Publishing, 2016; London Book Fair Trailblazer 2022), Senior Sales and Business Development Manager, Bonnier Books
• Jessica Dunn (MA Publishing, 2012), Complex Ebook Producer, Penguin Random House
• Charlotte Rogers (MA Publishing, 2016), Membership Engagement Manager, Independent Publishers Guild
• Joe Sedgwick (MA Publishing, 2015), Head of Writing Services, The Literary Consultancy
• Kimberley Sheehan (MA Creative Writing and Publishing, 2016), Campaign Manager, The Reading Agency
• Tanuja Shelar (MA Publishing with Professional Placement, 2019; Bookseller Rising Star, 2020), Marketing Manager, Joffe Books
• Jaclyn Swope (MA Publishing, 2013), Senior Account Manager, Nielsen Book Research

Research areas

Publishing at Kingston University has a vibrant culture of both research and professional practice. Our lecturers publish all the time – academic research, industry-leading text books and writing for the national or trade press. Applications for research study with us are very welcome.

We have a vibrant programme of industry supervision for masters dissertations. This has led to collaboration between Kingston students and industry tutors. In 2018 a Kingston MA student won the prestigious Association for Publishing Education Award for the best dissertation at masters level for her work on publishing for children with autism.

Associate professor Alison Baverstock has carried out groundbreaking work into the nature of self-publishing and how it is impacting the wider industry. This has been published in book ( The Naked Author , Bloomsbury) and journal form. Alison is currently overseeing four PhD students, who are working on: what attracts young adults to the books they choose, cover design in women's commercial fiction, the history of Virago and the publication of fairy tales. She also has extensive experience of overseeing PhD by publication.

The University has a pre-arrival shared reading scheme – The Kingston University Big Read. This won a prestigious Times Higher Education Award in 2017 for Best University Initiative for Widening Participation. This has now developed into a dynamic research project, across a range of other universities, concentrating on how universities can make their students feel welcome, encouraging both engagement and retention. In 2018-19 we worked with The University of Wolverhampton, Edge Hill University and University of the West of Scotland. Most of our findings are published in  Logos – the journal of the world publishing community and there are regular blogs on progress. To discuss these or potential collaborations, please contact Alison Baverstock.

Course changes and regulations

The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course.  Course changes explained .

Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.

Regulations governing this course  can be found on our website.

Related courses

Creative Writing and Publishing MA

Journalism PgDip/MA

Magazine Journalism MA

Secondary Teaching leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) PGCE English

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Turning your MSc dissertation into an academic paper

Anne-Marie Boylan

23 May 2019

Tips for students

Students who complete the MSc in Evidence Based Health Care at the University of Oxford often produce high quality research for their dissertation, which we encourage them to publish in academic journals. Dr Anne-Marie Boylan is the Dissertation Coordinator for the MSc in EBHC. She spoke to Mark Howe, a dentist who recently completed his MSc about his experiences of writing up his MSc thesis for publication in the Journal of Dentistry.

What challenges did you face in getting your thesis published?

I found condensing the dissertation down to meet the word count required for the journal whilst maintaining all the important points was a big challenge. This took a substantial amount of time and quite a lot of editing. I also faced lots of challenges because of what was required in the submission process. The formatting the journal required for tables and figures was different to what I had created for my thesis. They didn’t always convert cleanly when uploaded, which took some time to identify and correct. Despite all my efforts to ensure I followed the guidelines for authors, the manuscript was returned immediately due to issues with format changes and missing entries. But I got there in the end.

What did you think about the reviewers’ feedback?

The initial comments ranged from just basic proof-reading corrections to what felt like quite extensive criticism. So you need to be prepared for frustration and rejection. The publication process assumes you work in a close-knit experienced team where there is access to people who have published before, which isn’t always the case for MSc students.

The reviewers asked for amendments to what I thought were very important aspects of the research. I saw this an opportunity to argue that these data should not be changed.

How did you feel when your article was accepted?

I felt relief rather than joy as the profession now had to accept there were some weaknesses in their previous robust results. Getting the dissertation published was for me the true endpoint of the MSc in evidence-based healthcare as my research was now going into the public domain. I was surprised to see how expensive it was to make my paper ‘Open Access’. I had no funding for this so it’s behind a pay wall.

What would you say to other students who are preparing their thesis for publication?

Choose your journal carefully.

Be patient – the submission process is more experiential than intuitive. Try and get some advice from colleagues who have published more papers in your field.

Be prepared to defend your research against the reviewer’s comment where necessary. Try not to take the reviewers comments personally. Maintain a calm perspective, and possibly leave the manuscript for a few days before working through the corrections.

Mark’s paper can be accessed using the following reference : Howe, M.-S., Keys, W. and Richards, D. (2019) ‘Long-term (10-year) dental implant survival: A systematic review and sensitivity meta-analysis’, Journal of Dentistry. Elsevier B.V., 84(March), pp. 9–21. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2019.03.008.

Read Mark’s blog summarising his research findings here.

What to read next

'rejection is part of the process'.

22 July 2019

EBHC programmes Students

Rejection is part of the process: Turning your dissertation into an academic paper

Publishing MA

London, Bloomsbury

Equip yourself with the skills, knowledge and understanding you need to thrive in the competitive world of book publishing. The Publishing MA blends theory with practice, teaching you how to become a future leader and changemaker in this field. Taught at UCL, you’ll learn from research experts and publishing practitioners, benefiting from access to professional guest speakers and networking opportunities with industry influencers.

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25), programme starts, applications accepted.

Applications closed

Applications open

• Entry requirements

A minimum of a second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 4

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website .

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

The programme provides practical and theoretical insights into how this complex industry functions and equips you with a range of transferable skills. In core modules, you will gain a fundamental understanding of how publishing works, as well as learning how academics research the book trade. The optional modules will allow you to develop your specific interests across several academic and industry areas.

Who this course is for

This programme is ideal for students interested in book and journal publishing who wish to develop a thorough understanding of the structure, organisation and dynamics of the publishing industry. It is suitable for those seeking to enter not-for-profit organisations as well as commercial companies in both the UK and internationally.

What this course will give you

Our Publishing MA aims to include insights into a wide spread of publishing disciplines. Teaching staff possess a broad range of book trade knowledge, and most are active researchers whose work has had an impact on the discipline as a field of academic study. In addition to staff expertise, the course brings in leading publishing professionals to give guest lectures and presentations, keeping content responsive to current trends and issues.

The foundation of your career

Graduates from this course have gone on to work at a variety of Publishing Houses and other associated companies in the creative industries, ranging from roles at international organisations such as Penguin Random House and Oxford University Press, to smaller independent and specialist presses like Nosy Crow. Other opportunities our graduates have pursued have led to work in areas such as literary agenting and public relations.

Employability

At the end of the programme, you will have had access to a wide range of training and learning opportunities designed to assist you in pursuing a career as a professional publisher. You will be able to launch your career with a qualification from a university that the industry recognises and values.

On the course, you will have plenty of time to familiarise yourself with possible career paths as you engage with core teaching and benefit from our professional mentoring scheme. You will be encouraged to engage with key networking organisations like the SYP and Bookmachine, and to attend publishing events like the London Book Fair.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through lectures, workshops, and seminars, and the content is a mix of theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

In order to reinforce the blend of theoretical and practical training on the course, you will engage with a wide range of assessment types, including traditional essays, presentations, case studies and business/marketing plans, along with a final research-based dissertation of 15,000 words.

Contact hours are typically 12 hours each week. The MA comprises approximately 30% contact and 70% self-directed study.

A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits, full-time nine months or flexible study 2-5 years) is offered.

You will undertake compulsory and optional taught modules, as well as a research project. The programme is modular with an emphasis on practical skills and exercises based on real-world scenarios and approached through team working.

The core and module options are the same as for the full-time MA, but taken over two years rather than one. The Programme Director will discuss the order in which modules will be undertaken with you following application.

The core and module options are the same as for the full-time MA, but taken over 2-5 years instead of one. The Programme Director will discuss the order in which modules will be undertaken with you following application.

Compulsory modules

Optional modules.

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MA in Publishing. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Publishing.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk . Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team .

Online - Open day

Publishing MA: Information Session

15:00 — 16:00

Interested in studying Publishing at UCL in 2024/25? Please join us online to meet with the course team and hear how our programme provides the ideal foundation for career progression in roles connected to publishing and the wider book trade. You will learn about life in the department, what makes the UCL MA stand out, the wide range of core and optional modules on offer, the mentoring scheme, and our extensive careers and extracurricular project support. We look forward to meeting you.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course.

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis .

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees .

Additional costs

The department strives to keep additional costs low. Books and journal articles are usually available via the UCL library as hard copies or via e-journal subscriptions .

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs .

Funding your studies

For more details on the scholarships we offer please visit UCL Publishing Centre .

Applications for funding from the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) must be made by 31 December in the year before the programme start date.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website .

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees .

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

• why you want to study Publishing at graduate level
• why you want to study Publishing at UCL
• what particularly attracts you to this programme
• how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this programme
• where you would like to go professionally and/or academically with your degree

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2024-2025

Got questions get in touch.

Information Studies

[email protected]

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• MA Publishing

Study with us and learn the skills, practical experience and networks to get a head start in the publishing industry.

Course overview

Delivered in collaboration with leading industry professionals, this course will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed for a variety of careers in publishing.

You will explore the complex anatomies and eco-systems of the publishing industry and its markets in the UK and internationally, as well as the trends, innovations, opportunities and challenges facing this rapidly changing profession.

Through the duration of the course, you will gain a working knowledge of the business of publishing, examining the structures of a range of organisational models, from major corporate brands to small independent outfits; and you will develop an understanding of the different stages, roles and skills involved in the publishing process, and the different publishing formats and platforms availab...

What you need to know

• When does the course start? September 2024

1 year full-time 2 years part-time

• Where will I study this course? Manchester

Features and benefits

"If your ambition is to work in publishing, this course provides you with the resources, skills, experience and networks you will need to succeed. We have a proven track record of getting graduates into the industry, providing support for your whole career journey." Debbie Williams Programme Leader

Course Information

Our teaching is designed to maximise our tutor’s contact time with you, to allow you to incorporate feedback into your assessments and to help you develop key skills, including copywriting, editing and presenting. You will often work in small groups to plan and implement projects, gaining feedback from each other and the industry professionals who teach on this course. 

You will get to experience all aspects of the industry, from design to production, commissioning to copy editing, marketing to sales through core units. Then, through optional units, you can specialise in poetry, children’s literature in translation or magazine. You will also undertake a project in collaboration with our industry partners over the summer, as well as being assigned an industry mentor and having 1-2 1 sessions on CV, application, cover letters and interviews.

Areas studied on the programme include commissioning and copy editing, production and design, sales and marketing, legal and rights and many optional modules such as children’s, magazine and translated literature. Our ‘Sales and Marketing, Legal and Rights’ unit allows you to design a marketing campaign for a publishing house, and our ‘From Commissioning and Editorial to Design and Production’ unit gives you the opportunity to plan and pitch your ideas based on weekly tasks to industry professionals. Feedback collected in this module can be used to help you build strong portfolios to support you to secure a job after you graduate. All the modules invite a number of guest speakers from all parts of the industry, giving you the knowledge and networks you need to decide on your path.

In semester one you will gain an overview of the history and present state of the publishing industry, its trends, future developments and challenges. You will also examine publishing processes, formats and platforms.

In semester two you will take optional units designed to help you develop specialist skills geared towards professional opportunities.

In semester three you will explore a topic of your choice in-depth for your dissertation or major project.

This structure is for full-time study. Part-time students complete their studies over two years, taking one core unit and one elective unit in year one, and one core unit, one elective unit and the dissertation in year two.

The programme leader for this course is Debbie Williams .

In the first semester, emphasis is placed on becoming familiar with the industry - how it works, the different departments and genres and training you on industry standard programmes such as Nielsen, Adobe and Canva. You will also take part in a unit centred around sales and marketing, legal and rights.

The second semester is highly practical, allowing you to get experience on real-world tasks set by industry professionals and partners. You will gain skills in design, production and editing. You will also be able to take optional units on poetry, literature in translation, magazine and children’s picture books.

The final semester (over the summer) will enable you to take part on a practical project, often in collaboration with industry partners. 

Dissertation

This unit allows you to apply the skills acquired in your taught units in a major supervised independent investigation of an aspect of publishing, or the development of a business case and strategy for your own publishing project, in collaboration with an external partner organisation.

Publishing Business and Operations

This taught unit will serve as an introduction to the world of publishing. It will examine the history and business context of publishing industries and give an overview of publishing roles, processes, formats and platforms. You will examine the journey of a publication, while demonstrating a critical understanding of current developments, future opportunities, and legal and ethical issues in publishing. 

Sales and Marketing, Legal and Rights

This taught unit will give an overview of strategies employed by publishers to sell and market their products.     You will develop the key skills necessary for the sales and marketing of new books, including audience research, market assessment, consumer behaviour, targeted marketing and negotiating with buyers in order to maximise sales and profit. It will also examine the key legal and ethical issues in print and digital publishing, introducing the relevant aspects of intellectual property (IP) and the acquisition and exploitation of IP rights across multiple platforms. You will become familiar with publishing contracts and the importance of subsidiary rights, and you'll consider legal questions as they relate to the publishing industry. 

From Commissioning and Editorial to Design and Production

This taught unit will provide an in-depth understanding of the publishing journey, from commissioning and editorial to design and production. It will give you insights into the operations of book, magazine and digital publishers, enabling you to plan, produce and evaluate content for a variety of platforms.

Option units

Contemporary magazine publishing.

This unit will examine contemporary magazine publishing as a creative process, from idea to distribution. You will work in teams to create a pilot issue of a magazine title, considering legal and ethical, as well as creative aspects of magazine publishing.

Literature in Translation

This unit will examine the creative, ethical and business aspects of publishing literature in translation. You will work collaboratively in small teams to develop an idea for a new translated book project and produce a number of publishing materials to form a small portfolio of work. 

Poetry in Print

This taught unit will give an overview of the design and editorial history and practices of poetry publication. Students will collaborate in small teams to write, edit, produce and publish a chapbook of poetry, applying principles of book design, layout and marketing.

Writing, Illustrating and Publishing Children's Books

You will work collaboratively in small teams to develop an idea for a new children’s book and produce a number of publishing materials to form a small portfolio of work. The unit will explore the creative, editorial and business aspects of writing, illustrating and publishing for children. 

The unit will start with the background in children’s books including a short historical and critical survey of children’s writing and publishing to the present. The unit will then focus on the current state of children’s publishing including contexts such as educational structures, age ranges, series fiction, crossover fiction, niche markets, gatekeepers and the importance of ‘pester power.’ You will take on a range of roles including that of illustrator and writer in order to experience all aspects of the creative process.

Study and assessment breakdown

10 credits equates to 100 hours of study, which is a combination of lectures, seminars and practical sessions, and independent study. A masters qualification typically comprises of 180 credits, a PGDip 120 credits, a PGCert 60 credits and an MFA 300 credits. The exact composition of your study time and assessments for the course will vary according to your option choices and style of learning, but it could be:

• Full-time 35% lectures, seminars or similar; 0% placement; 65% independent study
• Part-time 35% lectures, seminars or similar; 0% placement; 65% independent study
• Full-time 100% coursework; 0% practical; 0% examination
• Part-time 100% coursework; 0% practical; 0% examination

Whether you've already made your decision about what you want to study, or you're just considering whether postgraduate study is right for you, there are lots of ways you can meet us and find out more about postgraduate student life at Manchester Met.

• a virtual experience campus tour
• chats with current students

Taught by Experts

Your studies are supported by a department of committed and enthusiastic teachers and researchers, experts in their chosen field.

We often link up with external professionals too, helping to enhance your learning and build valuable connections to the working world.

Entry Requirements

You will normally have a minimum 2.1 UK undergraduate honours degree in a humanities, social sciences or other related subject such as business, digital media, finance, journalism, law or marketing.

Non-standard applicants are encouraged to apply via submission of an application form, personal statement, one reference and interview.

Fees and Funding

Uk and channel island students.

Full-time fee: £9,500 per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).

Part-time fee: £1584 per 30 credits studied per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).

EU and Non-EU International Students

Full-time fee: £18,500 per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).

Part-time fee: £3084 per 30 credits studied per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).

Additional Information

A masters qualification typically comprises 180 credits, a PGDip 120 credits, a PGCert 60 credits, and an MFA 300 credits. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of study provided the course is completed in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).

Additional Costs

Specialist costs.

Optional estimate : £150

Books for study on core units. Cost spread across years one and two for part-time students. There will also be a list of additional, optional recommended reading for each unit; students can access much of this via the Manchester Met Library (either by loaning books or the e-book system). All students will require access to a computer in order to complete their studies (accessing online resources, forums and communications systems). Students can use loan laptops on campus (subject to availability). Students will also need to access broadband internet. While most students choose to purchase this for home use, computers with internet access are available to use on campus. Assessed work will be submitted and completed electronically.

placement Costs

Optional estimate : £200 - £1,000

Cost depends on length, location and nature of placement. Students will be given the opportunity to undertake various forms of practical learning and experience, including work placements and internships at major publishing houses. Students undertaking placements, or undertaking project work which involves creating artwork, producing objects, or travelling to conduct research, interviews or work experience, etc. will need to cover the costs of any materials and also make arrangements for accommodation, travel and food.

other Costs

Optional estimate : £100

Students may be invited to take part in optional public events and/or attend meetings for extra-curricular projects, and they are expected to cover the costs of travel, accommodation and food.

Postgraduate Loan Scheme

Loans available for many of our postgraduate courses

Alumni Loyalty Discount

Rewarding our graduates

Career Prospects

This is a practical degree, with many of our students gaining employment before they complete the course. You will be equipped with the skills to pursue a variety of careers in digital and print publishing, including:

• sales and marketing

The emphasis is on getting you the practical skills and experience to enter the highly competitive publishing industry. With full access and training in industry programmes, all assessments replicate tasks you might undertake as a publishing professional.

There are opportunities to get involved with the Manchester Children's Book Festival - an ongoing programme of literary and educational events, and we also have strong links with: the Manchester Literature Festival , Blackwells Bookshop, the Northern Fiction Alliance, and the great library network in Manchester.

The city is seeing exceptional growth of publishing ventures and opportunities, and we believe there has never been a better time to study publishing in Manchester.

Want to know more

Register your interest, got a question.

Please contact our course enquiries team.

Get advice and support on making a successful application.

You can review our current Terms and Conditions before you make your application. If you are successful with your application, we will send you up to date information alongside your offer letter.

Manchester is your city, be part of it

Your new home, your new city, why university, related courses, creative writing, english studies.

Programme Review Our programmes undergo an annual review and major review (normally at 6 year intervals) to ensure an up-to-date curriculum supported by the latest online learning technology. For further information on when we may make changes to our programmes, please see the changes section of our Terms and Conditions .

Important Notice This online prospectus provides an overview of our programmes of study and the University. We regularly update our online prospectus so that our published course information is accurate. Please check back to the online prospectus before making an application to us to access the most up to date information for your chosen course of study.

Confirmation of Regulator The Manchester Metropolitan University is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education in England. More information on the role of the OfS and its regulatory framework can be found at officeforstudents.org.uk .

All higher education providers registered with the OfS must have a student protection plan in place. The student protection plan sets out what students can expect to happen should a course, campus, or institution close. Access our current Student Protection Plan .

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Master’s Theses | Montezuma Publishing YouTube Channel | Universal Formatting Requirements for All Departments | Master’s Thesis & EdD Dissertation Formatting Templates | Thesis Q&A Sessions and Companion Guide | Optional Professional Formatting Services | Master’s Student Milestones and Typical Timeline | Review and Publishing Fees | Thesis Deadlines for Upcoming Terms | Master’s Thesis Submission Procedure | Review Procedures | EdD Dissertations | PhD Dissertations | Publishing | Policies | Frequently Asked Questions | Optional Formatting Services vs. Editing Services | Optional Montezuma Formatting | Optional Thesis/Dissertation Editing | Contact | Thesis Links

• Master’s Theses

Universal Formatting Requirements for All Departments

• Master’s Thesis & EdD Dissertation Formatting Templates
• Thesis Q&A Sessions and Survival Guide

Optional Professional Formatting Services

• Master’s Student Milestones and Typical Timeline

Review and Publishing Fees

Thesis Deadlines for Upcoming Terms

• Master’s Thesis Submission Procedure

Review Procedures

EdD Dissertations

PhD Dissertations

• Frequently Asked Questions

Optional Formatting Services vs. Editing Services

Optional Montezuma Formatting

Optional Thesis/Dissertation Editing

Thesis Links

THESIS AND DISSERTATION SERVICES

Our business hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Our register is open to process payments in person or by phone Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:45 pm. Hours of operation are subject to change.

Montezuma Publishing (MP) is a non-profit department on campus at SDSU. One of our principal areas of service is graduate publishing. For graduate students, MP is responsible for:

• Reviewing all SDSU theses and dissertations for formatting consistency.
• Publishing SDSU theses and dissertations. Since 2014, publication is electronic through ProQuest , which is the platform that SDSU uses for repositories, reference requests, and on-demand publication. Your thesis or dissertation will be available to a global audience within a matter of weeks after your graduation is posted

Montezuma Publishing is part of Aztec Shops, which is an auxiliary of SDSU. We provide these services on behalf of the College of Graduate Studies, and partner with them to verify that each document meets the requirements adopted by the SDSU Graduate Council. These criteria establish uniformity in style and presentation for all published documents.

The MP reviewers pay particular attention to the aspects of formatting that are discussed in detail below. The MP Reviewer does not read theses for content and does not perform proofreader services. Your faculty thesis committee approves content, and proofreading is your responsibility.

Montezuma Publishing YouTube Channel

Montezuma Publishing’s YouTube Channel provides additional guidance for SDSU Master’s and Ed.D. students that must publish a thesis or dissertation as part of their graduation requirement. There you can find detailed information about formatting and department requirements , SDSU deadlines , and more. We have a growing list of tutorials such as how to apply text styles in a template, how to generate a Table of Contents , and how to perform a subdocument import . These are all designed to help you prepare your document for review and provide you with the knowledge you will need to complete the publication process. We continue to create new content for our channel, so make sure to subscribe today!

Master’s Theses

If you are in a Plan A Master’s program, your submitted thesis needs to be well written, stylistically appropriate, and edited. Your thesis committee is unlikely to approve your thesis (by signing the cover sheet) until it meets those standards.

After your submission is approved for formatting consistency by the MP Reviewer, thesis publication is the final graduation requirement. Even if all your coursework is completed, your Plan A Master’s program requires thesis publication prior to awarding the degree. The thesis is considered to be “published” after your thesis document formatting has been reviewed and approved, and all publishing fees have been paid.

Here are the formatting guidelines that apply to all Master’s degrees University-wide, which will be reviewed by Montezuma Publishing.

After thesis or dissertation committee approval, most students complete the remaining stylistic and formatting adjustments themselves. The remainder choose to hire a professional formatter for these services. The style and formatting requirements are presented here so that you will have the best chance of passing format review with minimal mistakes.

Your Thesis Style

Theses need to be submitted in a consistent and predictable style. Your Master’s program has pre-approved one or more specific styles that can be verified in this style list . If your thesis chair and advisor believe a different style should be approved for you as an exception, then your graduate advisor can notify Montezuma Publishing (MP) via email to [email protected] , stating what reference style you are to use. If the style does not appear on our existing style list , the graduate advisor will also need to provide a sample article and/or author formatting instructions for us to refer to during your review.

Your Thesis Formatting

In addition to adhering to your program’s chosen style, all Master’s theses need to follow some simple universal formatting guidelines. See the SDSU Thesis template for instructions, samples, and formatting assistance. There are 13 rules:

• 1. Your document must follow your program formatting requirements for text organization, in-text citations, and reference pages. See your department guidelines for information about your approved reference style guide and other program-specific requirements.
• 2. Margins: Set your margins at 1.25 inches for the left margin, and 1 inch for the right, top, and bottom margins. Margins may be reduced on some pages to .875 inches all around to accommodate oversized tables or figures.
• 3. Use a professional font in 12pt size. Do not use an ornamental font based on script, cursive, or calligraphic styles. For tables, footnotes, or other material outside of the main text, a font size as low as 8pt may be used. Use black for all text. Figures, tables, and computer code may include color at your discretion (but not captions, legends or titles).
• 4. Line spacing: 1.5 is preferred for the text body, but 2.0 (double-spacing) is acceptable. Exceptions: tables, lists, block quotations, footnotes/endnotes, figure captions, table titles, and bibliographic entries; these must be single line spaced. The transition back to normal text spacing will happen automatically if you use the provided template.
• 5. Start the first page of each section (Acknowledgements, Table of Contents, Lists, Appendix, etc.) and each Chapter on a new page and increase the top margin on that page to 2 inches. The top margin spacing will be applied automatically if you use the provided template.
• 6. Place your Bibliography or Reference section(s) at the end of each chapter or at the end of the main document text (but before the Appendices). The placement will correspond to your department’s style guidelines. Use single line spacing with normal spacing between each entry.
• 7. If your thesis has more than one of these features: figure, table, illustration, plate, etc., then each type of item requires a separate sequential number scheme. Label each item in the category (tables, figures, etc.) uniquely and consecutively.
• 8. Similarly, if your thesis has more than one of these features: figure, table, illustration, plate, etc., then each type of item requires a separate list in the preliminary pages. As you will see in the template, each preliminary page list includes the figure/table number, figure caption/table title and the page number on which it begins.
• 9. The thesis electronic file size may not exceed 1GB. The recommended image resolution for embedded figures and images is 300 dpi. Supplementary electronic documents (such as audio or video) are not part of the 1 GB total.
• 10. Your name, committee members, and degree title must match University records.
• 11. The Table of Contents (TOC) lists each chapter number, chapter title, and the page on which each chapter begins. In the TOC, the word “Chapter” must appear as a heading before listing the numbers and titles of each chapter below. See a sample Table of Contents here.
• 12. Preliminary page numbers are lowercase Roman numerals, starting with page iii. The title page and signature page (representing i and ii) will not have printed numbers.
• 13. Preliminary pages appear in the following order (first numbered page must be page iii):
• Title page : Mandatory; no page number.
• Signature page : Mandatory; no page number.
• Copyright page : Mandatory; numbered iii.
• Dedication : Optional; must have page number.
• Epigraph : Optional; must have page number.
• Abstract : Mandatory; up to 350 words, single-spaced; must have page number.
• Table of Contents : Mandatory; must have page number.
• List of Tables, List of Figures, etc. : Mandatory when the document includes more than one table, figure, etc. (e.g., if you have 2 tables, include a List of Tables; 2 figures, include a List of Figures); must have page number.
• List of Abbreviations, List of Acronyms, List of Symbols : Optional; must have page number.
• Preface : Optional; must have page number.
• Acknowledgements : Optional; must have page number (Department of Biology guidelines requires acknowledgements to appear after the last chapter and before the reference pages).

Download a copy of these SDSU Formatting Guidelines here.

Download a copy of the style guide for the Chicago Author-Number System here.

The Master’s Thesis Formatting Review Checklist

Before submitting your thesis to our office for review, refer to this review checklist to verify that you have addressed the most common formatting errors, and applied the correct format to your document. If you have followed all 13 rules and passed the checklist, then your thesis should pass MP review.

Master’s Thesis & EdD Dissertation Formatting Templates

Nearly all students find it easiest to meet the universal formatting requirements by using the SDSU Thesis Template . The template contains all of the correct formatting for preliminary pages, a page to auto-generate the table of contents and lists of figures or tables, and all of the necessary styles for headings, text, images, and references.

Here are links to download the appropriate template for your discipline:

1a. SDSU Thesis Template

This main template is an MS Word file. It contains styles that will assist you with formatting according to the University guidelines. It contains all the required preliminary page formatting necessary to prepare your thesis. Here are a few extra notes:

• When using the SDSU Thesis Template with Word 2013 or later, you should check the option to “maintain compatibility with previous versions of word,” or may need to save your file in the Word 97-2003 document file type. Failure to do so may create drop margin errors in your document, although this does not occur for all students.
• If your document has any landscape pages, then you’ll need to use this SDSU Dissertation Template for Landscape Pages . The included instructions will tell you how to correctly copy and paste into the main template.
• The SDSU Thesis template is set up to create a Table of Contents (TOC) after you've applied the correct styles to your headings in text. Instructions are included in the template. If you need additional help, see these screenshots and notes for TOC creation .
• The TOC creation notes will also be useful if you are having difficulties with generating the List of Tables and the List of Figures.

1b. SDSU LaTeX Template (for the entire thesis)

Some graduate programs have been approved to use LaTeX rather than MS Word to write the thesis. (See the style list and discuss with your thesis chair if you are unsure.) For those programs, this LaTeX template complies with the SDSU formatting requirements. The template can be found on the Math Department Resources web page, if you follow this link . Downloads are available for Windows or Linux/Unix. If you need guidance beyond the documents on that web page, a good third-party resource on using LaTeX is the LaTeX Wikibook .

1c. Hybrid MS Word - LaTeX Thesis

Some graduate programs require their students to write their thesis using the MS Word SDSU Thesis Template , but format the in-text citations and references pages according to the LaTex requirements. If your program has this “hybrid” requirement, then after writing your thesis in the MS Word template, download the “PDF - sdsu thesis latex” from this web site . Manually edit each citation and each reference so that they all meet the LaTeX requirements.

2a. SDSU Thesis Signature Page Template with 3 Committee Members

If you have a 3-member committee, use this signature page template to fill in your committee information. Print it out to get your committee signatures.

2b. SDSU Thesis Signature Page Template with 4 Committee Members

If you have a 4-member committee, use this signature page template to fill in your committee information. Print it out to get your committee signatures.

2c. SDSU Thesis Signature Page Template with 5 Committee Members

If you have a 5-member committee, replace the main template's signature page with this one. You may use the copy and paste function to do this.

EdD Dissertation Formatting Template

EdD students should use the SDSU APA EdD Dissertation Template , which was developed in partnership with the EdD directors. Here are some additional notes:

• The SDSU APA EdD Dissertation template is set up to create a Table of Contents (TOC) after you've applied the correct styles to your headings in text. Instructions are included in the template. If you need additional help, see these additional screenshots and notes for TOC creation

I Started Without the Template, But Now I Changed My Mind

If you are writing your thesis without the SDSU template and now want to switch, you will not need to start over from the beginning. Follow these instructions or video tutorial for “subdocument import” to safely copy your existing documents into the SDSU template (screenshots are taken from MS Word in Windows). Follow these instructions for “subdocument import” and/or Video Tutorial will ensure that the thesis template styles are not corrupted by conflicting formatting that you could accidentally bring over with a simple copy/paste. on our website to be amended to say the following

Thesis Q&A Sessions and Companion Guide

Montezuma Publishing hosts multiple Zoom Q&A sessions each February for the spring semester and October for the fall semester. Here are the spring session dates and Zoom links:

February 6, 2024 - 11:00 am

Register for Zoom Meeting

https://SDSU.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEtf-yhrjgsHNHsvbgNwhQtYnKg_89WJdcX

February 7, 2024 - 11:00 am

https://SDSU.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0odOiupjIrE9Wjaib-_jX0xNGWjKdk-t_N

February 8, 2024 - 2:00 pm

https://SDSU.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZctcuCprTIoHdTH-zOkR8qEZQYr27g-WIV4

These sessions cover everything you will need to know from submission to publication. A copy of the material discussed in each session can be found in our Thesis Companion Guide .

Dissertation Q&A Sessions and Companion Guide

February 6, 2024 - 2:00 pm

https://SDSU.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMud-GqqDwjG930GTwegv8qBqDp6j6cHzfa

February 8, 2024 - 11:00 am

https://SDSU.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIlceCuqTkrHNWhcPvrJxUbVISHXw_KJfr3

These sessions cover everything you will need to know from submission to publication. A copy of the material discussed in each session can be found in our Dissertation Companion Guide .

Although thesis/dissertation content and writing are the sole responsibility of the student, some students do not believe that final formatting is an effective use of their personal time. If the thesis has met all of your committee’s expectations, you are permitted to hire another individual for final formatting. If a formatter is hired, please note that you are still responsible for assuring that the thesis does not violate academic standards.

Optional formatting services are available from freelance formatters, or from Montezuma Formatting. Montezuma Formatting is an optional on-campus, fee-based formatting service, and a separate department from Montezuma Publishing (the unit that conducts required thesis review and publication). Montezuma Formatting and Montezuma Publishing have separate staff. However, a supervisor from Montezuma Publishing does train Montezuma Formatting staff to assure that their services are aligned with campus requirements.

If you elect to use Montezuma Formatting services, MP will ensure that the document passes MP internal review, and you will not be charged a separate review fee to validate the formatting. When you hire a freelance formatter (not MP), you will be working with them directly for turnaround time and associated costs. When the freelance formatter provides you with a final draft, you will submit your document to MP for review.

Contact information for freelance formatters (who are not Aztec Shops or SDSU employees) can be found here: Professional Support .

To hire formatters from the Montezuma Formatting department, see this section of our web page . Their current prices are $3 per page. A 50% deposit is required at the time of submission.

Master’s Student Milestones and Typical Timeline

Graduate Studies posts graduation deadline fliers for each term on this web page: https://grad.sdsu.edu/announcements-and-deadlines

Here is a typical Master's student timeline:

This flowchart shows a typical sequence for review: Flowchart - Review . Each round of formatting review takes 2-4 weeks, and an average student passes review on their first or second attempt. Overall, a typical timeline for two reviews might be:

Submission → 1st Review: 4 weeks Review → Resubmission: <2 weeks Resubmission → 2nd Review → MP approval: 4 weeks First submission → MP approval ≈ 10 weeks total

• The review process is initiated upon receipt of payment. Contact our office by phone or in person to make your payment between 9:00 am - 3:45 pm, Monday through Friday. Each review payment covers two rounds of review. The review fees are:1st Review (pays for two reviews)$503rd Review (pays for two reviews)$255th Review (pays for two reviews)$25
• After the formatting is approved, thesis or dissertation publishing with ProQuest is an additional $45 fee (Prices are subject to change without notice.) The SDSU library no longer maintains physical copies of theses and dissertations.
• You may wish to purchase a print copy for yourself. Information and pricing for print copies through MP can be found here . It is also possible to purchase a personal copy from ProQuest.
• Your department, graduate program or thesis committee members may require you to purchase additional copies for their libraries. Discuss with these individuals, and also review your graduate program’s entry in the department style list to verify. To maintain consistency with prior submissions, departments and graduate programs usually request that their copy be published by MP with a specific binding.

Disclaimer: You must be enrolled in 799 A or B at the time of your initial document submission to MP, see The College of Graduate Studies for more information .

Are you ready to submit?

If your committee-approved thesis does not yet meet the 13 SDSU formatting guidelines described above, then you should not submit it to Montezuma Publishing for formatting review. For example, we cannot accept the thesis if any mandatory preliminary pages are missing (Title page, Signature page, Copyright page, Abstract, Table of Contents, List of Figures/Tables if applicable), or if it has been written in a style your department does not approve of. We also cannot accept your submission if it is not organized into a single Word Document or PDF.

Some students are unable to complete all formatting requirements themselves due to competing time constraints. If you fall into this category, please see the “Optional Montezuma Formatting” section below.

Spring 2024 Deadlines

Submission Deadline: March 15, 2024, by 3:45 pm

Publication Deadline: May 10, 2024, by 3:45 pm

Avoid Re-enrollment in 799B: May 16, 2024 at 3:45 pm

Summer 2024 Deadlines

Submission Deadline: June 21, 2024, by 3:45 pm

Publication Deadline: August 9, 2024, by 3:45 pm

Avoid Re-enrollment in 799B: August 14, 2024, at 3:45 pm

Fall 2024 Deadlines

Submission Deadline: October 25, 2024, by 3:45 pm

Publication Deadline: December 13, 2024, by 3:45 pm

Avoid Re-enrollment in 799B: December 20, 2024, at 12:00 pm

Submission Deadlines

If you submit your well-written and properly formatted thesis and complete payment ($50) to Montezuma Publishing (MP) by this deadline, MP will review your thesis within 2-4 weeks. If you need to make formatting corrections and resubmit within 2 weeks, your next round of formatting review will be given priority status.

To have the best possibility for graduation during the current semester, work with your thesis chair and committee to meet the Submission Deadline. Thesis submission is not received until payment is made, and our register is open to process payments Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:45 pm. Sent emails are not considered to be submissions until payment is made.

Publication Deadlines

If your thesis receives final formatting approval from MP and you pay the $45 ProQuest publishing fee by the 3:45pm deadline, you are eligible for the Master’s degree in the current semester. If your department requires you to purchase a thesis copy for the department library, this payment must be made at the same time as the ProQuest fee. Students who miss the Publication Deadline (even by one day) are eligible for the Master’s degree in a future semester.

Thesis publication is not approved until payment is made, and our register is open to process payments Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:45 pm. Emails sent overnight are not considered for publication until payment is made the following day.

Avoid Re-enrollment in 799B Deadline (Last Day of Term)

The last day of the term is the “avoid re-enrollment in 799B” deadline. If you submit your thesis on any day prior to the “avoid re-enrollment in 799B” deadline, you will not have to register for 799B in the following term. Note that your thesis cannot be accepted for review if it does not meet the requirements listed above. Pay special attention to the “Are you ready to submit?” section before attempting submission.

Thesis submission is not received until payment is made, and our register is open to process payments Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:45 pm. Emails sent overnight are not considered to be submissions until payment is made the following day.

For more information, visit our YouTube channel for our "San Diego State University Thesis Deadlines Explained" video.

Master’s Thesis Submission Procedure

To submit for review, please supply your signed signature page(s), old RED ID, new my.SDSU EMPL ID, and the attached thesis file in one email to [email protected] . If supplementary materials are needed (such as audio, video, oversized tables/figures), then these must be submitted at the same time as the thesis. Upon receipt of these documents, we will verify your enrollment in 799 and create a record for you in our system. You will then receive an email with instructions on how to make payments in person or by phone.

Please review the Submission Deadline information above. Our business hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Our register is open to process payments Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:45 pm. Hours of operation are subject to change.

The Committee Signature Page

The thesis committee signature page is one of the most important parts of the thesis. The signed committee page is confirmation that all committee members approve of your scholarly work. Montezuma Publishing can accept electronic or physical signatures for the thesis signature page.

Download a signature page template from the Templates section above. Fill in your personal and thesis information. When your committee members are ready to approve, here are the options:

• You can email your completed signature page to each committee member. They can print the document, sign it, scan it, and email it back to you. It is not necessary that all signatures appear on the same document; you can instead collect the scanned documents with one signature each.
• Your committee members can electronically sign your signature page in sequence via Adobe Sign, if you or your committee chair know how to initiate this process.
• You may print the thesis committee page and obtain physical signatures from one or more committee members. You can submit the paper document in person or scan it and save a pdf.

Regardless of which approach you choose, submit all signatures to MP in person or by pdf email attachment. If you submit multiple documents, our staff will combine them into a single committee signature page for publication.

Our business hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Our register is open to process payments Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:45 pm. Hours of operation are subject to change.

The Review Process

Note: You must be enrolled in Thesis 799A or 799B, or Dissertation 899 at SDSU at the time of your initial document submission before MP will accept your manuscript for format review.

• If you are using LaTex formatting, ask your Master’s program graduate advisor if special review procedures are needed after thesis committee approval, but before Montezuma Publishing submission.
• Email your thesis file to [email protected] . Attach your signed signature page(s) to the same email. If you are unable to email the signature pages, you can submit them in person to our office in ED 107 during business hours. Your email must include contact information: your new (my.SDSU) EMPLID, old Red ID if you have one, primary email address*, billing address, and phone number. *Provide an email address that you frequently check. Email is our primary means of communication. We will be sending you essential information that may require a quick response or action on your part. Please monitor your spam folder so that emails from [email protected] are not lost. Please know that SDSU email addresses are deactivated for students who stop registering for classes, lose matriculation, or graduate. Your email address must remain active throughout the entire review and publishing process. MP will do our best to contact you through all available means, but cannot be responsible for emails that you do not receive or do not read.
• After submitting the electronic thesis document and signed committee page, call (619) 594-7551 or visit our office (ED-107) to pay the required $50 review fee. MP must verify your enrollment in 799A or 799B, prior to accepting your review payment.Your submission is not complete until your review payment has been received. *All Doctoral Students must consult the College of Graduate Studies before submitting their dissertation to Montezuma Publishing.
• Your thesis is now in the queue to be reviewed. The MP Reviewer will check your document for style and formatting as described above. *If your thesis requires corrections after the first review, see the steps below. If it is approved on the first review, skip to step #12.
• If corrections are needed, you will receive an email with your thesis document attached. It will have comments from the reviewer, and specific instructions for each error.
• Read all comments, and make all required corrections. Check your entire document for all errors in accordance with the SDSU 13 rules , your department style guide , and the review checklist before resubmission. Your thorough examination of the entire thesis is especially important if your review includes the following comment: We have stopped reviewing at this point in the document, as there are too many style and/or formatting discrepancies in the remainder of the thesis to continue reviewing…
• After completing all necessary stylistic and formatting corrections, resubmit your thesis via email to [email protected] .
• Your thesis is now in the queue to be reviewed again for formatting. * If your thesis requires corrections after a second review, repeat steps 5-6. If it’s approved on the second review, skip to step #12.
• Be advised: An additional $25 review fee is required before the third review will be conducted. Your thesis is now in the queue to be reviewed a third time. * If your thesis requires corrections after the third review, repeat steps 5-6. If it’s approved on the third review, skip to step #12.
• Very rarely, a thesis must be reviewed four or more times for formatting errors. * If your thesis requires corrections after the fourth review, repeat steps 5-6. If it’s approved on the fourth review, skip to step #12.
• Be advised: An additional $25 review fee is required before the fifth review will be conducted. Your thesis is now in the queue to be reviewed a fifth time. * If your thesis requires corrections after the fifth review, repeat steps 5-6. If it’s approved on fifth review, skip to step #12.
• Your thesis is now in the queue to be reviewed a sixth time. * If it’s approved on sixth review, move to step #12. Very rarely, a thesis does not pass the sixth review. If this happens, you will need to either hire a professional formatter to assist, or possibly re-enroll in 799 and begin the process again from step #2. Contact your thesis chair and MP for further instructions before resubmitting.  
• Upon review approval, you will be emailed final instructions and a quote for the ProQuest required publishing fees (currently $45). Once the publishing fees are paid, MP will notify the College of Graduate Studies that you have published your thesis. Orders for personal copies can be placed at this time.

You can download a copy of the Review Flowchart here: Flowchart - Review

What is Checked During Formatting Review?

Your submitted thesis needs to be well written, stylistically appropriate, and edited. Your thesis committee is unlikely to approve your thesis (by signing the cover sheet) until it meets those standards. However, even with careful preparation, most students have minor formatting errors due to the complexity of the document. Your thesis will be a globally published document through ProQuest, and the MP reviewers are tasked with assuring formatting consistency for these publications. They will ensure that both your department style requirements and the SDSU Master’s formatting guidelines (or EdD Dissertation formatting guidelines ) are met.

A comment will be placed in your thesis file where each correction is needed. For repetitions of the same mistake, you can expect to receive comments only the first two times. After that, you will need to personally review the entire document to ensure that the error does not appear again. As a reminder, you can refer to this review checklist for the most common formatting errors.

If your thesis has more than 20 errors, the reviewer will stop prior to the end of your thesis. In these cases, the student must complete all corrections and thoroughly review the thesis to its end, in order to minimize additional rounds of review.

After the Thesis or EdD Dissertation is Approved for Publication

Master’s thesis or EdD dissertation publication is the final graduation requirement. Even if all your coursework is completed and your thesis/dissertation committee has signed the cover page, thesis publication is necessary to award the degree. The thesis or dissertation is considered to be “published” after document formatting has been reviewed and approved, and all publishing fees have been paid.

All fees must be paid by the Publication Deadline in order to graduate during the current semester. After formatting review is approved, you will be emailed a quote for the ProQuest publishing fee and payment instructions. Once all fees are paid, MP will notify the College of Graduate Studies that you have completed publication.

Please visit the Thesis Publishing section below for costs associated with print copies, if you choose to purchase these.

EdD students should follow the graduation and dissertation steps posted on the

Graduate Studies website

as a “Graduation and Dissertation Steps for Ed. D Students” flyer.

After successfully defending their dissertation and obtaining committee approval, EdD students submit their dissertation packet through the SDSU Doctoral Dissertation Submission Form . Pat Walls ( [email protected] ) in Graduate Studies will evaluate the packet and transcripts, and then send the dissertation and associated documents to Montezuma Publishing. You will be emailed submission confirmation.

EdD Dissertation Formatting and Review

If you format the dissertation yourself, MP will review it for consistency with APA formatting and your program’s preliminary page requirements. These requirements are described in the SDSU APA EdD Dissertation Template . You can use the APA manual checklist or the SDSU Dissertation Review Checklist to find potential errors before submission.

Your Dissertation Formatting

In addition to adhering to your program’s chosen style, all Master’s theses need to follow some simple universal formatting guidelines. See the SDSU APA EdD Dissertation Template for instructions, samples, and formatting assistance. There are 13 rules:

• Your name, committee members and degree title must match University records.
• Follow the current APA formatting style guide (7 th ed.).
• Set your margins at 1.25 inches for the left margin, and 1 inch on the right, top, and bottom margins. Margins may be reduced to .875 inches all around to accommodate oversized tables or figures.
• Use a professional font in 12pt size. Do not use an ornamental font based on script, cursive, or calligraphic styles. For tables, footnotes, or other material outside of the main text, a font size as low as 8pts may be used. Use black for all text apart from figures, tables, and computer code, which may include color.
• Line spacing: Double-spaced, with the exception of tables, lists, block quotations, footnotes/endnotes, figure captions, table titles, and bibliographic entries, which are to be single-line spaced.
• Start the first page of each section (Acknowledgements, Table of Contents, Lists, etc.), chapter, and appendix on a new page and increase the top margin on that page to 2 inches.
• Place your Reference section(s) at the end of the main document text (but before the Appendices). Use single-line spacing.
• If including more than one figure, table, or illustration, create a separate list for each type of item, which includes the figure/table number, figure caption/table title and the page number on which it begins.
• Label tables, figures, illustrations, etc. uniquely and number each consecutively throughout your document.
• Recommend image resolution: 300 dpi. Supplementary materials such as audio, video, and oversized tables/figures must be submitted to Montezuma Publishing at the same time the thesis is submitted.
• The Table of Contents lists each chapter number, chapter title, and the page on which each chapter begins. Type the word “Chapter” as a heading before listing the numbers and titles of each chapter below. See the template for examples.
• Preliminary page numbers are lowercase Roman numerals, starting with page iii (preferably centered at the bottom of the page).
• Preliminary pages appear in the following order (first numbered page must be page iii):

Title page : Mandatory; no page number

Signature page : Mandatory; no page number Copyright page : Mandatory; numbered iii Dedication : Optional; must have page number

Abstract : Mandatory; up to 350 words, single-spaced; must have page number

Table of Contents : Mandatory; must have page number

List of Tables, List of Figures, etc. : Mandatory when the document includes more than one table, figure, etc. (e.g., if you have 2 tables, include a List of Tables; 2 figures, include a List of Figures); must have page number

Acknowledgements : Optional; must have page number

Download a copy of these SDSU APA EdD Formatting Guidelines here.

If you choose not to format the approved dissertation yourself, please see the Optional Montezuma Formatting section below. You can also find contact information for freelance formatters (who are not Aztec Shops or SDSU employees) here: Professional Support

For publishing information, please visit the Publishing section on this page.

PhD students should follow the graduation and dissertation steps posted on the Graduate Studies website as a “Graduation and Dissertation Steps for Ph. D Students” flyer.

After publication at the partner campus, PhD students must complete the SDSU Doctoral Dissertation Submission Form . As of May 2020, all official SDSU communications must use official SDSU emails. The form requires being logged into your SDSU email account. Within five business days of submitting the form, Pat Walls ( [email protected] ) in Graduate Studies will evaluate the packet and transcripts, and then send the dissertation and associated documents to Montezuma Publishing. You will be emailed submission confirmation.

PhD Dissertation Formatting and Review

Students in joint PhD programs must follow their partner campus dissertation defense deadlines, formatting requirements, and submission procedures. Please visit the College of Graduate Studies website for more information.

University Requirements

A $45.00 processing fee includes ProQuest submission, an electronic file, metadata file, and abstract for SDSU Library.

As of Fall 2013, SDSU has partnered with ProQuest, an online archival database. It provides full text dissertations and theses from over 700 academic institutions, allowing students and researchers to access and share relevant material quickly and conveniently.

Visit ProQuest or the SDSU Library website to access currently published dissertations and theses.

An “embargo” is a restriction of access to the use of a thesis, dissertation, or project. Embargoed theses and dissertations will only feature the author’s abstract and the document title.

If you and/or your committee chair would like to request protection for potential copyrights or patents of the thesis or dissertation, a memorandum must be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies for the Associate Dean’s approval. If the Associate Dean approves the delay of publication, a signed copy of the request must be submitted to MP at the time of thesis submission. The embargo must be supplied to MP before the thesis formatting is approved and publication fees are paid.

Department Requirements/Personal Copies

Some departments require a hard-bound copy for their own department libraries. Check with your department for specific requirements. For your personal copy, you have a choice of binding, cover color,* and paper type for your thesis.

*Due to variances among color monitors, the colors on your computer monitor may appear differently than the actual products. If color is important to you, please stop by the Montezuma Publishing office to make your selection.

Hard Bound $45.00

Soft (vinyl) Bound $15.00

Paper Options

Cotton bond: $0.12 per page Regular paper: $0.08 per page Color copies: $1.00 per page

Pages are printed single sided unless double sided printing is requested.

MP can bind original copies. Binding charges apply.

Pricing Example:

This example includes the University Requirements and 1 personal hardbound cotton copy for a 130-page thesis.

Item Cost Hard Bind$45.00Cotton Copy Fees (130 pg. x $0.12 per page)$15.60Processing Fee$45.00Subtotal$105.60Tax (7.75%)$4.70Total$110.30

Hard-bound copies take 6-8 weeks.

Soft-bound copies take 2-4 weeks.

Students purchasing their thesis closer to deadlines or the winter holiday season may experience a longer waiting period. MP will email you when your copies are ready. If printed copies are required by your department, then the publishing requirement is dependent only on the final publishing payment; you do not have to wait for copies to arrive in order to be cleared for graduation.

Pick-Up & Shipping

Department copies will be delivered to the designated department, free of charge. Personal copies can be either picked up at our office or shipped to your address. We use USPS flat-rate shipping. As such, the shipping fee is determined by the length of your document and subsequent size of your book. MP will email you with the tracking information once the copies are shipped.

• Re-Submission/Publication Policy

Copyright Policy

• Theses in Foreign Languages

Rejection of Theses/Dissertations

• Restricted Use of Thesis Request

*Policies are established by the College of Graduate Studies. If you have questions, call (619) 594-5213.

If a student submits for review before the "Avoid Re-enrollment in 799B" deadline but does not pass, the student can resubmit at any point until the "Avoid Re-enrollment in 799B" deadline or within 45 days of receiving a corrections email, whichever comes later. If the student does not pass or resubmit within this time frame, the thesis will be rejected and the student will have to register in 799B the following semester and re-apply for graduation.

A student must pay for publication within 90 days of the notification that they have passed review. If a student fails to pay for publishing within this timeframe, the thesis will be rejected and the student will have to register in 799B the following semester and re-apply for graduation.

Copyright law is highly complex and what follows is offered as only a general guide. This information is not a substitute for a legal opinion.

Ownership of a dissertation, thesis or project begins at the moment the manuscript or "object" is created. Although no further act of the author is required, the law does provide some advantages in giving formal notice and registration of a copyright.

Formal notice of copyright is given by including a copyright page in the manuscript. This notice does not establish any copyright privileges, but it does signal acknowledgment of a legal right and copyright ownership. Registration with the U.S. Copyright Office is optional, but it provides a record of the work, the fact of copyright, and the author's name and address. Registration would probably be most important if the author wished to file in the future a lawsuit over copyright infringement.

The University assumes that a dissertation, thesis or project approved by a faculty committee is primarily the product of the student's efforts. Thus, the student will usually be considered the owner of the copyrights associated with the manuscript. Students should be aware, however, that the dissertation, thesis, or project is the actual product submitted in satisfaction of one of the requirements for an advanced degree rather than the basic research or the results of which it reports. In some instances, therefore, individual faculty members may retain some copyright or patent interest in the data or other jointly developed work included in the thesis or dissertation. Students are, therefore, strongly advised to resolve any questions about ownership rights to data or other elements of the thesis/dissertation in which the faculty committee chair may have an interest. Agreement over such issues should be obtained in writing before beginning research on the dissertation, thesis, or project.

In order to foster broad dissemination of the results of scholarly research, the student, upon submission of the dissertation, thesis, or project to the SDSU Graduate Division, agrees to convey to the University a license for the following uses of the product:

• Copying of the work for distribution to other libraries upon the request of those libraries
• Inter-library loans of the work
• Display and use of the work in the University Library
• Circulation of the work by the University Library. These rights become effective upon the shelving of the work in the SDSU University Library. The shelving of the work may be postponed for a period of usually up to one year upon written request of the student and consent of the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate Division, Office of Graduate and Research Affairs. (See Requests for Restricted Use of Theses.)

Students wanting more information should access a copy of the U.S. Copyright Office Circular 1, "Copyright Basics" on campus via the SDSU library web site.

The federal government has a very good website - Copyright.gov with complete copyright information including application forms. To speak with an information specialist, call (202) 707-3000. Lastly, students or faculty requiring additional information about copyrights may contact the SDSU Foundation Technology Transfer Office at (619) 594-0516.

Thesis in Foriegn Languages

As presentations of original research to the academic community, theses are ordinarily prepared for the University in the English language. In certain cases, however, for a foreign language degree, a student's thesis in the history and literary analysis of non-English languages and literatures may be presented in the subject’s language. When the departmental graduate adviser and the prospective thesis committee deem this academically appropriate for the specific research topic, the appointment of the student's thesis committee and authorization of the thesis research by the graduate dean shall be based on the provisions that:

• An abstract of the thesis shall be presented in English;
• All members of the thesis committee shall be fluent in the subject language; and
• Student competency in standard written English shall be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of a departmental procedure that has been approved by the graduate dean.

To botain approval by the Graduate Dean:

• The "thesis in a foreign language" box must be checked on the appointment of thesis committee form; and
• Written verification by the departmental graduate adviser that provisions 2 and 3 above have been met must be attached to the appointment of thesis committee form when it is submitted to the Division of Graduate Affairs.

Your submitted thesis needs to be well written, stylistically appropriate, and edited. Your thesis committee is unlikely to approve your thesis (by signing the cover sheet) until it meets those standards. Dissertations and theses should be fully formatted as described above prior to their submission for review. As stated in the Bulletin of the Graduate Division under "Thesis Submission," manuscripts deemed unready for submission (those with "gross deficiencies of format or presentation") will be rejected at the time of submission for review, and returned to the student. The Rejection Form lists the criteria for rejection. When a thesis is rejected, the names of the thesis chair and graduate adviser will be listed at the bottom of the form and both will receive copies; a copy will also be placed in your file with MP.

If, because of rejection, you cannot meet the original semester's deadline for the Avoid Re-enrollment in 799B, you will be required to re-enroll in Dissertation/Thesis 899/799.

Restricted Use of Thesis Request - Embargo

On rare occasions, and to protect potential copyrights or patents, thesis accessibility can be restricted on a short-term basis.

Library & Information Access will restrict the use of a thesis or project if the author and the chair of the thesis committee request such action and the Graduate Dean approves. The purpose of the restriction is to protect the author's right to publish or otherwise exploit the new knowledge before making it available to others.

The display of a thesis, dissertation, or project may be embargoed for a period of up to two years upon written request of the student and consent of the Dean of the Graduate Division. In the case of Joint Doctoral degrees, students must notify both schools and comply with each school's policies.

To designate restricted use of a thesis, the author and the thesis committee chair should send a memorandum requesting restricted use to the Dean of the Graduate Division. If the dean approves, a signed copy of the request with approval is provided to Montezuma Publishing at the time of thesis submission. The embargo must be supplied to Montezuma Publishing before the thesis formatting is approved and publication fees are paid. The request is then sent to the Monograph Cataloging Unit, who in turn will withhold from use all copies of the restricted thesis when they are received in the Library & Information Access.

The author's memorandum to the Dean of the Graduate Division requesting restricted use of a thesis should state the following:

• The reason of the request
• THe period of restriction (up to two years)
• The author's address and telephone number. These will be used by the University's achrival librarian in requesting poermission for a reader to consult, borrow, or copy the thesis during the period of restriction. Authors may request a renewal of the restriction period for a second year by sending a memorandum to the Associate Dean of the Graduate Division specifying the reason for the renewal.

Authors may request a renewal of the restriction period for a second year by sending a memorandum to the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate Division specifying the reason for the renewal.

How hard is it to format my thesis myself?

That depends on the complexity of your work. You must be familiar with your department reference style, the SDSU formatting rules, and be an adept Microsoft Word user with regard to the Thesis Template (i.e., you must know how to import your document into the template, apply/remove template styles, change page orientation without losing proper pagination placement, generate a table of contents, work with different types of page breaks, etc.).

I am going to format my thesis myself. How much time should I set aside for this process?

In general, you should plan to spend a minimum of two weeks formatting your thesis. You will need time to:

• Learn how to apply the SDSU formatting rules
• Understand how the Thesis Template works along with the embedded formatting styles
• Do the actual formatting
• Proofread and edit your thesis.

What are the top mistakes people make when formatting their theses?

• Sources on the reference page are not cited in the text, or vice versa
• References are incomplete or do not follow department-required style
• Student's name doesn't match what is on record with the university
• Name of degree, professor's names and/or department names are misspelled or incorrect
• Page numbers are missing or incorrect
• Line items do not match what is given in text
• Page numbers are either missing, out of order, or placed on the page incorrectly
• Not numbered correctly
• Missing captions (figures) or titles (tables)
• Lines or pages are broken in odd places
• Block quotations and/or enumerated lists are not formatted correctly
• The template is altered which affects the entire document in adverse ways

Do you have any information on the Chicago Author-Number System?

Yes. Information can be found here: Chicago Author-Number System .

Whose name should I put on my copyright page: My name or my professor's name?

You need to have your name on the copyright page in the same manner as it is on the title and signature pages. For more information on publication rights, please see the Copyright Policy .

What are the deadlines this semester and can you explain what they are?

See the Thesis Deadlines page ; it contains a list of deadlines for this semester with explanations of each of deadline.

Do we need to take the Submission Deadline seriously?

YES! Never count on graduating if you submit after that deadline.

What are my chances for having my thesis reviewed in time to graduate this semester if I submit it after the submission deadline?

Your chances of having your thesis reviewed after the submission deadline depend on how many theses have been submitted ahead of yours. Additionally, if your thesis is reviewed and returned to you with needed corrections, this will decrease your chances of graduating on-time as your work will need to be revised and reviewed again.

You can increase your chances of getting your thesis approved by using the thesis template and following the SDSU formatting rules precisely or by using Montezuma Publishing.

Do you have any idea how many people will be submitting their theses this semester?

On average, between 100 and 200 students submit their thesis EACH semester. Using the Spring 2022 semester as an example, please note the following statistics:

• Total theses submitted: 156
• Total submitted before the submission deadline: 44
• Total submitted during the at risk timeframe: 73
• Total submitted after publication deadline: 39
• Total studetns that met the Publication Deadline: 118

Does the signature page need to be on special paper (100% cotton or other acid-free paper)?

No. Although an original signature page is required at the time of submission, a scanned and re-printed copy will be bound with your manuscript.

Ink Color: One of my professors signed in blue ink. Will I have to get a new signature page signed?

Black ink is strongly recommended, but blue ink is acceptable as long as the signature is dark enough to be clearly read.

If I use the signature page provided in the Thesis Template, will everything be automatically formatted correctly?

No. The page is formatted for you, but you must type in your name and thesis title correctly as well as your faculty member's names and their department names correctly. Also, the order in which the faculty names appear must be correct and in the same order as on the Thesis Committee Form.

What if my professors sign different signature pages? Do all the signatures need to be on one page?

No. Once your thesis has been approved through Montezuma Publishing, the reviewer will transfer signatures onto one page and create a digital copy. Each signature can be on a separate page if it's easier for you to get it signed that way.

What happens after I submit my thesis?

After your thesis is submitted, it will be put in line to be reviewed in order of submission. If the thesis passes review, it will proceed to the publishing phase. If it does not pass, the thesis will be returned to you with comments regarding revisions that are necessary to bring the work into compliance with the University's formatting rules. You will then need to resubmit your thesis once you complete your revisions, beginning the review process again. See the Review Procedures section for more information.

I am using Montezuma Formatting to format my thesis. What can I do to speed up the process to make sure I graduate on time?

• Don't delay and plan ahead. Finish your thesis and get committee approval as soon as possible to provide enough time for formatting and approval – it often takes longer than you think. Waiting two to three weeks before the final deadline to submit your thesis will put your graduation at risk.
• References cited in-text must be cited on the reference page and vice versa
• Provide all information for each reference (e.g., author names, titles, publication year, publisher name, page numbers, etc.) – you can never provide too much information. You can use the Bibliography Form as a guide.
• Make sure each figure has a caption and each table and appendix has a title.

Document formatting pertains to how the document appears on the page as well as in-text citations and reference department requirements. This includes things like margins, font size, line spacing, etc. Formatting does not involve making changes to the content of the document or correcting typos. Editing involves reading the thesis to correct improper spelling, grammar, sentence structure, and readability. Editing needs to be completed prior to formatting.

Montezuma Formatting offers an optional thesis and dissertation formatting service. We are here to assist you if you do not want to complete the formatting yourself or a freelance formatter is not available. This service is in demand so we do implement a cut-off date for accepting orders to be completed during the current semester. This cut-off date is typically near the Submission Deadline. Our formatting turnaround time depends on the length and complexity of your document, your response time when a correction email is necessary, and the time of the semester that you hire us. Formatting orders placed near the Submission Deadline may take more time to complete as we receive an influx of orders at that time. If we accept your order for the current semester, we will have it formatted and approved in time for you to make your final payments on or before the Publication Deadline. Be sure to respond to any correspondence emails that are sent to you as quickly as possible so we can approve your document formatting in time for you to make the required publishing payments on or before the Publication Deadline.

How to Begin

Note: You must be enrolled in Thesis 799A or 799B, or Dissertation 899 at SDSU at the time of your initial document submission before Montezuma Formatting will accept your manuscript for formatting.

To submit for formatting, please supply your signed signature page(s), RED ID, and thesis or dissertation Microsoft Word file in one email to [email protected] . Upon receipt of these documents, we will verify your enrollment in 799 and create a record for you in our system. You will then receive an email with instructions on how to make payments in person or by phone.

We cannot format your document from a PDF, Google Doc, or LaTex template file. We are only able to use Microsoft Word.

A 50% formatting deposit is due at the time of submission. The remaining balance is due after the formatting is approved and the final page count is determined.

Format Pricing

$3.00 per page*

We do not offer partial formatting. We charge for the entire document from the first page to the last. This includes appendices.

$50.00 non-refundable fee will be subtracted from deposit if formatting is canceled.

*Price includes a PDF file of your formatted thesis.

When you hire us to format your thesis or dissertation, we will ensure your document meets the San Diego State University Formatting Guidelines . In addition to meeting the SDSU Formatting Guidelines, we will exceed these standards at no additional charge, providing you with a consistent and professional document.

It is important to note that unless you specifically request an exception before you make your formatting deposit Montezuma Formatting will use:

• 1.5 line spacing
• Times New Roman 12pt font
• Left alignment
• Your department’s preferred reference style for all bibliographic entries, in-text citations, and for other items (like enumerated lists) not covered by the SDSU Formatting Guidelines
• Your department’s preferred text format (chapter, section, or technical style)
• The SDSU Template style for preliminary pages, including the Table of Contents, List of Tables, and List of Figures
• The SDSU Template style for all chapter labels and subsection headings
• The SDSU Template style for equations
• 12 pts above and 18 pts below offset spacing for Tables and Figures

Let us know upfront if there are any special considerations (e.g., oversized pages, maps, landscape pages needed, etc.).

While Montezuma Formatting does work with your document beyond the SDSU formatting requirements, we do not edit for content or grammar unless you have paid for this additional service. Furthermore, once the formatting process has begun, we will not make any grammatical or content changes to your document or accept a new document from you with grammatical or content changes. If you need assistance editing your document, be sure to consult an editor before submitting your file to us.

We format theses and dissertations in the order received; however, the length of time it takes to format your document will depend primarily on its length, complexity, and your response time when a correction email is necessary. If we accept your document for formatting for the current semester, it will be completed in time to meet the Publication Deadline (provided you respond to all correspondence in a timely manner). The average order is completed within 2 months. In some cases it may take longer but will not exceed the Publication Deadline for the semester that you hire us for. If questions arise during the formatting of your document, the formatter assigned to you will send you an email requesting assistance. It is important that you respond as quickly as possible to maintain priority status. Failure to respond may put your graduation at risk.

Completed Formatting

Once we are done formatting your document, it will be placed in line for internal review. Once the formatting is approved, we will contact you to arrange for payment of the formatting balance ($3 per page) and publishing costs ($45 + any required department copies). See the Publishing section for more details.

Editing Pricing

*$3.00 per page (250 words = 1 page)

50% deposit is required at the time of initial order

Editing/Formatting Pricing: $6 per page**

*Editing page count only includes the body of your thesis/dissertation. This does not include preliminary pages, references, figures, or tables.

**Price includes a PDF file of your formatted thesis/dissertation.

Editing Standards

Thye editor will check for the following:

• Punctuation
• Effective use of language
• Dissertations will be edited to follow APA format

The time it takes to complete the editing of your file will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Variables such as document length, the number of edits required, response rate, and your date of submission will affect this timeline. If your defense is after the Submission Deadline, it may impact your ability to graduate during the current semester.

Michael Cook SJSU Graduate Publishing Lead

Bridget Cole SDSU Graduate Publishing Lead

Gabriela Calvo Front Office Assistant

Karalyne Porter Assistant Manager

Steve Murawka Production Manager

Lia Dearborn General Manager

Kathy Brown Division of Campus Stores Director

Phone: (619) 594-7551

Email: [email protected]

Mail: Montezuma Publishing San Diego State University San Diego, CA 92182-1701

In person: Education Building, ED-107 Thesis orders are accepted 9:00am - 3:45pm, Monday through Friday.

Other Websites

Graduate Division

Graduate Division – Doctoral Program

LaTeX website

LaTeX Wikibook

Thesis Companion Guide

Review Checklist

Department Guidelines

Learn how to insert an existing thesis into the template

Learn how to generate a TOC automatically

Chicago Author-Number system

SDSU Thesis Template

SDSU Thesis Template for Landscape Pages

SDSU Thesis Signature Page Template with 3 Committee Members

SDSU Thesis Signature Page Template with 4 Committee Members

SDSU Thesis Signature Page Template with 5 Committee Members

Thesis orders are accepted Monday through Friday, 9:00am - 3:45pm.

Note: When using the SDSU Thesis Template with Word 2013 or later, you must save your file in the Word 97-2003 Document file type. Failure to do so will create errors in your document.

Documents in Word format (DOC) require Microsoft Viewer. Download Word .