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Admissions to the MPub Program

Join our MPub cohort…

Application Deadline: February 1.

How to Apply

The application deadline is February 1 for the program beginning in September.

SFU application form and instructions are available online: https://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/future.html.

All applicants must submit an online application and remit a non-refundable application fee of $90 CDN (students with Canadian transcripts) or $125 CDN (students with international transcripts) by credit card (MasterCard or Visa).

As well as completing the online application form, applicants must upload to the online system the following items:

  1. A statement of aims and objectives, highlighting the reasons you want to enrol in the program (2–3 pages).
  2. Unofficial transcripts from all universities/colleges attended. Official transcripts can arrive after the application deadline.
  3. An explanatory note on your prerequisite knowledge. Explain the basis on which you meet the entry-level qualifications: accounting and marketing, copy editing and proofreading, publishing knowledge, computer skills.
  4. Three references. Applicants will be required to provide referee names and contact information as part of the online application process. It is recommended that at least one referee be an academic.
  5. Your résumé or CV.
  6. Portfolio. Upload to the online application examples of your work into a portfolio that is concise and demonstrates the skills and abilities that you can bring to the program.

Please see Making Your MPub Application Stand Out for tips from previous MPub students.

To be considered for admission to the Master of Publishing program, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum second-class average (3.0 or greater GPA).

Applicants must also:

  • demonstrate a background understanding of the publishing industry;
  • be capable of using page layout software;
  • be familiar with the basic principles of marketing and accounting;
  • demonstrate basic competence in copy editing and proofreading;
  • demonstrate excellent skills in spoken and written English.

Qualifications and Prerequisites

Applicants to the Master of Publishing program must have a basic background in these areas:

  • accounting and marketing
  • editing and proofreading
  • publishing knowledge
  • computer skills (Adobe Creative Suite/Cloud)

Candidates can acquire the necessary background for entry into the MPub program by completing the following courses at SFU, or their equivalents at other universities:

  • BUS 251-3 Financial Accounting I
  • BUS 254-3 Managerial Accounting I
  • BUS 343-3 Introduction to Marketing
  • PUB 372-4 The Publishing Process

Other suggested ways to complete program prerequisites:

Accounting

Robert Anthony has written a workbook and study guide entitled Essentials of Accounting (ISBN 0-201-84866-x), 6th ed. or later (Addison-Wesley). Students without other accounting background will be required to submit a completed workbook prior to the commencement of classes.

Editing

Editing Canadian English (3rd edition), by the Editors Canada. You can order through Editors Canada, http://www.editors.ca/resources/eac_publications/ece.html.

Students without copy editing and proofreading experience are encouraged to enroll in short courses on these topics such as those offered at SFU through Continuing Education.

English as a Second Language

Applicants for whom English is a second language must submit results for a TOEFL (minimum score 570 or computer based 230) and a TWE (minimum score 5). Alternatively, an International English Language Testing System, IELTS, result (minimum band score 7) may be submitted in place of the TOEFL and TWE.

Computer Skills

Applicants should be comfortable with publishing software (Adobe Creative Cloud).

Short courses are available at SFU through the SFU Publishing Workshops. Students living outside the Vancouver area should investigate course offerings through local community colleges and school boards.

Please note that the MPub computer lab and group project spaces use Apple computers.

Residency

All courses during Terms one (September – December) and two (January – April) are held at SFU Harbour Centre in downtown Vancouver. The Term three internship (May – August) and Term four project report writing, supervision and evaluation (September – December) may be completed either in Vancouver or elsewhere. Residency in the Vancouver area is not a requirement for Terms three and four.

Letters of notification will be sent to all applicants as soon as possible after the admissions procedure is completed. PLEASE NOTE: All acceptances are for the time period specified in the letter of acceptance.

Awards and Financial Support are available for accepted students.

Contact

To request more information on the Master of Publishing program, please contact:

Jo-Anne Ray, Program Advisor

Phone: (778) 782-5242
Fax: (778) 782-5239
Email: pub-info@sfu.ca

Address:

Program Advisor
Master of Publishing Program
Simon Fraser University Vancouver
515 West Hastings Street, Room 3576
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V6B 5K3

Student Services

For general information on graduate regulations, fees, scholarships, awards, and bursaries, or to request a Simon Fraser University Calendar, please visit SFU Student Services.