Start your career in publishing

What do I need to know about applying to this program?
The application deadline is February 1st of each year, and all students must apply through ontariocolleges.ca.

We receive more than 200 applications each year, but only have room for approximately 70 students.

Is an English degree necessary for admission?
Absolutely not. Although many of our students are graduates of English or Mass Communications courses, we welcome students from a wide variety of studies.

How many hours of classes are there per week?
Students have approximately 25 hours of classes, starting as early as 8:30 a.m. and sometimes ending as late as 5:30 p.m.

We encourage students to clear their weeks as if they had a 9 - 5 job.

Do graduates get jobs?
Yes. We average 85%+ employment for our students within 8 - 10 weeks of graduation.

How can I prepare for my interview and exam / questionnaire?
Students will be graded on their written communication skills. In addition, they will be asked to do some basic copyediting: grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

We also need to see a current resume and a portfolio of relevant work. The latter might include writing, editing, or design samples; letters of reference; or documentation of any previous work or job experience that might relate to the publishing industry.

Will it be a problem if I don't have sophisticated computer skills, or I don't work on a Mac platform?
No. We assume that our applicants will have basic computer literacy, and we proceed from that premise.

Who are the instructors, and what are their qualifications?
All of our instructors are working professionals. Denise Schon, Program Coordinator, has worked in the book publishing industry since 1979.

Her most recent in-house position was Vice President and Publisher of Macmillan Canada. She left there in 1995 to start a book packaging company, producing full-colour cook books and gardening books for publishers in Canada and the U.S. Denise has co-published books with many magazines, including Canadian Living and Chatelaine.

How do I know if this is the right program for me?

If you wish to work in the publishing field (books or magazines) in the editorial, design, production, marketing, legal, sales or systems fields, this course will provide you with those skills. Please note that, although we work to improve your writing skills, this is not a course specifically for writers. Our graduates work with writers, and they tend to keep their own writing as an avocation rather than a vocation.