Starting in September 2011 The Random House Group is launching a publishing scholarship aimed at supporting individuals from groups under-represented within the publishing industry.

Random House is offering a £2,000 bursary to a full or part-time MA student of Publishing, International Publishing, Publishing and Language, or Digital Publishing at the Oxford International Centre for Publishing Studies at Oxford Brookes University. The student will also receive a paid work placement for four weeks within The Random House Group.

The scholarship, open to students from the UK and EU, will be awarded on the basis a proven interest in a UK-based career in book publishing and a written submission on what the MA  will  contribute to the student’s learning and career development. Priority will be given to individuals who are from a background that is underrepresented in the publishing industry or for whom accessing a career in the publishing industry is a challenge.

Neil Morrison, HR Director for The Random House Group, said:  “Random House is committed to improving diversity within the publishing industry and believes that this scholarship will provide much needed support for individuals who struggle to access a career in publishing. We are pleased to be working with the renowned Oxford International Centre for Publishing Studies in this venture and look forward to meeting the successful student.”

Angus Phillips, Director of the Oxford International Centre for Publishing Studies, said: ‘We are delighted to be working with Random House to facilitate access to our MA programmes and a career in publishing. Random House is to be congratulated on what is a really worthwhile initiative. The funding on offer will make a real difference to a student.’

Scholarship applicants must already have accepted, by the time of application, a conditional or unconditional offer of a place at Oxford Brookes to start a course in September 2011. Scholarship applications should be made by the middle of June directly to Oxford Brookes University; please click here for more information.