It may help to have a higher national diploma (HND), foundation degree or degree in a subject such as:

• graphic design
• illustration
• fine art
• photography
• publishing

Work experience at university

Your creative skills will be as important to employers as your degree. It's important to get work experience and build a portfolio to show what you can do.

Your university careers service can help you find relevant work experience, internship and year placement opportunities.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• a foundation diploma in art and design
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

You could apply for a job as an assistant editor after completing a creative or media related course at college.

Relevant subjects include:

• Level 3 Diploma in Photography
• Level 3 National Diploma in Art and Design

Entry requirements

You may need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
• 1 or 2 A levels, a level 3 diploma or relevant experience for a level 4 or level 5 course

You could get into this job by joining a magazine as a graphic designer or picture editor.

You could then move on to become deputy art editor then editor.

You should get yourself known and build up your contacts in the industry to help find paid work.

To do this you could:

• create a blog or build your online 'brand' through social media
• build a website to showcase your work
• find design opportunities with charities or student organisations
• follow magazines on social media to find out about events, work experience and jobs

You can apply directly for jobs if you've got the right skills and experience. For specialist magazines, you may have an advantage if you have a special interest or background in the subject.

For example, an interest in science or architecture will be useful if you want to work on magazines covering those topics.

You'll need:

• knowledge of media production and communication
• the ability to read English
• excellent verbal communication skills
• to be flexible and open to change
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to organise your time and workload
• excellent written communication skills
• the ability to work well with others
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

As an art editor, you might:

• design the layout of pages using graphics and photos
• discuss your ideas with colleagues
• manage freelance designers, illustrators and photographers
• design the cover of the magazine
• choose an overall look and style for each issue

You could work in a creative studio or in an office.