The Spectral Visions brand arose from the popular and respected academic conference ‘Spectral Visions: The Gothic’, hosted at the University of Sunderland in 2012. Each year the Spectral Visions conference endeavours to lift the veil on the enduringly popular genre of Gothic, pulling in high numbers of eminent academics and prospective students from around the United Kingdom. The annual event allows undergraduate students interested in postgraduate study to get a taste of what the University of Sunderland has to offer, whilst acting as a fantastic display of academic passion for A-Level students who are considering a degree in English.

Spectral Visions has provided a diverse platform for students, enabling its members to speak at conferences in the USA, to become published authors, and now with the launch of Spectral Visions Press, it is training students to become accomplished, professional publishers and editors.

Steve Watts, Head of the Department of Culture at the University of Sunderland, described Spectral Visions as an example of ‘what can be achieved when students have agency over their studies… a community of practice.’