Hi, Im currently playing a thief/mage hybrid whose primary skills are Illusion and Sneak. Now I dont have any problems finding novice and apprentice level spells i.e. the ones available from any court mage, however anything higher than the first tier of calm, fear, etc spells and muffle i cannot find a vendor for. Ive even joined the college of winterhold and still nothing, Do i need to progress through the college questline further than just under saarthal for the vendors to sell higher tier spells or what? Is this some sort of glitch? Im running the original version of the game since i do not have internet access in my home. Im using a public library computer to post this. Oh and i have a copy of the game for playstation 3. If someone could tell me how to find the higher tier spells-for all schools- that im looking for; it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and good luck with your adventures in skyrim.

Some spells do not become available until your skill levels up. For example, I don't remember seeing Conjure Storm Atronach until I was above 40 in conjuration (and it may well have been higher). I have found one or two adept-level spells in dungeons. The College was the best place to find the mid and upper level spells. IIRC, the master-level spells are only available from the Collge mages.

Oh, i had my suspicions that that was the case. Thank you very much though for the information.