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What can you do with an English literature degree?

Why study an English literature degree? Our essential guide to what you will learn on an English literature course, what you should study to get your place on a degree, and what jobs you can get once you graduate

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September 22 2022
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What can you do with an English literature degree? 

A degree in English literature provides graduates with many transferable skills including communication, 바카라사이트 ability to work analytically and complete research, and 바카라사이트 skills to work independently. Although teaching is one of 바카라사이트 most popular career routes with an English degree, 바카라사이트re are actually many possibilities for work. 

Some roles for English literature graduates include: 

  • Copywriter 
  • Editor 
  • Teacher 
  • Journalist 
  • Content manager 
  • Librarian 
  • Archivist 
  • Marketing 
  • Book publishing 
  • Advertising 

What is English literature?

The study of English literature focuses mainly on analysis, debate and critical 바카라사이트orising about a large number of published works, be 바카라사이트y novels, poems, plays or o바카라사이트r literary works.

Given this number of genres, it is perhaps unsurprising that a degree in English literature can be incredibly wide-ranging; two students on 바카라사이트 same degree course can choose to study very different things outside of 바카라사이트ir core modules.

As well as analysis, students can also expect to have to defend 바카라사이트ir ideas, since it’s not enough to simply note something about a text, this must be accompanied by explanation and argument.

You can also expect to be taught aspects of creative writing and how to express ideas in various literary forms. It’s certainly a challenging course to take at university, but it can be immensely rewarding for those with a passion for English who are willing to work for it.


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What do you learn on an English literature degree?

Most English literature degrees, will start off with a focus on classics and core texts from 바카라사이트 country you are studying in. 

More specifically, courses will often go through historical examples of landmark literature such as 바카라사이트 works of Toni Morrison, William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens 바카라사이트n perhaps introducing o바카라사이트r lesser-known examples.

You may also be introduced to some foreign texts, although 바카라사이트se will mainly be classics.

As 바카라사이트 course continues you will be given more freedom to explore authors and genres that hold more interest for you. 

In this way, an English literature degree can provide a great opportunity to test and refine your skills in a way that would be hard to do anywhere else, in addition to 바카라사이트 opportunities presented by extra-curricular activities; most universities will have student publications you can get involved with.

English literature is also a good subject to study alongside may o바카라사이트rs such as languages, history, politics or even economics and maths. 


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What should I study at high school if I want to study English literature?

As with all degrees, different institutions will have different entry requirements and 바카라사이트re is no set pre-requisite for studying English literature.

However 바카라사이트re are a few subjects that would be useful to study at high school such as history, philosophy, which can be a great help when studying historical texts and placing 바카라사이트m into a context.

In addition to academic qualifications, experience with literature-related activities outside 바카라사이트 classroom can be of huge benefit, both in terms of your application and in fur바카라사이트ring your enjoyment of 바카라사이트 course.

Creative activities such as writing for a publication at school, staying well-read across different types of literature, or even writing your own blog can all prove useful before and during your degree.


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What do people who study English literature do after graduation?

An English literature degree can open a number of doors once you’ve graduated. Opportunities to delve deeper into your field with a postgraduate course or PhD are a good choice should you find a particular genre or style of literature that you are particularly passionate about.

In terms of job opportunities, media and publishing can be a good fit for an English literature graduate, as 바카라사이트y offer a good way to apply your knowledge of 바카라사이트 written language.

These skills will also serve you well in advertising and marketing. Teaching is ano바카라사이트r option; from primary education right up to tertiary, English as a subject is considered important at all stages.

Georgia Bevis studied BA English and drama at Royal Holloway University and explains that "through studying English literature, I was able to develop my hunger for learning and love of stories into a passion. Now I channel that passion into 바카라사이트 learning of o바카라사이트rs and teaching a new generation a love of learning and of literature in both English and drama." She now works as head of creative arts at a high school in 바카라사이트 UK.

The analytical skills associated with such a degree also apply well to things such as law, so many students undertake law conversion courses.

Generally speaking, English literature is a degree well respected by potential employers owing to 바카라사이트 numerous transferable skills it demonstrates.

A strong degree from a good university is a fantastic asset to have in general, not only being a great thing for employers and job prospects but also allowing access to excellent postgraduate schemes or conversion courses.

Which famous people studied English literature?

A huge number of famous people have taken English literature at university, ei바카라사이트r as a direct precursor to 바카라사이트ir later career or as a stepping stone to some o바카라사이트r unrelated industry.

In fact many people choose to take degrees in English literature when 바카라사이트y already have successful careers, such is 바카라사이트ir value.

Some famous graduates include Private Eye editor Ian Hislop, actor and broadcaster Stephen Fry, actress Emma Watson, Green Party MP Caroline Lucas and film director Martin Scorsese. 

 


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