What can I do with a degree in…..
English Literature
English Literature and Creative Writing
English and Theatre Studies
Studying a degree within the English and Comparative Literary Studies department gives you the opportunity
to develop a broad set of skills – skills of writing, argument, critical analysis and debate, independence of
thought and creativity – that are highly valued in many employment sectors.
Why Warwick?
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Warwick is in the top 10 universities in the UK for studying English in the Complete University Guide
and 6th in the Guardian League table
Warwick was the number one choice of Britain’s Top 100 Graduate recruiters in 2013
The University of Warwick is one of the top 100 universities in the world
What do English and comparative literary studies graduates do?
Our students enter a wide variety of employment with many being attracted to work in areas where they are
able to use their skills of textual analysis and understanding of effective written communication. Graduates
typically go on to work in different spheres of journalism, publishing, media, advertising, PR and
communications and also to careers in teaching and academia.
Example jobs of past graduates include:
Head Copywriter
Public Relations Manager
Antiquarian Book Cataloguer
Head of Content and PR
Assistant Journalist
Editorial Assistant
Marketing Executive
Advertising Copywriter
Library Trainee
Subtitler
Legal Assistant
Student Teacher, Teach First
JET Programme participant (ALT)
Staff Writer and Conference Co-ordinator
Vocational Rehabilitation Co-ordinator
Digital Communication Officer
Development Analyst (Social Media)
Producer (Corporate films)
Sectors where past graduates were working include:
Education
Publishing
Information Services
Broadcasting / Film
Advertising, Marketing and PR
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation
Courses past graduates progressed into include:
MA in Writing, MA in Critical Culture and Theory, Graduate Diploma of Law Conversion Course,
Secondary PGCE Teach First, NCTJ Diploma in Journalism, MA in Publishing, MSc in Digital Humanities.
Graduate Recruiters tell us that what they want from applicants is:
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A good degree from a good university
Work Experience
Involvement in extra-curricular activities
The ability to describe and articulate their unique achievements and skills
Whilst it’s up to you to utilise your time here to ensure you get a good job or place
in further study, every support is available to help you achieve your goals:
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Academic study skills support
Careers support from our professionally trained staff
Opportunities to meet recruiters and attend events
More than 200 clubs and societies
Help finding work experience and bursaries to undertake placements
Free careers support for three years after graduation
Given that 92% of Warwick Graduates end up in either employment or further study, and that 70% of
graduate recruiters do not require graduates to have a specific degree, perhaps the most important
question to ask is not:
“What degree will get me a graduate job?”
but
“How can I make the most of my time at Warwick so that I can get the job I want?”
A Student Perspective
“One of the things I’ve most enjoyed about studying English at Warwick is the option to make
my learning interdisciplinary. I’m about to embark on a ‘creative project’ for my Shakespeare
module and, instead of just writing an essay, I’m planning to abridge one of Shakespeare’s
plays and make it into a radio drama.“
Find out about career paths and employment destinations of recent graduates from the University of
Warwick: go.warwick.ac.uk/whatdowarwickgradsdo