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What can you do with an english literature degree?
Also called: English studies · English · English language and literature · English philology
Updated How we use data
Quick answer
An English literature degree teaches you to read, analyse and write about novels, poetry, plays and other texts written in English, from medieval writing to the present day. Graduates build strong writing and critical thinking skills and often work in teaching, writing, journalism, public relations, publishing and libraries, or go on to further study.
Careers with an english literature degree
English literature graduates work wherever clear writing and careful reading matter. Common paths include secondary teaching, journalism, public relations, publishing and library work, and some become writers or, if they speak another language well, translators. Many also join graduate programmes in business, the civil service or charities, where employers value communication skills more than a specific subject. With a conversion course, some move into law. Work experience and a portfolio built during the degree make a big difference.
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Journalist
Journalists find, check and report news and stories for newspapers, websites, television, radio, podcasts and social media.
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Public relations officer
Public relations (PR) officers manage how an organisation communicates with the public, the media and other groups.
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Secondary school teacher
Secondary school teachers teach one or two subjects to students aged about eleven or twelve to eighteen and prepare them for national exams.
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Librarian
Librarians organise information and help people find, use and evaluate it.
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Translator
Translators turn written text from one language into another, keeping the meaning, tone and purpose accurate.
Other roles graduates go into: Editor · Copywriter · Content strategist · Publishing assistant · Communications officer · Literary agent
What you study and the skills you gain
Typical topics
- Poetry, drama and the novel
- Literature from different periods, from medieval to contemporary
- Shakespeare and early modern literature
- Literary theory and criticism
- World literatures in English, including postcolonial writing
- Creative writing
- The history and structure of the English language
- A dissertation or independent research project
Skills you gain
- Writing clear, well-argued essays and reports
- Reading closely and analysing complex texts
- Building an argument and supporting it with evidence
- Researching independently and managing long projects
- Understanding different viewpoints, cultures and historical contexts
- Presenting ideas and discussing them in groups
How the degree differs around the world
In the UK and Ireland, an English literature bachelor's degree usually takes three or four years, and you can study it on its own or combined with another subject. In the United States and Canada, students usually major in English within a four-year degree that includes general education courses. In countries where English is not the main language, similar programmes are often called English studies or English philology, and they combine literature with advanced language training and linguistics. In many European countries a bachelor's is followed by a master's, which may be needed for school teaching. Entry usually requires strong results in English at school.
How do english literature graduates do?
Earnings and employment by country
The OECD compares graduates by field of study. This subject falls under “Arts and humanities”. The first column compares the median earnings of tertiary-educated adults in this field with all tertiary-educated adults (100 = average).
| Country | Earnings index (all graduates = 100) | Employment rate, this field | Employment rate, all graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | 95 (2023) | 92.8% (2024) | 91.5% |
| Luxembourg | 93 (2023) | 84.8% (2024) | 85.7% |
| Slovenia | 92 (2020) | 96.1% (2024) | 90.8% |
| Mexico | 90 (2023) | 81.1% (2024) | 81.5% |
| United States | 88 (2023) | 81.7% (2017) | 84.3% |
| Finland | 86 (2022) | 84.7% (2024) | 88.8% |
| Denmark | 86 (2023) | 78.8% (2021) | 87.8% |
| Australia | 85 (2020) | 86.9% (2024) | 88.4% |
| South Korea | 85 (2023) | — | — |
| Austria | 84 (2023) | 85.4% (2024) | 86.4% |
| Costa Rica | 84 (2023) | 74.8% (2024) | 79.2% |
| Estonia | 83 (2023) | 91.3% (2024) | 89.2% |
| Sweden | 83 (2023) | 84.3% (2024) | 89.6% |
| Switzerland | 82 (2023) | 86.3% (2024) | 89.5% |
| Norway | 82 (2023) | 80.4% (2024) | 89.3% |
| Canada | 81 (2020) | 76.4% (2021) | 80.4% |
| Latvia | 79 (2023) | 81.4% (2024) | 87.7% |
| United Kingdom | 77 (2020) | 82.0% (2021) | 84.6% |
| Chile | 75 (2023) | 90.0% (2022) | 85.7% |
| Germany | 72 (2020) | 84.9% (2024) | 88.7% |
| Poland | — | 91.4% (2024) | 91.6% |
| Iceland | — | 90.4% (2016) | 93.6% |
| Lithuania | — | 88.5% (2024) | 90.4% |
| Slovakia | — | 87.9% (2024) | 90.5% |
| Belgium | — | 86.6% (2024) | 88.5% |
| Netherlands | — | 86.4% (2024) | 90.6% |
| Portugal | — | 85.6% (2024) | 90.7% |
| Croatia | — | 85.1% (2024) | 89.7% |
| France | — | 83.2% (2024) | 87.3% |
| Greece | — | 80.5% (2024) | 82.3% |
| Peru | — | 80.1% (2024) | 81.7% |
| Czechia | — | 78.9% (2024) | 88.4% |
| Italy | — | 78.3% (2024) | 84.7% |
| Spain | — | 77.3% (2024) | 83.9% |
| Ireland | — | 72.1% (2021) | 86.9% |
| Hungary | — | 71.4% (2024) | 76.2% |
| Türkiye | — | 66.5% (2016) | 72.9% |
Source: OECD, Education at a Glance. Adults aged 25–64 with tertiary education; latest year available, full-time earners where published. Values are for the whole field of study, not this subject alone.
Graduate earnings in the UK
The UK government links tax records to university records to measure what graduates earn. These figures are for “Literature in English” first-degree graduates who were employed in the 2023–24 tax year.
| Time since graduating | Median | Lower quartile | Upper quartile | In work or study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| After 1 year | £22,700 | £17,600 | £26,700 | 89.0% |
| After 3 years | £27,100 | £22,300 | £31,100 | 88.9% |
| After 5 years | £30,400 | £24,200 | £37,000 | 88.1% |
| After 10 years | £35,100 | £24,200 | £47,200 | 85.1% |
Source: UK Department for Education, Graduate labour market outcomes (LEO), tax year 2023–24. Earnings are annual and include only graduates in sustained employment. More UK detail on CourseToJob.co.uk
Is an english literature degree right for you?
It may suit you if
- You read widely for pleasure and enjoy talking about what you have read.
- You like writing and want to get better at building a clear argument.
- You are happy to work independently and manage a lot of reading.
Think twice if
- You want a degree that leads directly to one specific job.
- You dislike long reading lists and writing essays.
- You expect the degree alone to get you into publishing or media, where competition is strong and work experience matters.
Further study
Many graduates go straight into work or take a teaching qualification. A master's degree in literature, creative writing, publishing or journalism can help you specialise, and a master's in library or information science is often needed to become a professional librarian. A PhD leads to university teaching and research, although academic jobs are competitive. Some graduates take a law conversion course.
Questions about studying english literature
What jobs can you get with an English literature degree?
Common jobs include secondary teacher, journalist, writer, editor, copywriter, public relations officer, librarian and translator. Many graduates also work in marketing, publishing, human resources, the civil service and charities, or train as lawyers after a conversion course. The degree does not lead to one set job, so work experience matters.
Is an English literature degree worth it?
It can be, especially if you want a career built on writing, communication or teaching. The skills are useful in many jobs, but the degree does not lead to one set career, and early earnings are often lower than for subjects such as engineering, as the UK data on this page suggests. Internships, student media and a writing portfolio improve your chances.
What is the difference between English literature and English language?
English literature focuses on reading and interpreting texts such as novels, poems and plays. English language, or linguistics, studies how the language works: its grammar, sounds, history and how people use it in society. Many universities offer combined degrees, and in countries where English is a foreign language, English studies programmes usually cover both.
Do you need to be a native English speaker to study English literature?
No. Many students on English literature and English studies programmes around the world are not native speakers. You do need a high level of English to read complex texts and write academic essays, and universities in English-speaking countries usually ask international applicants for a recognised English language test result.
Related subjects
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History
A history degree studies how societies, cultures, economies and ideas have changed over time, using evidence such as documents, objects and people's memories.
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Philosophy
A philosophy degree trains you to think clearly about difficult questions, such as what we can know, what is right and wrong, and how minds, language and societies work.
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Modern languages
A modern languages degree teaches you to speak, write and understand one or more foreign languages to a high level, together with the culture, history and literature of the places where they are spoken.
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Journalism and media studies
A journalism and media studies degree teaches how news and media content is researched, produced and shared, and how media shapes society.
Sources
- OECD — Education at a Glance, labour-market outcomes — Earnings and employment by field of study, adults 25–64
- UK Department for Education — Graduate labour market outcomes (LEO) — CAH CAH19-01-03 — Literature in English
- UNESCO — ISCED-F 2013 — ISCED-F 0232
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). What can you do with an english literature degree? Jobs and salaries. https://coursetojob.com/subjects/english-literature/ (accessed September 26, 2026)