Career opportunities
A BA in English encourages you to develop a life-long love for learning. Your degree will also put you in an enviable position, equipping you with a set of rigorous analytical and communication skills that give English graduates some particularly sought-after qualities in the workplace. Whether you choose to go into the world of business, media, or journalism, to enter the public or not-for-profit sectors, or to pursue further academic study or professional training, you can expect to have developed:
- communication skills, as you are challenged to express yourself in both speech and writing.
- presentation skills, as you are asked to introduce seminars, make your points clearly and effectively, maintain discussion, and field questions.
- reading skills, using a range of approaches to tackle different kinds of texts.
- analytical abilities, as you respond to and assess their underlying agendas and meanings.
- writing abilities, through preparing a range of assignments (including reports, learning journals, and research essays).
- research skills, locating, sifting, and interpreting a range of sources (from printed books to electronic journals).
- time-management skills and the ability to work under pressure, as you organise and fulfill extensive reading commitments and written assessments.
- team-working skills, as you participate with fellow-students in seminars and group research presentations.
English graduates are successful in the huge range of careers that seek out candidates with these attributes. Publishing, print journalism, and the broadcast media are all popular choices for English students who want to use their communication skills. Others use their ability to write critically and persuasively to go into public relations, marketing, and advertising. In addition, many of our graduates embark upon professional careers in finance, management, law, and teaching; whilst every year the Department sees a number of students progress to take higher degrees, both at Queen Mary and elsewhere.
For additional information visit the website for Queen Mary’s central Careers Service [new window].