# What can you do with an English degree?

> Source: https://coursetojob.co.uk/courses/english/ — updated 2026-09-25. Published by CourseToJob (independent; not affiliated with UCAS, HESA or GOV.UK).

**Quick answer:** An English degree commonly leads to roles such as editorial assistant, content writer and communications assistant. Five years after graduating, English graduates had median earnings of £31,100 (middle half: £24,900–£38,100), and 88.2% were in sustained work or further study (DfE LEO, 2023–24 tax year). The largest employer sector for English studies graduates is education (26.6% of those in work).

English degrees train close reading, editing, and argument. Graduates often start in publishing, content, and communications. Official figures appear when an extract is loaded.

## What jobs can you get with an English degree?

- **Editorial assistant**: Chases manuscripts, applies a house style, and keeps a title moving through production. Skills often asked for: copy editing, schedules, author emails.
- **Content writer**. Skills often asked for: briefs, plain English, CMS.
- **Communications assistant**. Skills often asked for: internal notes, proofing, channel calendars.
- **Publishing assistant**. Skills often asked for: metadata, advance copies, rights admin support.

## Where do English graduates work?

English studies graduates in UK employment five years after graduating, by industry (DfE LEO industry data, tax year 2023–24; shares calculated by CourseToJob from DfE's rounded counts).

| Industry | Share of graduates in work | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Education | 26.6% | £30,700 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 13.4% | £34,400 |
| Information and communication | 11.9% | £34,000 |
| Wholesale and retail | 8.1% | £25,600 |
| Health and social work | 7.9% | £27,800 |
| Administrative and support services | 6.5% | £28,900 |
| Public administration and defence | 6.3% | £31,800 |
| Finance and insurance | 3.9% | £33,300 |

## How much do English graduates earn?

UK-domiciled first-degree graduates in English studies (non-specific) (CAH19-01-01). Source: DfE LEO CAH level 3 subject data, tax year 2023–24 (https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-catalogue/data-set/d8bc2906-419e-40ef-ad8e-9b2ccd3997dc). Each row is a different graduating cohort.

| Years after graduating | Graduated | Median earnings | Middle half | In work or further study | All-graduate median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021/2022 | £23,400 | £17,900–£27,800 | 88.7% | £26,400 |
| 3 | 2019/2020 | £27,800 | £23,100–£32,600 | 88.8% | £30,000 |
| 5 | 2017/2018 | £31,100 | £24,900–£38,100 | 88.2% | £33,700 |
| 10 | 2012/2013 | £36,200 | £25,600–£48,300 | 86.3% | — |

## Which universities have the highest-earning English studies graduates?

Median earnings five years after graduating, universities with at least 50 graduates measured (DfE LEO provider-level data, 2023–24). Not a quality ranking.

| University | Median earnings | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| [University of Oxford](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-oxford/) | £38,100 | 215 |
| [University College London](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/ucl/) | £37,300 | 105 |
| [Durham University](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/durham-university/) | £35,900 | 135 |
| [University of Edinburgh](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-edinburgh/) | £35,500 | 155 |
| [Birkbeck, University of London](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/birkbeck-university-of-london/) | £35,100 | 70 |
| [University of Bristol](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-bristol/) | £35,100 | 180 |
| [University of Cambridge](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-cambridge/) | £35,100 | 195 |
| [King's College London](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/kings-college-london/) | £34,800 | 180 |
| [University of Southampton](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-southampton/) | £34,800 | 170 |
| [University of Warwick](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-warwick/) | £34,800 | 165 |

## Is English the right degree for you?

You may enjoy it if:
- You want to spend years on language, form, and context.
- You like redrafting until a paragraph is exact.
- You enjoy seminars where interpretation is contested.

It may not suit you if:
- You wanted a media-production course with cameras every week.
- You dislike long reading lists.
- You expected a built-in journalism licence.

## Interview questions for English graduate roles

Editorial, content and communications interviews usually test whether you can cut copy, check facts, and write for a brief. These prompts are editorial illustrations.

- This paragraph is twice as long as the brief. What do you cut first? (What it tests: Editing judgement: claim, evidence, and filler.)
- A fact in a draft cannot be sourced. What do you do? (What it tests: You flag or cut it; you do not leave a plausible-sounding line.)
- How would you rewrite a specialist sentence for a 16-year-old reader? (What it tests: Audience, not dumbing-down as a slogan.)
- Two stakeholders want opposite tones. How do you handle the brief? (What it tests: Clarifying the owner of the voice before rewriting twice.)
- Walk us through how you would proof a page that will go live today. (What it tests: A method: names, links, dates, and a second pass.)

## Frequently asked questions

### What jobs can you do with an English degree?

Common starting roles include editorial assistant, content writer, communications assistant and publishing assistant. Five years after graduating, the most common sectors for English studies graduates in work were education (26.6%), professional, scientific and technical services (13.4%) and information and communication (11.9%). These are examples, not guaranteed jobs: your experience, location and further training matter.

### How much do English graduates earn in the UK?

DfE Longitudinal Education Outcomes data for the 2023–24 tax year shows median earnings for UK-domiciled English graduates of £23,400 one year after graduating, £27,800 three years after graduating, £31,100 five years after graduating and £36,200 ten years after graduating. Each figure describes a different graduating cohort, not one person's pay rise, and it is gross pay for those in sustained employment, not a starting salary offer.

### Is an English degree worth it?

It depends on what you want to do. On the official data, 88.2% of English graduates were in sustained employment or further study five years after graduating, with median earnings of £31,100. For comparison, the median across all first-degree graduates of GB higher education institutions was £33,700 at the same point. That places English 101 of 146 subject groups by five-year median earnings. Earnings are only one factor: enjoyment of the subject, accreditation and the route into your target job matter too.

### Which universities have the highest-earning English studies graduates?

Among universities in our index with at least 50 graduates measured, the highest five-year median earnings for English studies were at University of Oxford (£38,100), University College London (£37,300) and Durham University (£35,900). These figures reflect entry grades, subject mix and where graduates work, so they are not a measure of teaching quality.

### Can international students study English in the UK?

Yes, most UK universities accept international applicants, but entry requirements, recognised qualifications, English-language evidence and overseas tuition fees depend on the university and programme. Check the university course page and international admissions team, then check visa requirements on GOV.UK.


Apply for undergraduate courses on UCAS: https://www.ucas.com/explore/search/courses?query=English