Why study English language and literature?

English is a core subject at school, which means we all have to study it up to GCSE level. If you’ve started thinking about your A-level options, you may well be asking yourself, ‘Why study English?’

Most employers and universities will want you to have a grade 4+ in English and maths at GCSE. If you live in England, you’ll need to achieve this (or level 2 functional skills) and keep on studying the subjects until they do.

But why is English so important and where can it take you outside the classroom?

'English teaches you important skills and is a gateway to many uni subjects and careers'

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What is English?

If you grew up in the UK, you might be wondering why you have to study English! We all speak it, don’t we?! Well, there's a lot more to English than the words we speak. At school, you’ll learn English literature and English language.

English language: You’ll learn about the rules of spelling, punctuation and grammar. You’ll also learn where these rules come from and how our language evolved over time – as well as different ideas about how children develop language skills from an early age.

English literature: You’ll study novels, poetry and plays written in the English language. Key texts include the works of Shakespeare, poets such as John Donne, and Victorian novelists like Jane Austen and Charles Dickens – but you’ll also study the work of modern and contemporary writers such as the War Poets and postcolonial writers.

Studying English hones your written and verbal communication and sharpens your analytical skills. For example, if you can take a text and find the themes plus connect it with other texts, theories and historical events, you are showing that you can handle complex ideas, search for patterns and interpret information in a wider context.

What employability skills will I get?

Studying English will help you develop a range of advanced skills which will serve you in virtually any university degree and aid you whatever career path you pursue. Employers rate communication – both written and verbal – as among the most important workplace skills.

• Analytical skills – you’ll explore language, structure and meaning in texts, learning how to spot deeper messages (‘subtext’) and hidden details.
• Communication – from essays to presentations, you’ll practise expressing ideas clearly and persuasively in both spoken and written form.
• Critical thinking – English encourages you to question what you read, weigh up interpretations and form your own thoughtful responses.
• Cultural awareness – you’ll study texts from different times and places, helping you understand diverse perspectives and historical contexts.
• Independent working – whether you're preparing a speech or analysing a novel, you'll learn to manage your time and work confidently on your own.

What subjects does English go with?

English goes with everything. It’s helpful with other essay subjects like history as well as social science subjects that look at human behaviour, such as psychology or sociology.

However, if you’re studying a lot of science subjects, choosing English can help you develop skills you won’t get the chance to cultivate in maths or physics – particularly essay writing, which encourages you to put your ideas into writing in the form of a lengthy, reasoned argument.

If you decide to go down the university pathway, this skill will come in useful whatever you study as you are likely to have to produce essays in any subject, including the sciences.

What degrees do I need English for?

English literature A-level is an essential subject for an English degree.

Some drama, media studies and law courses will also ask for an English literature or language at A-level.

The Russell Group recommends that you take English literature if you want to study classics, French and other modern languages, teacher training, history, history of art, politics, religious studies, speech therapy (English language).

History GCSE or A-level can also be useful for vocational courses or school leaver jobs in journalism, administration, marketing or law.

What apprenticeships is English useful for?

Any employer will look favourably on your apprenticeship application if you have a solid grade in English under your belt – making it a good choice whatever apprenticeship you want to do!

Here are some apprenticeship programmes you might be interested if you enjoy studying English:

• Advertising creative – Develop imaginative campaigns and content that capture attention and meet client briefs across various media platforms.
• Bid and proposal coordinator – Working for a charity or agency, you’ll craft persuasive proposals to help your organisation win new contracts.
• Content creator – Produce engaging written and multimedia content for websites, social media and other online and offline platforms.
• Journalist – Research and write news stories, using strong writing and communication skills to inform and engage the public.
• Publishing professional – Support the creation and distribution of books, magazines or digital content, working in areas like editing, marketing, or production.

What careers can English lead to?

English is good for any job that involves communication, writing and / or literary knowledge. These include: advertising and marketing, writing and journalism, law, consultancy, business, teaching, performing arts, academia, government, linguistics, foreign languages, media and design.

Careers in the sciences, engineering, technology and maths also need more English than you think. Writing proposals, academic papers & articles and communicating with others is key to getting funding for projects and reaching people with your work.

Jobs include:

• Advertising copywriter
• Author
• Barrister
• Communications officer
• Editor
• Journalist
• Marketing executive
• Proofreader
• Social media manager
• Scriptwriter
• Solicitor
• Technical author

Top five Career Zones to explore:

• Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations
• Education & Teaching
• IT & The Internet
• Law
• Publishing & Media

Other subjects in our Why study? series

• Art and design
• Biology
• Business
• Chemistry
• Computing
• Design and technology
• Economics
• Geography
• History
• Languages
• Maths
• Music
• Physical education (PE)
• Physics
• Psychology
• Religious studies (RS)
• Sociology