Our wide range of optional modules will allow you to narrow your studies to interests of your choice. You might decide to learn more about a particular literary genre, such as crime fiction or children’s books, explore digital publishing or online journalism, or develop your own creative writing skills.
You could also further improve your CV by applying for the work placement year option, studying abroad for a trimester, or learning a new language with our Anglia Language Programme. We’ll also support you to find placements and work experience throughout the course, with live briefs embedded into some modules.
Cambridge has a range of vibrant business and industry sectors, ranging from major publishing houses to technology companies, all of which require graduates with strong communication and analytic skills. With over 30 English language schools, it's the perfect place to study English. Our business and industry partners provide opportunities for live briefs, placements and volunteering positions; they also give you a vital network for your future employment and projects. If you’re interested in teaching English, you might also be able to take up part-time work with them, and further develop your skills at the same time.
You’ll have many opportunities to attend co-curricular events that include interactions with writers, publishers, language teachers and other professionals related to the field, allowing you to further expand your network as well as your knowledge base.
You can also attend events organised by our Cambridge Writing Centre, including guest talks and live lit jams, where you can showcase your own creative writing and make new contacts in the industry.
Your studies will be supported by our team of expert lecturers, including several published authors, such as Dr Vahid Parvaresh (co-author, Elastic Language in Persuasion and Comforting: A Cross-Cultural Perspective), Dr Cassie Gorman (The Atom in Seventeenth-Century Poetry); Dr Tory Young (Studying English Literature, a text used on many other university courses as well as our own); and Dr Bettina Beinhoff (Perceiving Identity through Accent – Attitudes towards Non-Native Speakers and their Accents in English).
You can also get feedback and support for your writing projects from our Royal Literary Fund Fellowship Scheme mentors.
Our Language and Literature research was awarded 'world-leading' status in the Research Excellence Framework 2021.
Why study English?
Gain Storycraft (PDF) – vital skills particularly valued by business leaders, including: narrative communication; empathy and perspective taking; critical analysis, synthesis and managing complex data; creativity and imagination; and digital skills. These capabilities better equip you to choose your own path, and access a huge range of employment opportunities. (Source: Centre for Skills, Knowledge, and Organisational Performance (SKOPE) at Oxford University Department of Education)
The average graduate starting salary for English graduates is £18,000-£24,000, which compares well with subjects like Psychology (£18,000–£23,000), Law (£18,600–£23,000), Business Studies (£20,000–£26,000) and Chemistry (£19,000–£25,600). (Source: The Complete University Guide 2023)
Figures from the Department for Education show that English is the joint fourth subject for annual average wage growth at 6.2%. (Source: Qualified for the Future (PDF), The British Academy, p. 6)
English is a key contributor to the creative industries, the fastest growing part of the UK economy. 25% of SHAPE (Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts for People and the Economy) graduates work in the creative sector, which is currently worth £84.1bn to the UK. By 2030, it’s expected that there will be 900,000 new jobs in this sector. (Source: Qualified for the Future (PDF), The British Academy, p. 22)
