Careers and employability

Study English Literature and Creative Writing at Manchester and you will come away with the skills needed to succeed in a wide variety of roles and industries.

What you'll take away from Manchester

You will develop a range of highly transferable skills that are valued by employers, including:

• advanced literary and communication skills;
• critical reasoning and analysis;
• writing for project-based work;
• independent thought and judgement;
• time management;
• leading and participating in discussions;
• capacity to recognise ambiguity and to understand multiple perspectives;
• ability to summarise complex ideas and/or texts clearly.

You will also have many opportunities to develop additional skills by getting involved with a student society, sport and voluntary work.

What you could do after graduation

The University of Manchester is the most targeted university in the UK for top graduate employers, according to High Fliers Research. It is estimated that around two-thirds of graduate-level careers are open to students and graduates of any degree subject.

Our graduates have established careers in a wide range of industries, including marketing, PR, the media, the arts, financial services and business management.

Find out more on the careers destinations page.

What our graduates are doing now

You can read profiles of some of our previous students below to find out how their degree helped them into their current jobs.

More profiles can be found on the Graduate profiles page.

How we can help you into your perfect career

You will have various opportunities to gain professional and practical experience as part of your course and through initiatives across the University.

Work placements

You can apply to spend a year gaining valuable workplace experience on a work placement as part of most undergraduate courses at the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures.

Student activities

You can get to know other like-minded students through the student-run English Society, gain editorial skills by working on Sonder Magazine and volunteer to become a peer mentor, helping new students settle into life at Manchester.

Find out more on the Societies page.

Study abroad

You may have the opportunity to spend time at a university abroad as part of the University's study abroad programme, broadening your horizons by experiencing new cultures and forming new networks.

You can read posts by some of our students who are currently studying abroad on the Manchester on the Road blog:

• Rosie Johnson (National University of Singapore)
• Alice Logan (University of Copenhagen, Denmark)
• Catrin Stewart (University of Guelph, Canada)

Find out more on the University's Study abroad page.

Go beyond your subject

Many employers seek graduates who have skills in multiple fields of expertise to demonstrate their adaptability and resourcefulness.

Our Flexible Honours option may allow you to study another subject within arts, languages and cultures as a minor in addition to your major within English Literature and Creative Writing.

Alternatively, you could study selected course units from other courses around the University through the University College for Interdisciplinary Learning.

University-wide careers and employability initiatives

You will be able to access a rich variety of volunteering opportunities that help students build transferable skills and form part of the University's Stellify initiative.

In addition, Manchester's Careers Service is a great starting point for discovering the wide range of opportunities and activities available across the University and beyond to help you develop your employability and transferable skills alongside your studies, including:

• internships and other forms of work experience;
• work experience bursaries;
• part-time, casual and holiday work;
• overseas opportunities, for example, our Global Graduates scheme;
• networking events, talks and workshops;
• mentoring.

Students and new graduates have access to a full range of in-person and online help, including careers guidance and CV and applications support.