For sheets like this on a wide range of subjects please visit http://www.connexions-gmerseyside.co.uk/yp/learning/choicesat18/issues.cfm
EXAMPLE Issues for Those Thinking of Applying for Degrees in English What Kind of Course? You probably want to do a degree in English because it is your favourite subject. Are you doing English Language or Literature, or the joint Language and Literature A level? How has your A level subject influenced the kind of English degree you might choose? There are many different kinds of English courses: English Literature degrees with: - Significant mediaeval content - Significant or no study of Shakespeare - Mainly 19th and 20th century literature - American/ Irish/ Commonwealth literature - Themes like: - The Victorian Novel/Feminist/ - Marxist Literature - Cultural theory, creative writing, film English Language degrees which might include Linguistics or Creative Writing as a major, or maybe a named, part of the degree English Language and Literature degrees Joint degrees with Drama, Philosophy Some courses have a compulsory first year and some a compulsory second year. Some have a wide range of options in the second and third years and some options in the first year. Have you checked out courses and know what kind of course you would want? What is the Competition for Entry? English is a very popular subject and the asking grades are high. Examples of asking grades/points for 2010: AAA AAA/AAB
Bristol, Durham, Newcastle (Lit), York Manchester
AAB
Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool, Loughborough, Nottingham Sheffield (Lit), Warwick (AABb)
ABB BBB 280pts 240/280pts 240pts 220/260pts 220pts 200pts 160/200pts
Hull, Lancaster (AAB/ABB), Newcastle (Lang), Sheffield (Lang) Aberystwyth, Northumbria Hallam, Huddersfield, MMU, Trent Bangor (240/260pts), Chester Birmingham City, Bradford, Hope Edge Hill Central Lancs, Leeds Met Bolton, Cumbria, Glyndwr, JMU (160/260pts)
Courses will look at Personal Statements as well as predicted grades. York University:- ‘ We are looking for articulate, well-read people with wide and lively intellectual interests, whose engagement with literature covers more than a single period and includes poetry and drama as well as fiction.’
Manchester University: - ‘We like to see evidence of transferable skills, for example: - Time Management, Teamwork, Independent work, Critical and analytical abilities.’ What are the Career Opportunities? English graduates enter a wide range of careers and their unemployment rate is similar to that of graduates in other subjects. Many employers look for graduates with strong verbal and written communication skills which puts English graduates in a strong position. However, it does take English graduates longer to get into graduate jobs than graduates from other subjects. As there will be fewer jobs available for the next few years because of the recession it is going to be ever more important for English students to gain additional skills and experience alongside their degree studies. www.prospects.ac.uk/links/options has a leaflet - Your degree in English, about careers with English degrees. The book What Do Graduates Do? shows that six months after graduation in 2007: 6.9% were on post-graduate Teaching courses, one of the highest proportions from any subject. 8.5% were in further academic study and 8.2% were working and studying, with another 5.1% doing vocational courses e.g. Journalism, Law. Of those going into employment:
Some used their persuasive and verbal and written skills in business, e.g. Marketing, Public Relations and Advertising (8.2% ), with 6.7% becoming Business professional or associate professionals, and another 9.0% going into other forms of management. Some used their language skills in Journalism or Writing or Publishing (8.2%). You might be disappointed that so few enter these careers. What should you do when you go to university if you want a career in journalism and the media? What should you do if you would like a career in Creative Writing? 10% went into various education jobs, which would include teaching English overseas. 7.2% entered other professional jobs. 23.8% went into a variety of administrative jobs, including some which are likely to lead to graduate jobs in the future. 13.3% went into catering and retail and 14.9% into ‘Other’ jobs.
Some graduates use their verbal communication skills in public service careers, e.g. Social Work, Police, Librarianship, which either need post-graduate study, or significant relevant experience, or both. Some graduates go onto post-graduate Journalism and Acting courses. It is essential for students to gain relevant experience, in part-time jobs, holiday jobs, voluntary work, work-shadowing, mentoring and through clubs and societies. What other skills and experience do you think graduate employers might look for, as well as those developed during an English degree? Ruth Richards September 2009