English graduates go on to work across many sectors, including:

• Publishing, media, and journalism
• Marketing, communications, and PR
• Law and legal services
• Civil service, policy, and NGOs
• Arts, culture, and heritage
• Education (schools, further education, higher education)

Many employers look for certain skills rather than specific subjects. An English degree helps you develop highly valued skills such as strong writing, critical thinking, and analytical confidence – all of which are sought after across today’s job market. 

University English is:

• More independent - you take greater responsibility for your reading and ideas
• More analytical - there are fewer ‘right answers’, but more focus on arguments and evidence
• More discussion-based- in seminars, you’ll discuss the topics and ideas with your classmates and academics, building confidence in your own views

You are not expected to arrive already knowing how to study at a degree level. You’ll be taught how to read critically, write academically, and build arguments over time.

The amount of reading varies by module, but English is a reading-focused subject- and learning how to manage that is part of the degree.

You will be expected to:

• Read primary texts (novels, plays, poetry)
• Read selected critical material to support your analysis

You are not expected to read everything ever written about a text. Learning how to read strategically and effectively is part of the degree.

No – while essays are important, you’ll be assessed through a combination of coursework and written/practical exams. Depending on the module, assessment may include:

• Essays
• Exams
• Critical commentaries
• Creative work
• Translations
• Reports
• Seminar presentations
• Reader-response exercises

You will receive detailed feedback to help you improve across the degree.

The English BA focuses on analysis and interpretation, although you can choose optional modules focused on creative writing or poetry.

You’ll learn to apply a range of theoretical and historical approaches to literary study and develop essential skills in critical thinking, expression, and research.
With this BA, there are many optional modules to choose from, so you can shape your degree around your interests.

You are assessed on:

• How well you construct an argument
• How effectively you use evidence
• How clearly and persuasively you write

You will receive structured support throughout the degree, including:

• Guidance on essay writing and academic style
• Detailed written feedback on assessments
• Opportunities to discuss work with academics
• Study skills and academic support services

You are not expected to already work at degree level. This is something that you will develop over the course of your degree.

Our English BA covers a wide range of texts, from medieval performance to contemporary poetry, global fiction, and creative writing. Take a look at the course overview and the teaching & modules tab for more information on the syllabus and modules: English BA | King's College London 

Every English degree will help you develop strong reading, writing, and analytical skills but the experience can vary a lot depending on where you study.

On the English BA at King’s College London, you’ll benefit from a flexible curriculum, which means you can explore a wide range of periods, genres, and global literatures, while gradually shaping your degree around what interests you most. There’s no single narrow pathway you’re forced to follow.

You’ll be taught by research-active academics who are specialists in their fields, and learning takes place in small-group seminars as well as lectures, giving you space to discuss ideas, test arguments, and build confidence in your own voice.

You also have opportunities to study abroad and to continue or begin learning a language alongside your English degree, enriching your global perspective and opening up new ways of engaging with literature and culture.

Studying in London also makes a difference. The city’s libraries, archives, theatres, museums, and cultural institutions become part of your learning experience and help you connect what you study to the world beyond the classroom.

Beyond your modules, there are extra-curricular opportunities such as student-led reading groups, writing societies, theatre and performance projects, and volunteering in schools or cultural organisations, all of which help you build skills and connections outside the classroom.

Above all, this degree is designed to help you become a thoughtful, confident, and adaptable graduate, with skills that are valued across many careers - not tied to a single job or industry and giving you flexibility in where you go next.

English BA

English with Film Studies BA

English and Modern Languages with a year abroad BA

Classical Studies with English BA

Comparative Literature BA

Find out more on the Department of English page.