English literature or English language?

Moved to the English and linguistics forum to help you get replies.

I'm still not sure if I should do English literature or English language at university. I've read posts about what it's like to study English literature at university, so I have a general idea but I haven't come across many about English language. Does English literature have better career prospects than English language? If so, why?

Is English language more specialised than English literature?

[Moved to the English and linguistics forum to help you get replies.]

With either degree you will be able to apply for most graduate employment schemes so in terms of career prospects, it won't matter which you choose. Choose the subject you love and want to learn more about.

Hello,

I did an English Literature BA and am now moving onto an MA, but I also did English Language at A level and dabbled in many aspects of that subject during my degree to help with essays.

Language is more specialised in the actual way that the English language comes together, rather than literature, which relies on book material and how you can extract meaning. In this sense I would say that they are both specialised in different categories. It’s more of what you personally enjoy: the way language functions and is used versus extracting meaning and criticisms from texts themselves.

Then there’s linguistics which I won’t get into because then I would have to get even more specific.

While they are not the same subject, I also wouldn’t say either gives you more of an advantage in the work environment, at least to any noticeable extent that would make you choose literature over language or vice-versa.

Hope this helps,
Dom

Slightly off topic, but if you really cannot decide between the two you could always try comparative literature. Depending on the uni (as always) you can access linguistics modules (including historical linguistics or structures of foreign languages such as French or Spanish, or just linguistics in general), do modules from the main English department (eg. Shakespeare, English literature from certain eras). You don't need knowledge in another language if you want to take it single hons. Off the top of my head the main unis that do it as undergrad are UCL, Kent, Bristol, St Andrews, QMUL and Kings. The one main difference between E lit and Complit is that Complit focuses on translated works (including films and other media forms) and English doesn't as much.

Thank you, I will have a look at comparative literature.

Thank you for your detailed response.

Hello again,

I saw your question above and I have to ask. Have you considered taking a joint honours degree for English Literature and English Language? It wouldn’t be two separate degrees. Instead you’d do 50% literature and 50% language.

Comparative literature was already covered above so there’s no need to expand on that.

I’ve linked a page from my university for you to skim through!

https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/english-language-and-literature-ba-hons-q302/2024/

Hope this helps,
Dom

Just a bit of background:

I studied Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics at a level and I didn't enjoy the 2 years as much as I thought I would. From those 2 years, I did enjoy some aspects of each a level but I realised that I'm really not suited to study STEM degrees.

I still had an interest in literature (and films but that's a minor interest). I did also enjoy aspects of English literature when I was studying it at GCSE. Because of that, I thought about doing English literature at univerisity.

I have neither studied English literature/an essay based subject at a level nor was I reading English novels during my a levels (because I was spending time reading textbooks about science and maths), therefore, I'm worried about falling behind if I do study English literature at university.

I also thought about English language. Some people say that you don't need to study English language at A level to do English language at university. There's also some science involved in English language from what I've read. Consider the fact that I did study 2 sciences for 2 years, I might be able to pick up English language more easily than English literature?

The thing is, I did not find many recent posts about English language at university on TSR. I did, however, find more recent posts about English literature at university on TSR (don't come for me, it's just my experience).

I really don't know much about English language as much as I know about English literature. Thus, I have to gather more information about English language in order to make a final decision.

Can someone please give me some advice?

Hi everyone, thanks for all your help. I got a confirmed place at the university of Bristol to study biomedical sciences. I'll settle for the degree

Ah, bit late but congratulations as a current bristol student I'm sure you'll love it there!

i would learn what a specific employer seeks in applicants

I'm still not sure if I should do English literature or English language at university. I've read posts about what it's like to study English literature at university, so I have a general idea but I haven't come across many about English language. Does English literature have better career prospects than English language? If so, why?

Is English language more specialised than English literature?