Journalism or English Lit at uni???

I'm interested in becoming a journalist, publisher, or English teacher in the future.

I was thinking that English Literature would be a good degree because it would let me go into any of these jobs.

However, I heard someone say that English Literature wouldn't get me a job in journalism, but that with a journalism degree, I could still go into publishing or teaching if I wanted to.

What should I do? I've been planning on studying an English Literature degree, but is it actually the right decision?

Reply 1

McGinger

Most journalists have a degree 'another' subject and have then taken a postgrad MA qualification in journalism (examples, MA in Journalism at Oxford Brookes University and Journalism MA | 2025 | Postgraduate Sheffield), but it depends on what you mean by 'journalism' - what sort of journalism do you want to do?

One of the problems with a BA Journalism degree is that its very 'niche' - you can't do much else with it - but taking Eng Lit is only worthwhile if you enjoy subject that enough to spend 3 years studying it in depth. Go to some Uni Open Days in May/June and listen to the Eng Lit subject presentation, ask questions and think carefully - is this really what you want to do?