Top English Literature Joint Honours Degrees: Combine Your Passions and Boost Your Employability

For decades, English Literature has been one of the most popular humanities subjects at university. It teaches you how to think critically, analyse complex texts, and communicate with flawless clarity. However, a common misconception still lingers: “What can you actually do with an English degree?”

The answer is: almost anything. But if you want to supercharge your CV, broaden your skill set, and keep your career options wide open, an English Literature Joint Honours degree might be your perfect match.

In an era dominated by artificial intelligence, the human-centric skills developed during an English Literature degree are more valuable than ever. While AI can generate text at lightning speed, it completely lacks the capacity for genuine critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and deep cultural nuance. English graduates excel at dissecting subtext, identifying hidden biases, and crafting persuasive narratives that resonate on an authentic human level. As automated tools commoditise basic content generation, the ability to synthesise complex ideas, question assumptions, and communicate with empathy becomes the ultimate competitive advantage in the modern workplace.

At Degree Decisions, we help you navigate the complex world of higher education. In this guide, we’ll explore the top English Literature joint honours combinations and share actionable strategies to maximise your degree so you can step straight into a great career after graduation.

What is a Joint Honours Degree?

A joint honours degree allows you to study two subjects at the same time, usually split 50/50. Rather than focusing solely on Shakespeare and literary theory, you can pair English Literature with another discipline that complements it, opens up new career pathways, or simply fulfils another academic passion.

Studying a joint honours shows employers that you have excellent time-management skills, intellectual flexibility, and the ability to adapt to different academic styles and methodologies.

Top English Literature Joint Honours Combinations

When choosing a joint honours degree, think about how the two subjects interact and what kind

of career doors they might open. Here are the top combinations to consider:

1. English Literature and History

• At a glance: The ultimate contextual duo.

• Why it works: Literature does not exist in a vacuum; it is shaped by the historical events surrounding its creation. Studying these two subjects together gives you a profound understanding of human culture.

• Career Edge: This combination hones your research, archiving, and narrative-building skills. It is perfect for careers in journalism, law, museum curation, policy-making, and research.

2. English Literature and Creative Writing

• At a glance: For the creators and storytellers.

• Why it works: While literature teaches you how to read like a critic, creative writing teaches you how to build worlds, develop voices, and write with impact.

• Career Edge: Excellent for the publishing industry, copywriting, scriptwriting, digital content creation, and marketing. You leave university with a diverse portfolio of your own work.

3. English Literature and a Modern Language (e.g., French, Spanish, German)

• At a glance: The global communicator.

• Why it works: You get to study the literary giants of the English-speaking world alongside the language and culture of another nation. Many universities offer a year abroad as part of this programme.

• Career Edge: Speaking a second language instantly boosts your global employability. This pathway leads to high-flying careers in international relations, translation, diplomatic services, global marketing, and tourism.

4. English Literature and Film/Media Studies

• At a glance: The modern, digital-first approach.

• Why it works: This combination bridges the gap between traditional text and visual storytelling. You will analyse scripts, adapt literary works for the screen, and study how media influences society.

• Career Edge: In our media-saturated world, this degree is pure gold for careers in television production, digital marketing, public relations (PR), social media management, and broadcasting.

5. English Literature and Philosophy

• At a glance: The deep thinker’s toolkit.

• Why it works: Both subjects challenge you to question arguments, dissect language, and understand ethics. Philosophy provides the rigorous logical frameworks, while literature provides the emotional and human application.

• Career Edge: Employers love the razor-sharp logic of philosophy combined with the communication skills of English. This is a brilliant stepping stone for corporate law, management consultancy, civil service, and ethics boards.

6. English Literature and Business/Management

• At a glance: The commercial intellectual.

• Why it works: If you want a corporate career but do not want to give up your love for reading, this is the perfect compromise. You get the creative and analytical benefits of English alongside the practical, commercial acumen of a business degree.

• Career Edge: Highly sought after for corporate communications, human resources, brand management, and entrepreneurship.

How to Maximise Your English Degree and Graduate Career-Ready

An English Literature joint honours degree gives you an incredible foundation, but a degree alone is no longer a golden ticket to a job. To stand out in a competitive graduate job market, you need to actively shape your university experience.

Here is how to ensure you are career-ready by graduation day:

1. Build a Digital Portfolio Early

In the digital age, writing is a highly monetisable skill. Do not let your writing live exclusively in academic essays. Start a blog, write for student publications, or offer to write articles for local businesses or charities. When you apply for writing or marketing jobs, having a live portfolio of published work is often more valuable than your final degree classification.

2. Secure Internships/Voluntary Roles/Placements During the Summer

Do not wait until your final year to think about work experience. Use your summer breaks to secure (paid) internships in industries you are curious about, whether that is a week shadowing an editor at a publishing house, a month at a marketing agency, or a structured corporate internship.

3. Upskill in Digital Tools

An English degree teaches you how to write, but you also need to know where that writing goes.

Spend some time learning the basics of:

• SEO (Search Engine Optimisation): Understanding how to write content that ranks on Google (like this blog post).

• Content Management Systems (CMS): Get familiar with WordPress, Squarespace, or HubSpot.

• Basic Analytics: Learn how to read Google Analytics to see how audiences interact with content.

• Free courses on Google Digital Garage or HubSpot Academy look fantastic on an English graduate’s CV.

4. Lean Heavily Into Extracurriculars

Universities are goldmines for skill-building. Join the student newspaper, the marketing society, or the university radio station. Better yet, run for a committee position like Treasurer or President. Managing a society's budget or leading a team of student writers provides concrete examples of leadership and project management that you can speak about in job interviews.

5. Network Intentionally

Connect with alumni from your university on LinkedIn who graduated with an English or Joint Honours degree. Send them a polite message asking for a 15-minute "informational interview" about how they broke into their industry. You will be surprised by how many professionals are willing to help a student, and these connections can frequently lead to mentorship or job openings.

Final Thoughts: Make Your Decision Count

An English Literature joint honours degree does not box you into one career path; instead, it opens up dozens. By pairing your love of literature with a complementary subject and actively building your professional profile outside the lecture theatre, you will graduate as a highly employable, adaptable, and articulate candidate.

Unsure which university offers the best joint honours programmes for your career goals? Explore our comprehensive university guides and compare courses today on our Course Finder page.