Career prospects
After your studies
With a degree in English Language and Culture, you will find a range of jobs to choose from.
Possible occupations
- Communications specialist
- Teacher
- Journalist
- Test developer
- Consultant in intercultural communication
- Policy-maker for the government
In which fields do our students find work?
Continuing your studies
After obtaining your Bachelor's degree you are qualified to enter the job market. However, most students choose to continue on to a Master's degree. This gives you several advantages, including specialised expertise and better career prospects. With a Bachelor's degree in English Language and Culture at Radboud University you are well-prepared to progress to the following Master's programmes:
- Literatuur en Samenleving (in Dutch)
- Literair Bedrijf (in Dutch)
- Transatlantic Studies: History, Culture and Politics (with enough BA courses in American Studies)
- Language Variation and Multilingualism
- Tourism and Culture
- Linguistics and Communication Sciences (selective Research Master's)
- Literary Studies (selective Research Master's)
- Tweejarige Educatieve Master Engels (in Dutch)
- Communication and Information Studies
Job market orientation: put your degree to work!
To prepare you for the job market, Radboud University offers various forms of job market orientation, so that you can start planning your future during your studies.
For example, every faculty has a Career Service, where you can go with questions about and help with job market orientation. They offer career advice interviews and skills training, among other things. You can also contact them if you want to gain a few months of practical experience by doing an internship.
Testimonials from former students
Your study allows you to get in touch with a variey of career paths and you'll figure out what's for you in time.
- Programme
- English Language and Culture
- Study end date
Tim Elfring was a Bachelor's student in English Language and Culture at Radboud University.
Where do you work now and what does your job entail?
I'm a self-employed musician. I was always in bands during my literary studies, and after finishing my MA (which I did in Utrecht) I quickly realised that I couldn't apply for a full-time job because my bands were already taking up so much of my time. I ended up pursuing that and now I make most of my income playing music and working on my bands.
Why did you choose to work in this field?
I turned my passion into my job. It was kind of inevitable, really. I remember showing up to my classes carrying instruments because I had rehearsals right after my classes.
What did you learn during your studies that you now use in your work?
I learned how to write lots of text quickly and adequately, which is very useful when I write lyrics for my songs, content for the Patreon of one of my bands, or artist interviews or press releases. Many of my musical colleagues struggle with text for hours while I can get it done in minutes.
I also understand the field of cultural production and the position of the artist in the world on an academic level. And I was also allowed to study the relationship of an artist with their art. All of these things are not only fascinating, but I'm now also able to create my own art with more knowledge and in a much healthier way.
How did you experience this programme at Radboud University? In your opinion, what made this programme special?
I remember fondly that the programme allowed me to really see what kind of academic careers and options there are. I could often see what's out there and what kind of specialties I could pursue. It doesn't keep you confined in the academic bubble but shows you the possible doors to the real world.
What would you recommend to future students when they go to choose a study?
Don't worry about what kind of job you'll get out of it. A study gives you many different skills that are all widely applicable in a vast number of different fields. I was 18 years old when I started my BA and that's way too young to have a path figured out. Your study allows you to get in touch with a variety of career paths and you'll figure out what's for you in time.
Parents and family members often obsess over your career and want you to know where you're heading. It's difficult to give them "I don't know yet" as an answer. But I found that that's the reality for most students that start a BA: they don't know yet and they often don't figure it out until late in their MA's, like myself.
As for me, I wasn't cut out for a conservatory or anything like that, and my studies gave me many skills that I can now use in my bands. I can read, write, and think about text quicker than most of my bandmates, and I also understand art and the field of cultural production in a unique way. It often gives me useful perspectives to offer for creative or business decisions.
So in conclusion: don't worry about it. You'll figure it out. And don't worry about your family that is stressed about you not having it figured out yet.
I enjoyed editing; it was a passion I had not foreseen.
- Programme
- English Language and Culture
- Study end date
Femke Boom was a Bachelor’s student in English Language and Culture at Radboud University.
Where do you work now and what does your job entail?
I work as an editor for Gracenote.
Why did you choose to work in this field?
I studied English Language and Culture, and whilst at Radboud I volunteered for a student magazine. I enjoyed editing; it was a passion I had not foreseen. I had hoped to work with books at first, but publishing can be a hard field to get into.
I found a vacancy for editor at Gracenote. Initially, I had applied for the UK team, but I got hired for the Dutch one. As I’m a native Dutch speaker, it was no problem. That being said, the company is international and even the Dutch team has people from all around the world so English is always used nonetheless (note: the texts I edit are in Dutch, but communication with my team and other teams is in English).
What did you learn during your studies that you now use in your work?
Peer review and literary analysis help me with text editing. I know what people want to see (or read, I should say), and I can provide feedback where necessary.
The focus on language I had in my education is what I naturally need when editing in general.
I have to be able to spot mistakes and provide feedback regarding the root cause of particular issues (the latter has mostly to do with requests made by clients).
How did you experience this programme at Radboud University? In your opinion, what made this programme special?
Overall positive. There was a mix of literature and linguistics; both can provide skills one may need. I focused more on letters in the end, but it depends on the field one is interested in.
What would you recommend to future students when they go to choose a study?
Use an elective or minor to expand your skills; courses regarding teaching, IT, copywriting, etc. Then you can use that on top of your major. If possible, find something extracurricular to expand your skills. I edited for a student magazine, so something similar can work out in your favour when looking for work.