The study of English prepares students for professional success. Through close reading, critical discussion, and sustained engagement with literary and cultural texts, students develop cultural awareness and the communication skills needed to enter the workforce with confidence, distinguish themselves across industries, and build meaningful careers.

Our graduates have gone on to pursue MA and PhD programs and have excelled in a wide range of fields, including Law, Business, Medicine, Government, Librarianship, Teaching, Publishing, Advertising, Television, Performing Arts, and Arts Management.

Explore our Alumni.

I didn’t go to school for this: The connection between degrees and careers
The Gazette (2023)

While human capital management and reading Paradise Lost may not seem correlated at first, Turner explained she uses many of the skills developed from her English degree in her career.

Renowned playwright and concert pianist releases new memoir, Permanent Astonishment
Western News (2021)

Tomson Highway came to Western to study piano performance and English. He then became a social worker before going on to write and produce Canadian theatre classics The Rez Sisters and Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing, and his bestselling novel Kiss of the Fur Queen.

Studying to be a better citizen: The true value of an arts degree
Maclean's (2020)

Yes, there are plenty of job prospects for arts graduates. But the degree’s true value is more profound than practical.

Evidence shows that humanities graduates go on to all kinds of interesting careers
Montreal Gazette (2020)

More and more evidence shows that studying the humanities trains you in what we now call 'transferable skills' of analysis and communication, abilities useful in any field, and which in fact may be even more necessary in the coming years.

What can't you do with an English degree?
Norton Critical Editions (2019)

The world’s top economists just made the case for why we still need English majors
Washington Post (2019)

As humanities majors slump to the lowest level in decades, calls are coming from surprising places for a revival. Some prominent economists are making the case for why it still makes a lot of sense to major (or at least take classes) in humanities alongside more technical fields.

A new model of learning
Alumni Gazette (2019)

Western alum David McKay, MBA’92, LLD’19, President and CEO of RBC, speaks at the Times Higher Education (THE) Teaching Excellence Summit hosted at Western about the value of a liberal arts education and how to prepare graduates for long-term success.

In the Salary Race, Engineers Sprint but English Majors Endure
The New York Times (2019)

For students chasing lasting wealth, the best choice of a college major is less obvious than you might think.

Relax, English Majors. You’re Still Plenty Employable.
The Chronicle of Higher Education (2019)

By following the actual career paths of real people, EMSI found that “the outcome of the English major looks pretty similar to the outcome of the business major,” as Rob Sentz, the company’s chief innovation officer, told me. In other words, said Sentz, your major “doesn’t doom you to a fixed path.”

Yes, you will get a job with that arts degree
Maclean's (2019)

After years of dire warnings about the limited value of their degree, liberal arts students are making a surprising discovery: Employers want them. It turns out their skills—including the ability to communicate, solve problems, think critically and collaborate—are in demand for many sectors, including finance and technology.

A humanities degree is worth much more than you realize
The Hill (2018)

While majors such as psychology, sociology and business offer many classes that help students acquire social skills, humanistic disciplines such as history, philosophy and literature, to name but a few, also offer an inexhaustible supply of practical and useful insights.

Because critical thinking is key to success in any field
OZY.com (2017)

There are many excellent reasons to take English even if your focus is upon science, engineering, medicine, or business: it provides the kinds of thinking and communication skills that all employers are looking for! "Three out of four employers want schools to place more emphasis on the skills that the humanities and social sciences teach."

Arts education is important
Professor David Bentley

To study the arts and humanities is to learn to be discerning, to be articulate, to be reflective and to exercise freedom of thought rather than to accept, follow and, in essence, endorse the received wisdom, the expected pattern, the accepted explanation. In other words, it is to become a better citizen — an individual on the road less travelled rather than part of a herd that can too easily be led in a disastrous direction.

• Choose from an inspiring range of courses spanning the classics to contemporary popular culture.
• Benefit from small classes and engaging lectures.
• Learn from world-class professors whose knowledge and enthusiasm create a stimulating environment for the study of literature, writing, theory and culture.
• Access historical manuscripts and rare first-edition books.
• Develop essential skills in critical comprehension, reasoning, and effective communication across a range of media.
• Gain excellent preparation for graduate study or professional programs like Audiology, Journalism, Law, Teaching and Medicine.

No. English is not a direct entry program. Apply to the Faculty of Arts & Humanities and ensure that you complete one of the following first-year English courses: English 1020E, 1022E, 1024E, 1035E, 1036E, or both 1027F/G and 1028F/G.

A minimum grade of 60% in 1.0 of these courses is required to progress to second-year English courses. You will declare English during Intent to Register in February of your first year.

Yes! We offer more than 35 scholarships and awards recognizing both creative and academic achievement.

Learn more about our Scholarships & Awards.

Yes! Students in English Studies can take Creative Writing courses in several ways. The Department offers an Honours Specialization in Creative Writing and English Language and Literature, and the Writing Studies program offers both a Major and a Minor in Creative Writing.

Yes! You will take small lectures and seminars that explore social and cultural issues in theatre and performance. You may also combine your English module with a Major, Minor or Certificate in Theatre Studies, or a Minor in Page, Stage and Screen.

We also offer a theatre production course English 2041F, as well as two courses at Stratford Festival, where students learn on site with renowned theatre professionals, attend Shakespeare productions, and develop practical tools for analyzing, interpreting, and performing classical texts.

In second or third year, students may apply for Theatre Studies 3900G - Destination Theatre, a study abroad course that allows you to deepen your drama education through theatre experiences in cities such as London, England, or New York. Live performances are complemented by daily lectures and tours of theatres, archives, and historical sites.

Yes! Our Fall Theatre Production course (English 2041F) is highly popular. Students take on all aspects of production, including acting, props, costumes, marketing, and outreach.

There are also opportunities to participate in Theatre Western, our vibrant student theatre club, and through the Arts & Humanities Student Council, which produces a major show each winter term.

The Coterie is the Undergraduate English Society and Department Committee under the Arts and Humanities Student Council (AHSC) at Western University.

The organization consists of undergraduate English and Writing students dedicated to building a passionate literature and writing community within the faculty. The Coteries helps students find opportunities to publish their writing, connect with their peers, host social events, as well as create awareness about literature-related opportunities.

Coterie events are open to students from all faculties and are free to attend! More information can be found on Instagram @westerncoterie and on the Coterie blog.

This innovative program—unique in North America—was developed in 2013 by the University Students’ Council and the Department of English and Writing Studies. Its mandate is to support an accomplished undergraduate writer while creating opportunities for other students to benefit from that writer’s creativity, expertise, and organizational leadership. The Student Writer-in-Residence fosters exchange among aspiring writers and contributes to a vibrant culture of creativity across campus, throughout the London community, and across literary genres, media, and technologies.

To learn more about the program, read the annual report prepared by the 2023–2024 Student Writer-in-Residence, or explore the profile of our current Student Writer-in-Residence.

• University courses require deeper critical thinking and independent interpretation.
• You are expected to arrive prepared, having completed readings and developed your own interpretation of major themes or symbols so that class time can focus on deeper analysis of specific passages and ideas.
• Readings are generally more complex and demand sustained engagement.

Learn more about our grading criteria.

• University essays move beyond the five-paragraph structure.
• They require greater integrative and interpretive skills.
• You must develop a clear, sustained argument supported by textual evidence.
• Your ideas and interpretations are welcome, provided you can argue your position thoughtfully and respectfully.
• View the MLA Handbook to learn how to document sources and strengthen your academic writing.  

More essay tips and information about plagiarism.

• Stay on top of your readings from the start.
• Develop the habit of looking for deeper meaning in texts.
• Attend class regularly.
• Purchase the required books and proper editions.
• Ask for help when needed—reach out to your professor or teaching assistant during office hours.
• Keep an open mind and make the most of this opportunity.

Learn more about our course policies and student resources.