Most English Literature graduates from Bangladesh hear the same thing from study abroad consultancies: your options are limited, your degree does not travel well, and you should consider switching to something more practical. That advice is wrong, and it costs students real opportunities every year. At Studyinfo, we have helped arts graduates with every kind of academic profile find postgraduate programmes abroad that built genuine careers. The truth is that an English Literature degree opens more postgraduate doors than almost any other undergraduate subject, and the best ones are at universities that actively want humanities thinkers.
Why English Literature Graduates Have More Options Than They Think
Your undergraduate degree built a set of transferable skills that postgraduate programmes in multiple disciplines actively recruit for. You spent three or four years learning to read complex texts critically, construct arguments from competing evidence, write under pressure, and communicate ideas clearly. These are not soft skills. They are exactly what postgraduate programmes in law, education, publishing, journalism, cultural management, and communication depend on.
The problem is not your degree. It is that the study abroad industry is structured around placing engineering and business students, so arts graduates are rarely shown the full picture of what is available to them.
The Best Masters Programmes Open to English Literature Graduates
Masters in English Literature or Comparative Literature
The most direct continuation of your undergraduate work, and the foundation for academic careers, publishing, cultural organisations, and writing. Strong programmes include the University of Edinburgh’s MSc in English Literature, which covers everything from medieval to contemporary texts, and the University of Manchester’s MA in English and American Literature, known for its strong research culture. In Ireland, Trinity College Dublin offers one of the most internationally respected English departments in the English-speaking world.
Masters in Creative Writing
This is the programme that surprises most Bangladeshi students when they realise it is a genuine academic qualification with real career outcomes. The University of East Anglia’s MA in Creative Writing is the most storied in the world, having produced more published novelists than almost any other institution. Goldsmiths, University of London and the University of Edinburgh both offer strong alternatives with slightly more accessible entry requirements.
If you are considering Creative Writing specifically, our detailed Masters in Creative Writing Abroad guide covers the UK, Ireland, and Canada programmes in depth, including costs, entry requirements, and what the writing sample needs to look like.
Masters in Education (TESOL or Applied Linguistics)
For English Literature graduates who want to work in language teaching, curriculum development, or educational policy, a Masters in TESOL or Applied Linguistics is one of the most employable and internationally portable qualifications available. It is highly valued in Bangladesh’s growing private education sector and opens doors to international schools and NGOs working in education globally.
Masters in Publishing
Publishing is a direct profession for English Literature graduates, and a Masters in Publishing gives you the editorial, production, and business skills to enter it professionally.
The University of the Arts London and Oxford Brookes offer well-regarded publishing programmes that combine editorial skills with digital media and business knowledge.
Masters in Journalism and Media
English Literature graduates frequently transition into journalism, content strategy, and communications. The analytical writing skills from your degree are directly applicable. Most UK journalism Masters programmes do not require a journalism undergraduate background, and several, including those at City, University of London and Cardiff University, explicitly welcome humanities graduates.
Masters in Cultural Studies or Cultural Management
Cultural Studies is a natural academic home for English Literature graduates interested in how culture, society, and power intersect. It leads to careers in arts organisations, cultural policy, museums, and international development.
Masters in Cultural Management programmes, offered by institutions like the University of Leeds, prepare graduates for leadership roles in the arts sector in both the UK and Bangladesh.
Masters in Library and Information Science
Library and Information Science is an underrated option for English Literature graduates that combines your love of texts and knowledge organisation with strong employment prospects. Graduates work in academic libraries, archives, information management, and digital heritage institutions. It is one of the more accessible Masters programmes for international students in terms of entry requirements.
Which Countries Give English Literature Graduates the Best Opportunities
The UK
The UK is the strongest destination for English Literature graduates by a significant margin. British universities have the deepest humanities traditions, the most internationally recognised Creative Writing programmes, and a Graduate Route visa that allows two years of post-study work experience for any graduate regardless of their subject. The combination of academic prestige and post-graduation work rights makes it the most practical choice for Bangladeshi arts students.
Entry requirements for UK humanities Masters programmes are typically a 2:1 equivalent. In practice, for Creative Writing and some Literature programmes, the quality of your writing sample carries as much weight as your grade.
Ireland
Ireland offers respected humanities programmes at University College Dublin, University of Galway, and University College Cork, with generally more accessible entry requirements than equivalent UK universities. The post-study work permission of two years after a Masters degree applies equally to arts graduates, and tuition fees are often lower than UK equivalents.
Canada
Canada’s top universities, including the University of Toronto and McGill University, have strong English and humanities departments. However, post-graduation immigration pathways in Canada are more structured around in-demand occupations, and arts graduates need to plan their post-study career pathway carefully. Canada remains a strong academic option but requires more immigration planning than the UK.
The Netherlands and Germany
For students open to Europe, the University of Amsterdam offers a well-regarded Literary Studies Masters taught in English at significantly lower tuition than UK universities. Germany’s DAAD-funded programmes include some humanities options, though English-language availability is more limited than in the UK, Ireland, or the Netherlands.
What Entry Requirements Actually Look Like
Most UK and Irish universities require the equivalent of a UK 2:1 for Masters entry. For Bangladeshi students, this broadly corresponds to a CGPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or a 60% or above overall average, though these conversions vary by institution and some universities assess Bangladeshi transcripts individually.
For arts programmes specifically, several components matter beyond your grade:
A personal statement that demonstrates genuine intellectual engagement with your subject, not a generic statement about passion for literature. Admissions readers see hundreds of statements that say the same thing. Yours needs to show what you specifically think about and why this programme is the right place to develop it.
A writing sample for Creative Writing and some Literature programmes. This is the component where average-grade students can most effectively differentiate themselves. A genuinely strong piece of writing will be remembered. A competent but uninspired one will not.
A research proposal for research-focused Masters and MPhil programmes. This does not need to be a finished thesis outline, but it does need to show that you have a clear research question and some sense of how you would approach it.
Academic references from lecturers who can speak specifically to your intellectual abilities and your writing, not generic endorsements.
Studyinfo Tip: The most common mistake arts students make with their personal statement is writing about why they love literature rather than what they think about it. Admissions committees at good humanities programmes are not looking for enthusiasm. They are looking for evidence that you can read critically and argue precisely. Write about a specific text, idea, or critical debate that genuinely engages you, and show your thinking, not your feeling.
Can Average Grade English Literature Students Study Abroad?
Yes, and the arts is one of the areas where grades are most consistently overcome by other strengths in the application. Unlike engineering or medicine where technical competence maps directly onto your academic record, humanities programmes are evaluating something more complex: your intellectual engagement with ideas, your ability to write and argue, and your potential as a thinker.
A student we worked with from Dhaka graduated with a 58% in English Literature from a private university. Three consultancies told her the UK was not realistic. She applied to five UK universities with a personal statement developed over six weeks and a writing sample she had revised multiple times. She received offers from two universities, including one in the top half of the UK rankings for English. She is now completing her MA in Contemporary Literature.
Her grades were average. Her application was not.
Three things average-grade English Literature students can do to strengthen their applications:
- Invest your energy in the writing sample. For Creative Writing and Literature programmes, this is the single most impactful part of your application. Start working on it months before the deadline, not weeks. It should represent your best writing, fully revised.
- Apply to a range of universities. Include one or two programmes with more flexible entry requirements, such as those at Coventry University or the University of Kent, alongside your higher-ranked targets. A realistic application list includes safety options.
- Contact programme administrators before applying. Many arts programmes, particularly smaller Creative Writing cohorts, are genuinely open to discussing non-standard academic profiles. An email that explains your situation and asks directly whether a strong portfolio can be considered alongside a borderline GPA will sometimes get a more encouraging answer than the published entry requirements suggest.
Scholarships Available to English Literature Graduates
The scholarship landscape for arts students is smaller than for STEM but it is not empty.
The Chevening Scholarship is open to all disciplines including arts and humanities. Chevening has funded English Literature, Creative Writing, Cultural Studies, and Linguistics students from Bangladesh. The key is demonstrating leadership potential and a clear plan for how your degree will contribute to your work and community after you return. If you want the full picture on Chevening eligibility and strategy, our Chevening Scholarship guide for average grade students covers the application in detail.
The Charles Wallace Bangladesh Trust offers grants specifically to Bangladeshi nationals for study and research in the UK in the arts, humanities, and heritage fields. It is significantly less competitive than Chevening and specifically designed for students in exactly your situation. Most Bangladeshi arts students have never heard of it. Check their official website for current Bangladesh application cycles.
Commonwealth Scholarships are open to all disciplines for Masters and PhD study in the UK and other Commonwealth countries. Competitive but genuinely accessible to arts students with a strong academic record and a research focus.
University-specific merit scholarships for international Masters students are available at most UK and Irish universities and typically range from £2,000 to £5,000. Apply for these at every university you apply to, as they require minimal additional effort beyond your main application.
What Nobody Tells English Literature Graduates About Studying Abroad
Your degree does not need to continue as your subject. One of the most limiting beliefs arts students carry into the application process is that they must study English Literature at Masters level because that is what they studied at undergraduate level. You do not. Your degree is a valid foundation for Masters programmes in education, publishing, journalism, cultural management, library science, and in some cases even law conversion programmes in the UK. Branching into an adjacent field at Masters level can open career pathways that a straight continuation of your undergraduate subject might not.
The writing sample window is longer than you think. Most universities do not specify a word count or genre for Creative Writing samples beyond broad guidelines. This is an opportunity, not an ambiguity. Use it to submit your most original and polished work, even if it is in an unconventional form. Admissions readers at good Creative Writing programmes are actively looking for distinctive voices. A technically competent but conventional sample is forgettable. An original one with minor rough edges is not.
Post-graduation work rights are the factor most students ignore. When comparing UK and Canadian options, most Bangladeshi students focus entirely on university rankings and tuition fees. What they underweight is post-graduation work rights. The UK’s Graduate Route gives any Masters graduate two years of open work rights regardless of subject. Canada’s Post-Graduation Work Permit is more flexible for STEM and business graduates in terms of Permanent Residence pathways. For arts graduates specifically, the UK’s two-year open work right is genuinely more useful than the comparable Canadian pathway in most cases.
Rankings matter less for arts programmes than most students assume. A Creative Writing MA at a mid-ranked UK university with a genuinely distinguished faculty and a track record of published alumni is worth more for your writing career than a Literature MA at a higher-ranked institution with a generic programme. For arts subjects specifically, research the faculty, the cohort size, the reading lists, and the programme’s alumni outcomes more than the overall university ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an English Literature graduate study abroad for a Masters?
Yes. An English Literature undergraduate degree is accepted as entry qualification for Masters programmes in Literature, Creative Writing, Linguistics, Education, Publishing, Journalism, Cultural Studies, Cultural Management, and Library Science at universities across the UK, Ireland, Canada, and Europe. Many of these programmes specifically value the analytical and writing skills that come from a humanities undergraduate education.
Which country is best for an English Literature Masters abroad?
The UK is the strongest destination for English Literature graduates. British universities have the deepest humanities traditions, the most internationally recognised Creative Writing programmes, and a Graduate Route visa that gives any Masters graduate two years of open work rights regardless of subject. Ireland is a strong alternative with slightly more accessible entry requirements and comparable post-study work permission.
What GPA do I need for a Masters in English Literature abroad?
Most UK and Irish universities require the equivalent of a UK 2:1 for Masters entry, which broadly corresponds to a CGPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or approximately 60% overall. For arts programmes specifically, particularly Creative Writing, the quality of your writing sample and personal statement carries significant weight alongside your grade. Students with borderline grades have secured places at good UK humanities programmes on the strength of their writing.
Can I get a scholarship as an English Literature graduate studying abroad?
Yes. The Chevening Scholarship is open to all disciplines including arts and humanities. The Charles Wallace Bangladesh Trust offers grants specifically for Bangladeshi students in the arts and humanities who want to study in the UK. Commonwealth Scholarships are also open to arts graduates. University-specific merit scholarships for international Masters students are available at most UK and Irish institutions and worth applying for at every university on your list.
What can I do with a Masters in English Literature from abroad?
A Masters in English Literature or a related humanities discipline from a UK or Irish university opens doors to careers in publishing, journalism, content strategy, education, cultural management, international development, arts administration, and academia. In Bangladesh specifically, English Literature graduates with foreign Masters degrees are rare and genuinely valuable in private education, English language media, international NGOs, and the growing content and communications sector.
Do I need to study English Literature for my Masters if that was my undergraduate subject?
No. Your English Literature undergraduate degree is a recognised entry qualification for Masters programmes across multiple disciplines, including TESOL and Applied Linguistics, Publishing, Journalism, Cultural Studies, Cultural Management, and Library and Information Science. Many English Literature graduates find that branching into an adjacent field at Masters level opens broader career pathways than continuing with Literature at postgraduate level.
How long is a Masters degree in the UK for English Literature graduates?
Most taught Masters programmes in the UK are one year full-time, including Literature, Creative Writing, Publishing, Journalism, Cultural Studies, and TESOL programmes. Research-based Masters and MPhil programmes are typically one to two years. After completing a one-year Masters, graduates can access the two-year Graduate Route visa for open work rights in the UK.
Is the University of East Anglia Creative Writing MA worth it for Bangladeshi students?
The University of East Anglia Creative Writing MA is one of the most internationally recognised creative writing qualifications in the world and has produced a significant number of published novelists and literary figures. For a Bangladeshi student with serious writing ambitions and a strong writing sample, it is worth applying to. The entry requirements are primarily based on the quality of your submitted writing rather than your undergraduate GPA, making it genuinely accessible to strong writers who are not top academic performers. Tuition fees for international students are in the range of £22,000 to £25,000 per year.
What documents do I need to apply for a humanities Masters abroad?
Most UK and Irish universities require a completed application form, academic transcripts and degree certificate, a personal statement, two or three academic references, proof of English language proficiency (typically IELTS 6.5 to 7.0 overall), and a writing sample or research proposal depending on the programme. Some Creative Writing programmes also require a portfolio of original work. Bangladeshi students also need a valid passport for the visa application once an offer is received.
Before You Apply: Checklist
- Identify three to five target programmes across a range of universities and entry requirement levels
- Check whether each programme requires a writing sample, research proposal, or portfolio and what their specific requirements are
- Start working on your writing sample or research proposal at least three months before your application deadline
- Research the Chevening Scholarship and note that the application deadline is typically in November for the following academic year
- Check the Charles Wallace Bangladesh Trust website for current Bangladesh grant application cycles
- Ask your strongest academic reference to write specifically about your analytical and writing abilities, not just your attendance
- Research post-graduation work rights for each country you are considering alongside tuition costs and rankings
- For borderline grades, email programme administrators before applying to ask directly whether a strong writing sample is considered alongside academic performance
English Literature is not a dead end and it was never a limitation. The universities that want you exist across the UK, Ireland, Canada, and Europe. The scholarships for you exist. The careers that your degree prepares you for are growing in Bangladesh and internationally. What it takes is applying strategically rather than following the conventional path that was never built for arts students in the first place.
If you want help identifying programmes that match your specific profile, browse our blog for more subject-specific study abroad guides, check our full list of scholarships and funding options relevant to arts graduates, or read our guide on handling backlogs and low GPA in your foreign university application if your academic record has gaps you need to address.