As an English student, you have a nearly unparalleled ability to adapt to changes in the job market and apply your skills in any employment sector across the globe. This means the opportunities are endless, but charting out the available options might also be difficult. This page is meant to give you some ideas for what directions you may take in the future.
The career profiles are only a small sample of common paths our graduates take. There is demand for experts in English beyond these fields, so even if something you feel drawn to isn’t represented here you can certainly carve out a career path that suits your passions. Hobbies, supporting studies and prior work experience all contribute to your specific expertise and can be invaluable in defining your career path.
While proficiency in Finnish is by no means necessary for getting a job in Finland, it can be a significant advantage in the job market and open up a lot of opportunities. The university offers a number of Finnish courses every year for various proficiency levels, and we strongly encourage students to use this opportunity to practice their Finnish.
Are you skilled at project and time management, synthesising information and communicating clearly and effectively?
As an administrator you make sure the organisation, project or team you are working in is operating smoothly. Specific tasks usually vary from day to day and between fields, but you will often be responsible for drafting contracts, communicating with stakeholders, contractors and other branches of the organisation, producing and updating documentation and instructions, editing texts, supporting other teams, organising meetings and preparing for any potential challenges and setbacks.
Such positions are often gained through internships and experience, with expertise in the specific area of the organisation being highly relevant. Carefully selecting supporting studies to gain a comprehensive understanding of topics that interest you can lead to more opportunities in a wide variety of fields, especially in business, politics and culture. English students may find their skillsets tailored to a few specific fields. Linguistics students are valued in localisation and translation teams as well as international organisations, where pedagogical studies may open up doors related to education or intercultural interaction. Literature students can find similar positions in publishing.
The English Studies programme will equip you with a diverse set of skills even beyond literature and linguistics. Transferable skills such as critical thinking, cultural and intercultural expertise along with adaptive writing, analysis and management skills gained during your studies are vital in a variety of administrative and managerial positions. Your expertise in English will also be invaluable. Linguistics courses will give you a sharp eye for the impacts of the smallest details, while literature studies will help you manage larger themes and construct effective narratives along with opening up opportunities in publishing.
Project management, adaptive writing, communication, information synthesisation, data management, problem solving, precise, confident
Communications, cultural studies, literary studies, translation studies, social sciences, political science, pedagogical studies, participation in student organizations.
Positions in public and private sector, and in international organizations and NGOs. For example, positions as education specialists or localization teams and publishing may be suitable. You can also start your own company to provide consulting in project management etc. There are some administrative internships at the university, in public administration and in the EU which can lead to permanent positions.
Are you curious, critical, and interested in understanding phenomena to their fullest? Do you have a specific topic you are passionate about? Would you like to teach others about the intricacies of your interests?
As an academic, you will be joining a community of inquisitive minds, committed to a better understanding of the world around us with a particular focus on its mediation through English language and literature. The working life of an academic involves research and teaching, often on something you are passionate about. You will specialise in said passion(s), conduct or participate in research projects at research centres or universities, usually in collaboration with other academics both locally and internationally, and publish your results. In most cases, academics like the teachers in our programme will teach in universities about the topics they are specialising in. Language evolves as society evolves, leading to a dynamic and vital field of research with new paths of inquiry popping up constantly.
An academic career begins by conducting research for the MA, followed by a PhD. Throughout your studies, familiarise yourself with a field of your choosing along with ongoing research projects in language or literature. You can find ideas for research topics in your own interests while staying open to new ideas. Studying fields related to current research projects can help in getting research assistant positions. Experience is invaluable in academia, and your career path will continue to develop as you continue conducting research.
The English Studies programme offers excellent prospects for a future as an academic – with our various areas of specialisation and focus on offering you experience with current research methodologies you can start building towards your academic future as soon as you start your studies. The University of Helsinki is a prestigious academic institution globally in extensive collaboration with other universities in Finland and across the globe, giving you ample opportunities to network and find a path in academia. You can also de pedagogical studies, which can be extremely beneficial for your career.
Organisation, prioritisation, multitasking, writing and speaking skills, ability to collaborate, data management, analytical skills, resilience, flexibility, curiosity.
Participation in academic events and courses on topics you feel passionate about, especially if they relate to your specialisation. Pedagogical studies.
PhD and postdoctoral positions are available both at the University of Helsinki and other universities across the globe. There are a variety of research institutions who fund language-related research.
Are you results-oriented and analytical, skilled at writing engaging texts and generating creative, innovative ideas?
From creative writing to data analytics, marketing and communications offer roles with a broad range of different responsibilities, with digitalisation creating more positions where the line between the two is blurred. Those more interested in writing and creative thinking can find copywriting positions, which range from more free form to extremely technical. Data analysis positions are suitable for those looking to crunch numbers. Strategists and community managers often take more holistic responsibilities for the language use of an organisation or campaign, with the latter being client-facing and the former less so. Visually inclined people interested in digital platforms and content creation can find positions as brand managers, while results-driven people might go into consulting. The options are endless, and new positions are cropping up consistently with technological and social advancements.
Opportunities for employment in communications and marketing often require a degree of experience, which can be gained through traineeships, active participation in student organisations or building your own online presence. Expertise in social media platforms, graphic design & photo/video editing skills are currently in demand with the prevalence of social media and digital marketing.
There are a variety of skills you can gain from the English Studies programme that are useful in communications and marketing, as language is at the forefront of marketing and communications work. Our courses in linguistics and applied linguistics will give you an eye for linguistic details, particularly useful for positions that require more technical language use. Literature studies can help you create larger language use strategies and create engaging texts that resonate with customers and stakeholders. Critical thinking, cultural and intercultural expertise along with presentation and writing skills are also invaluable.
Creative thinking, critical thinking, adaptive writing, communication, sensitivity to social context, photo and video editing.
Marketing, communications, statistics, computer science, literature studies, social studies, political studies.
A wide range of opportunities in a variety of fields in both the private and public sector along with international organisations and NGOs depending on your specific skillset. New positions are created through technological innovation, so novel positions crop up consistently. Traineeships can be found in a wide variety of fields.
Are you passionate about language education and helping others reach their goals in English?
As a subject teacher in English, you will plan out lessons according to the curriculum, teach classes and assess your students learning. Many English teachers go into comprehensive education, vocational and upper secondary schools, or adult education. Options in adult education and private tutoring organisations allow you to teach more specialised language skills. More experienced teachers can transition away from teaching to more administrative duties in education planning or produce learning materials. Various organisations across the globe have demand for experts in pedagogy and English, especially for those excelling in intercultural communication.
In order to qualify as an English teacher in Finland, you must complete:
Pedagogical studies can be completed in either English or Finnish and contain mandatory traineeship periods. You can qualify to teach a second school subject in addition to English if you complete 60 credits of related studies. Oftentimes this would be other languages such as Swedish, French or Spanish, though other subjects such as psychology may also be feasible.
The Master’s programme in English Studies prepares you for working as a teacher exceptionally well. Many of our courses include perspectives on education, covering aspects from language acquisition, linguistic awareness, English as a lingua franca and the complexities of linguistic identities and intercultural encounters. Students completing their BA in our university's Bachelor's Programme in Languages can apply for the study right for pedagogical studies during their BA studies and complete the pedagogical studies as part of their MA degree in English Studies. Students who are only doing their MA can apply for a free-of-charge study right for pedagogical studies after graduating.
Broad language skills, understanding of language acquisition, pedagogical skills, adaptability, speaking and presentation skills, systematic, resilient, detail-oriented, empathetic, creative, understanding.
Pedagogical studies (mandatory), other languages or another secondary teaching subject, Finnish, changing education, social studies, intercultural encounters, international affairs, global law, communications.
Substitute positions before and after graduation, permanent positions usually require a few years of experience in Finland. Options in primary and secondary education, adult education and the private sector. Experienced teachers may go into education planning or material production. Supporting studies can open up opportunities in international organisations.