I’ve always been a lover of English Language. It’s been my favourite subject ever since my school days, so naturally I chose it as one of my A Levels and then went on to study a degree in Linguistics at the University of Essex. During my undergraduate years, I decided to take a few optional modules in Teaching English as a Foreign Language, which opened my eyes to new possibilities for the future.
After graduating (with a First!) I pursued the CELTA teaching qualification and became an ESOL teacher at a college in London, delivering lessons to adults wanting to learn English. Fresh out of university, it was a fantastic way to put my education to good use – even if it was strange being on the other side of the classroom for a change (and in most cases, the youngest person there!).
A couple of years into my teaching career, I felt a burning desire to go back and study English Language further. My job had been highly rewarding, but I realised I wanted to learn more about the subject rather than teach it. So, I started looking into options for a Masters, and that’s where Birmingham came in.

Ultimately, it was passion for the subject. I knew there was a lot more to learn about English Language, and I knew I had the potential to achieve more in my own education. So, despite my teaching job going well at that point, I decided to take the plunge into the postgraduate world.

My first instinct was to return to my previous institution, and I very nearly did. However, on balance I thought it would be better to get a new experience instead. By sheer chance, I was in Birmingham one day and came to visit the university, just as a local landmark. I was blown away by how stunning the campus was, and instantly fell in love with the Old Joe clocktower. Then it clicked – maybe this is where I should study my Masters! I explored the Birmingham website, quickly discovering the excellence of the Department of English Language and Linguistics. Before long, I was attending a Postgraduate Open Day and speaking to academics about the interesting range of courses they offered. Needless to say, first impressions were fantastic, and I submitted my application not long after.

The Department of English Language and Linguistics was, and still is, fantastic. I’m not at all surprised that Birmingham has ranked as one of the top 50 institutions for Linguistics in the latest QS World University Rankings (2024). Not only do the academic staff provide world-class expertise on the subject, but they’re also incredibly friendly people. A lot of the lasting memories from my Masters are of the faces who made it possible. Bob Holland, the very first academic I spoke to before applying, who almost single-handedly convinced me that Birmingham was the right place to be. Ruth Page, my incredible dissertation supervisor who inspired me with her wisdom and pushed me to produce the best work that I could. Crayton Walker, Joe Bennett… the list goes on! So many brilliant minds. And that’s not even mentioning my fellow students, who offered a great source of camaraderie that saw us all through to the finish.

The variety of modules on the course was also a notable highlight. It was useful that everyone studied core modules like Describing Language and Research Methods in Applied Linguistics, which provided the nuts and bolts for learning at a Masters level. We could then tailor the rest of the course to our interests with optional modules like Language and New Media (my personal favourite!), Language and Politics, or even some TESOL-related modules for those interested in teaching (or those, like myself, wanting to keep their hand in while they studied).

Getting a place on the course seemed like a pretty big achievement at the time, but going on to pass my Masters with Distinction definitely surpassed it! If I had to pick out a particular achievement from the course itself, completing my 15,000-word dissertation felt like a real milestone. I’d never studied one individual topic in so much detail before, or written so many words for an assignment! It was simultaneously the toughest challenge of my academic life, while also being a labour of love on a subject that really interested me. Having a hard copy printed and bound at the end that I could put on my shelf was a proud moment, knowing that all the hard work had been worth it.

I’m currently working as Postgraduate Marketing Manager at the University of Birmingham, as part of the central Postgraduate Recruitment and Marketing team in External Relations.

I never really left Birmingham, to be honest! About a month after finishing my Masters, I saw an advert for an entry level role in the University’s central Postgraduate Recruitment and Marketing team. I wanted to try something different now that I had my Masters, and it sounded like something I’d be good at. While I didn’t get the permanent position I applied for, I did well enough at interview to be offered a temporary role instead – and most importantly, a foot in the door! After a few months of learning the ropes and making new connections, I managed to secure my first permanent role as Postgraduate Marketing Coordinator in the College of Arts and Law. Of course, this was the home of the Department of English Language and Linguistics, so I was especially proud to have been offered that job.
I stayed with the team for just over two years, honing my skills and relationships further, until the time was right to make the next leap. I knew that I still wanted to stay at the University, and it just so happened that a relevant role was being advertised in the College of Life and Environmental Sciences. I was lucky enough to become their new Postgraduate Marketing and Student Recruitment Officer, where I stayed for around four years. Now with increased responsibilities like line management, as well as all the challenges that came with the pandemic, this was an important step in cementing my professional identity and building up resilience. It was also useful to work in an area that I hadn’t previously studied myself, meaning I had a whole new suite of fascinating subjects to learn about and then promote.
Eventually, the moment came when I felt ready to progress to the next level again. I guess time (or at least Old Joe) works in mysterious ways, because it happened to coincide with a Postgraduate Marketing Manager role opening up in the University’s central team, where I’d first joined all those years ago. It seemed too perfect an opportunity to pass up, so I applied and was invited to an interview. Half an hour after walking out, I got the phone call to say I’d got the job! That was a really special moment. It felt like my Birmingham journey had finally come full circle, and it’s definitely proven to be right move for my career. In just the first year alone, I’ve been able to work on some big new projects spanning the whole University. With all the new knowledge and confidence that I’ve been building, I’m looking forward to flexing my creative muscles even further.

It may seem strange that I completely changed careers from teaching to marketing, but that’s the beauty of being an English Language graduate. It’s a subject filled with lots of transferrable skills, which in turn open a lot of opportunities. Before I studied at Essex, I’d never considered ESOL as a profession, nor had I considered marketing before I came to Birmingham. I just knew I wanted a job where I could use my language skills and express myself in some way. I’m sure being an actual postgraduate alumnus from the University didn’t hurt either. It’s certainly meant I can speak authentically in my marketing, and I take great pride in promoting Birmingham to prospective students.

In particular, I think the writing and proofreading abilities that I developed in my Masters have been beneficial to my job. I regularly produce copy for marketing collateral, web pages, digital adverts, and the like, as well as check everything over for accuracy. Being a stickler for grammar, spelling, and punctuation definitely comes in handy! It’s not just about knowing the rules though, it’s about knowing when they could (and should) be broken. My Masters dissertation was all about playful language use in online communities, so I’m really interested in being creative when it comes to words.

Yes, I had a mock interview with Careers Network towards the end of my Masters, to prepare myself once more for the working world beyond the student bubble. It was a really useful experience as I was feeling a bit rusty, having not had to apply for a new job in a few years at that point! They also offered me some advice on my CV, which again was a great help as my previous one was very centred around teaching. Clearly all their support paid off, as it wasn’t long afterwards that I got my first marketing role at the University – and the rest after that is history!