Careers with Modern Languages

Options with your subject: Modern languages

From solicitor to retail buyer, language skills are in demand and can be used in almost any career.

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:


Work experience

Most modern language degree programmes offer a year abroad (usually the third year). If you choose to undertake a work placement during this year, try and find one in a career you are interested in and take the opportunity to develop your transferable, as well as your language, skills.

Some graduates wanting a long-term career using their language skills choose to take on a short-term role, such as teaching English, while living abroad and perfecting their language skills. Others take short-term roles in the tourism and leisure industry.

Another option is to embark on a career in interpreting or translating. Most of this work is now done on a freelance basis. To get yourself established, it is essential to have some experience behind you, perhaps as a volunteer. Joining an agency may be a good idea. Self-employment requires great contacts and the ability to market yourself. Having an interesting mix of languages will also be attractive to potential clients.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships and self-employment.


Typical employers



Skills for your CV


Spending a year abroad during your degree helps you develop cultural awareness, adapt to new and changing surroundings, and to work both in a team and independently. These skills have value in a job market that is becoming increasingly global and are appreciated by employers, whatever career you go into.

Further study

Some modern language graduates decide to pursue further study in order to gain a postgraduate qualification in interpreting or translating. Although knowledge and ability are the essential prerequisites, further study is often a real asset for these careers. Some employers prefer candidates with professionally accredited postgraduate qualifications.

You can also choose to specialise in an area of language study that interested you during your undergraduate degree, for example European studies.

Some graduates choose to study abroad in order to increase their chances of getting an international career.

As modern language graduates pursue a wide range of careers, further study or training in subjects such as marketing, finance, business, IT and journalism are also popular, and for some careers, such as law and teaching, essential.



What do modern language graduates do?

Almost two-thirds of modern languages graduates enter employment within six months of graduation. Popular areas of work include translating, writing, teaching, advertising and marketing, personnel and HR, and business.

More than a fifth of modern language graduates go on to further study or combine work with further study. Some specialise in a particular area of language, such as translation or interpreting, while others take the opportunity to broaden their options and move into other career areas.