Career opportunities Languages
Languages graduates work in a range of professions across the private and public sectors. This can include international agencies and both national and European government bodies.
The graduate jobs market is competitive. Consider a variety of careers and research your options as early as possible. Your career options can be affected by your work experience, where you live, and study choices. You may find that many careers also need further study or training.
You can explore career options related to your subject on the Prospects website, where you will find examples of jobs, typical employers, and skills for your CV. You may also find their job sectors information useful.
The careers information on this page is for languages. If applicable to your study you may also find English Language and Applied Linguistics careers useful.
Careers using language skills
Languages are central to occupations like:
- diplomacy
- interpreting
- journalism
- sales
- translating
- tourism.
Fluency in more than one language can open up career opportunities internationally as well as with international organisations in the UK. It can also lead to self-employment in interpreting, translating, teaching or tutoring.
Many language graduates go into teaching at secondary and further education level. You can also qualify to teach at primary level where modern languages is also part of the curriculum. Teaching English to non-English speakers in the UK and overseas is another option.
There may also be language-based opportunities in:
- business
- customer care
- gaming industry
- international organisations
- leisure industry
- the media.
Open University (OU) students can search for relevant employers by using the ‘Translation and Linguistics’ industry filter on OpportunityHub. For example, language service providers offer vacancies in translation, interpreting and project management.
The following jobs boards specialise in multi-lingual roles for language graduates:
Some roles may require additional skills and qualifications. These may be suitable for you if you studied a joint degree or have relevant work experience.
Careers using transferable skills
In the UK graduates can use their degree to find employment that's not necessarily related to their degree subject. This is because the employer is looking for the skills they have developed through their academic study, rather than a specific subject.
Languages graduates are often skilled communicators. Employers in all fields value applicants who can communicate well. Your degree demonstrates an ability to analyse, evaluate, and present ideas and arguments. You can use these research and writing skills in areas such as advertising, marketing, journalism, publishing, and public relations.
Postgraduate Study
Many graduates undertake further study. This could be straight after completing your degree or after gaining work experience. Further study is often a way to learn new skills and explore your subject in more depth. It could also unlock further career opportunities or make you a more attractive candidate.
For languages graduates, postgraduate study can open up opportunities in other professions in which you need to know how language works, for example:
- interpreting and translating
- journalism and editing
- project management
- speech and language therapy.
The OU offers two masters degrees in this area. The MA in Translation lets you develop as a professional translator. The MA in Linguistics offers two specialist routes; Linguistics (Applied) or Linguistics (Artificial Intelligence).
It's important to thoroughly research postgraduate study options as this will help you make the right choice for you. This would include checking you can afford it as the way you pay for postgraduate study is different to how undergraduate study is funded. On the Prospects website you can search postgraduate courses, and find information on funding postgraduate study.
