Careers for language graduates

A Modern Languages degree - a career advantage

Skills acquired by language graduates
Destinations for 2009-10 language leavers
Alumni profiles
Oxford University Careers Service

A Modern Languages degree - a career advantage

Oxford aims to produce world-class linguists, and the skills gained and fostered by studying languages at degree
level are much prized by employers. Their knowledge and transferable skills ensure that modern linguists are
among the most sought-after graduates in Britain. Among the careers successfully followed by modern linguists
are: journalism, management, law, teaching and lecturing, arts and administration, civil and diplomatic service,
environmental and development work, and many more. For more information on how you could use languages in a
career go to:

http://www.languageswork.org.uk

The Faculty's graduating students of summer 2010 have a higher percentage in employment or further study than
the University average (93% > 87%), and an even smaller figure in unemployment. National data from the Higher
Education Statistics Agency indicate, furthermore, that Modern Languages graduates have one of the highest rates
of employment across all subject areas, exceeded only by medical disciplines and law.

The University's Careers Service has expertise in advising modern linguists in their graduate prospects, including a
large range of international opportunities.

Skills acquired by language graduates

The table below shows the subject-related and transferable skills that a language student is expected to develop. A
more detailed description is available at:

http://www.mod-langs.ox.ac.uk/files/docs/careers/QAA_languages.pdf

Intellectual skills

Exercise critical judgement and undertake sophisticated analysis

Argue persuasively

Approach problems with creativity and imagination

Develop the exercise of independence of mind, and a readiness to challenge and criticise accepted opinion

Practical skills

Write well in a manner which can be adapted for a variety of audiences and contexts

Engage in oral discussion and argument with others, in a way that advances understanding of the problems at issue and the
appropriate approaches and solutions to them

Ensure that a range of evidence and opinion can be brought to bear on a problem, and to develop research skills to this end

Employ advanced language skills in oral and written contexts

Transferable skills

Find information, organise and deploy it

Draw on such information to consider and analyse complex problems, in ways that are imaginative and sensitive to the
norms and traditions of other cultures

Work well independently, with a strong sense of self-direction, but with the ability to work constructively in co-operation
with others

Structure and communicate ideas effectively in a variety of written and oral formats

Plan and organise the use of time effectively

Employ language skills at an advanced level