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What can you do with a modern languages degree?
Also called: Foreign languages · Languages · Language studies · Modern philology
Updated How we use data
Quick answer
A modern languages degree teaches you to speak, write and understand one or more foreign languages to a high level, together with the culture, history and literature of the places where they are spoken. Graduates work as translators, language teachers, diplomats and journalists, and in international business, tourism and many other jobs where communicating across cultures matters.
Careers with a modern languages degree
Languages are useful in almost any career with international contact, so graduates work in a wide range of sectors. Some use their languages directly as translators, interpreters or language teachers. Others join the diplomatic service, international organisations or journalism, or work in tourism and hospitality, for example as hotel managers. Many graduates use their languages as an extra skill in business, marketing, law, logistics and technology, where people who can work across cultures are valued.
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Language teacher
Language teachers help children and adults learn to speak, understand, read and write a new language.
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Diplomat
Diplomats represent their country's government abroad and in the foreign ministry at home.
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Journalist
Journalists find, check and report news and stories for newspapers, websites, television, radio, podcasts and social media.
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Hotel manager
Hotel managers run hotels, resorts and other accommodation, making sure guests are satisfied, staff are well led and the business makes a profit.
Other roles graduates go into: Interpreter · Localisation specialist · Subtitler · International sales executive · Export coordinator · Immigration officer
What you study and the skills you gain
Typical topics
- Advanced grammar, writing and speaking in your chosen languages
- Translation between languages
- Linguistics and how languages work
- Literature, film and culture
- History and politics of the regions where the languages are spoken
- Interpreting and intercultural communication
- A period of study or work abroad, in many programmes
Skills you gain
- Speaking and writing fluently in more than one language
- Translating meaning accurately, not just words
- Understanding and adapting to different cultures
- Writing clear, well-argued essays and reports
- Presenting and speaking in public
- Independence and confidence from living or studying abroad
How the degree differs around the world
In the UK, a modern languages degree usually takes four years, including a year of study or work abroad. In much of Europe, bachelor's degrees in languages, sometimes called philology, take three to four years, and professional translation and interpreting are often studied at master's level. In the United States, you usually major in a language within a four-year degree, and in China, Japan and South Korea foreign language degrees also typically last four years. Some programmes accept complete beginners in a new language, while others expect you to speak it well already.
How do modern languages graduates do?
Earnings and employment by country
The OECD compares graduates by field of study. This subject falls under “Arts and humanities”. The first column compares the median earnings of tertiary-educated adults in this field with all tertiary-educated adults (100 = average).
| Country | Earnings index (all graduates = 100) | Employment rate, this field | Employment rate, all graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | 95 (2023) | 92.8% (2024) | 91.5% |
| Luxembourg | 93 (2023) | 84.8% (2024) | 85.7% |
| Slovenia | 92 (2020) | 96.1% (2024) | 90.8% |
| Mexico | 90 (2023) | 81.1% (2024) | 81.5% |
| United States | 88 (2023) | 81.7% (2017) | 84.3% |
| Finland | 86 (2022) | 84.7% (2024) | 88.8% |
| Denmark | 86 (2023) | 78.8% (2021) | 87.8% |
| Australia | 85 (2020) | 86.9% (2024) | 88.4% |
| South Korea | 85 (2023) | — | — |
| Austria | 84 (2023) | 85.4% (2024) | 86.4% |
| Costa Rica | 84 (2023) | 74.8% (2024) | 79.2% |
| Estonia | 83 (2023) | 91.3% (2024) | 89.2% |
| Sweden | 83 (2023) | 84.3% (2024) | 89.6% |
| Switzerland | 82 (2023) | 86.3% (2024) | 89.5% |
| Norway | 82 (2023) | 80.4% (2024) | 89.3% |
| Canada | 81 (2020) | 76.4% (2021) | 80.4% |
| Latvia | 79 (2023) | 81.4% (2024) | 87.7% |
| United Kingdom | 77 (2020) | 82.0% (2021) | 84.6% |
| Chile | 75 (2023) | 90.0% (2022) | 85.7% |
| Germany | 72 (2020) | 84.9% (2024) | 88.7% |
| Poland | — | 91.4% (2024) | 91.6% |
| Iceland | — | 90.4% (2016) | 93.6% |
| Lithuania | — | 88.5% (2024) | 90.4% |
| Slovakia | — | 87.9% (2024) | 90.5% |
| Belgium | — | 86.6% (2024) | 88.5% |
| Netherlands | — | 86.4% (2024) | 90.6% |
| Portugal | — | 85.6% (2024) | 90.7% |
| Croatia | — | 85.1% (2024) | 89.7% |
| France | — | 83.2% (2024) | 87.3% |
| Greece | — | 80.5% (2024) | 82.3% |
| Peru | — | 80.1% (2024) | 81.7% |
| Czechia | — | 78.9% (2024) | 88.4% |
| Italy | — | 78.3% (2024) | 84.7% |
| Spain | — | 77.3% (2024) | 83.9% |
| Ireland | — | 72.1% (2021) | 86.9% |
| Hungary | — | 71.4% (2024) | 76.2% |
| Türkiye | — | 66.5% (2016) | 72.9% |
Source: OECD, Education at a Glance. Adults aged 25–64 with tertiary education; latest year available, full-time earners where published. Values are for the whole field of study, not this subject alone.
Is a modern languages degree right for you?
It may suit you if
- You enjoy learning languages and are willing to practise every day.
- You are curious about other cultures, their history and the way people live.
- You would like to live, study or work in another country.
Think twice if
- You want a direct route into one specific profession, as many graduates need to add other skills or training.
- You feel very uncomfortable speaking in front of others or making mistakes in public.
- You are not interested in literature or culture, which are a large part of many programmes.
Further study
Many graduates go straight into work. A master's degree in translation, interpreting or linguistics is common for people who want to become professional translators or conference interpreters. Teaching in schools usually requires a teaching qualification, which in many countries is a postgraduate course. Others take master's degrees in international relations, business or law, or a PhD for research and university teaching.
Questions about studying modern languages
What jobs can you get with a modern languages degree?
Common jobs include translator, interpreter, language teacher, diplomat and journalist. Graduates also work in tourism and hotel management, international sales and marketing, logistics, publishing and international organisations. In many of these jobs, languages are one strong skill among others, so work experience and knowledge of a second area, such as business or law, can help.
Do I need to speak a language already to study it at university?
Not always. Many universities offer beginner routes, especially in languages that are less often taught at school, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese or Russian. For widely taught languages, programmes usually expect you to have studied the language before. Check the entry requirements for each language and university carefully.
Will machine translation replace language graduates?
Machine translation and AI tools are changing how translators work, and more routine translation is becoming automated. However, people are still needed to check quality, handle sensitive or creative texts, interpret in live situations and build relationships across cultures. Language graduates who also understand technology, a specialist subject or a particular market are in the strongest position.
Is a year abroad part of a languages degree?
In many countries, including the UK and much of Europe, a period abroad is a normal part of a languages degree. You might study at a partner university, work as a language assistant in a school or do an internship. In Europe, exchange programmes such as Erasmus+ support this. Programmes elsewhere may offer shorter exchanges instead.
Related subjects
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English literature
An English literature degree teaches you to read, analyse and write about novels, poetry, plays and other texts written in English, from medieval writing to the present day.
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International relations
An international relations degree studies how countries, international organisations, businesses and other groups interact across borders.
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History
A history degree studies how societies, cultures, economies and ideas have changed over time, using evidence such as documents, objects and people's memories.
Sources
- OECD — Education at a Glance, labour-market outcomes — Earnings and employment by field of study, adults 25–64
- UNESCO — ISCED-F 2013 — ISCED-F 0231
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). What can you do with a modern languages degree? Jobs and salaries. https://coursetojob.com/subjects/modern-languages/ (accessed September 26, 2026)