Linguistics graduates are well-equipped to undertake careers ranging from marketing and publishing to speech and language therapy

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• English as a foreign language teacher
• Lexicographer
• Primary school teacher
• Publishing copy-editor/proofreader
• Speech and language therapist
• Talent agent
• Teaching assistant

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Civil Service fast streamer
• Digital copywriter
• Editorial assistant
• Information officer
• Marketing executive
• Public librarian
• Public relations officer
• Social researcher
• Translator

Work experience

Look for voluntary or work experience opportunities with organisations and businesses that you're interested in or that will help you develop the skills relevant to your career interests.

Some universities provide opportunities to take a work placement during your course, either in the UK or abroad, or to learn an additional language.

For those interested in training to become a speech and language therapist, getting some work experience is essential. Try and arrange an observation session at your local speech and language therapy service and get some experience working with children and adults with a learning disability or the elderly and disabled people.

Experience of working with children in a classroom setting is essential if you want to become a teacher.

Typical employers

Graduate jobs are typically available in areas such as communications, public relations and marketing.

A degree in linguistics is useful for teaching abroad, publishing roles and roles in government administration.

Linguistics graduates also go into jobs where they can use their knowledge of linguistics directly, such as working for dictionary compilers or as proofreaders and editors.

Others train as speech and language therapists or as teachers, or find work teaching English as a foreign or second language. There are also opportunities in computer programming and information technology.

Typical employers include:

• media organisations
• publishing companies
• marketing and PR companies
• Civil Service, especially on the Fast Stream
• law and accountancy firms
• IT and telecommunications firms
• primary and secondary schools

Skills for your CV

Studying linguistics teaches you about the science of language and how it evolves. You develop skills in transcribing and analysing language and understanding and critiquing theories and ideas. In addition, you learn how to present linguistic data in various formats.

You also develop other important skills, including:

• research skills, including knowledge of research methodology and quantitative methods
• a range of analysis and statistical analysis techniques
• the ability to accurately collect, interpret and manage data
• written and verbal communication skills
• IT skills
• critical thinking and problem solving
• the ability to work well in a team and independently
• project management skills
• self-management
• time management and organisation skills.