Linguistics: Career areas

A degree in linguistics is useful for going directly into areas such as teaching abroad, publishing roles and government administration, such as the Civil Service. Linguistics graduates also go into roles where they can use their knowledge of linguistics directly, such as working for dictionary compilers or as proofreaders and editors.

A 2012 HESA survey of 2011 graduates indicates that six months after graduation almost 60% of all linguistics graduates were in paid employment. Almost 9% became business and financial professionals while just over 8% were working in marketing, sales and advertising. A further 7% had roles as managers in the public, commercial and industrial sectors and almost 6% worked in arts, design, culture and sports. Just over a third of linguistics graduates in employment went into clerical, retail or catering-related roles, gaining transferable skills and work experience.

Where are the jobs?

Common employers of linguistics graduates are the Civil Service, especially on the Civil Service Fast Stream scheme, and overseas language schools looking for teachers of English as a foreign language. Some entering the health sector train as speech and language therapists through an accredited two-year diploma/MSc offered by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) .

For detailed information about the range of options check out the following sectors:

• Teaching and education - looks at all areas of education in schools, higher education, further education, non-school settings and teaching abroad. Also looks at the further study opportunities.
• Media and publishing - information on working in all areas of publishing such as books, journals, dictionaries, databases, magazines and newspapers.
• Public sector - details about working in administration for local government, the Civil Service and local councils.

For further information on possibilities in other employment areas, see job sectors. 

Statistics are collected every year to show what HE students do immediately after graduation. These can be a useful guide but, in reality, because the data is collected within six months of graduation, many graduates are travelling, waiting to start a course, paying off debts, getting work experience or still deciding what they want to do. For further information about some of the areas of employment commonly entered by graduates of any degree discipline, check out What Do Graduates Do?  and your degree...what next?