Careers after studying Modern Languages
You’ll find Cambridge Modern Languages alumni in every sector you can think of, from law to accountancy, journalism, finance, or management consultancy, and from the civil and diplomatic services to marketing, via, policy making, education, or translating. Degrees with languages open doors in all sectors – public, private, and charitable.
In the ever-connected modern world, the ability to speak multiple languages is more valuable than ever, especially when it comes to finding a job, career growth, and high salaries.
Our expertise in the market and our employees’ abilities to engage with clients in their native language is of critical importance
Alumni Stories
We asked our alumni to tell us what they’re doing now, and how their Modern Languages degrees helped them to get there. What they told us bears out what we hear again and again from employers: as a graduate with in Modern Languages, you will be highly sought after. Not only will you be fluent in at least one other modern language, but you will also have excellent skills in analysis and argumentation, and you’ll have demonstrated that you are adaptable and resilient by living abroad for a year. In 2025, the University of Cambridge ranked number 1 for graduate employability, so Modern Languages graduates from Cambridge are particularly well prepared for almost any workplace. Keep reading to find out more!
- Lois Turner, Future Leaders Scheme at itsu (French and German)
- Myrto Aspioti, Acquisitions editor for literary and cultural studies at De Gruyter Brill in Berlin (French and ab initio German)
- Ian Steed, consultant in the international humanitarian and development sector (German and Dutch)
- Syamala Roberts, Academic (German and French)
- Roisha Hughes, Chief Executive of John Whitgift Foundation and Trustee of the National Lottery Heritage Fund (German and French)
- Simon Pare, Freelance translator and former Fair Trade worker (German and French)
- Ysmay Gill, Private Tutor and Teacher (German and French)
- Philip Plyming, Dean of Durham Cathedral (German and Russian)
- Rhiannon Hawkins, Librarian (German and ab initio Russian)
- Cameron Holloway, Former Leader of Cambridge City Council and former prison educator (German and Russian)
- Beth Woodward, Graduate Future Leader in Wastewater Management (German and Spanish)
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Lois Turner is part of itsu's Future Leaders Scheme. She studied French and German at Cambridge.
Studying French and ab initio German (2010-2014) at Cambridge was a life-changing experience for me in every sense: at 18, I had never set foot in Germany, though I had always been interested in German films and had been reading German books in translation. In my third year at Cambridge, I studied in Berlin for a year. Fast forward several years, I now have a PhD in German Studies, call Berlin home, and work mostly in German.
After graduating from Cambridge, I went on to do an MPhil and DPhil in Modern Languages at Oxford, where I also taught undergraduate language, literature, and film courses and learned to do research in one of the most intellectually stimulating environments I could have hoped for.
After my DPhil I started working as an acquisitions editor for literary and cultural studies at De Gruyter Brill, a leading European academic publisher with a focus on the humanities and social sciences. In my day-to-day work at the press, I use so much more than my language skills: MML at Cambridge teaches you how to think critically, write clearly, and read through the noise to the best ideas out there– not to mention how to learn well and connect with people across language barriers and cultural differences.
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Ian Steed is a consultant in the international humanitarian and development sector. He studied German and Dutch at Cambridge.
My name is Syamala Roberts and I studied MML (German and French) as an undergraduate from 2012-2016. I liked it so much that I did an MPhil and PhD in the same Faculty, during which I spent some years as a visiting student in Berlin.
After my PhD, I worked for a few years as a Fellow and Director of Studies in German at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, teaching and advising students in the same course that inspired me. I now work as a post-doctoral research fellow at Oxford, researching German modernism and the connections between German-language and Indian culture in the early twentieth century.
Studying languages was a very enjoyable and stimulating experience. It gave me the opportunity to travel a lot, learn about other cultures, and make wonderful friends.
My name is Roisha Hughes and I studied modern and medieval languages (mainly German and some French) at the University of Cambridge from 1999 to 2003. Today I am Chief Executive of John Whitgift Foundation and a Trustee of the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
John Whitgift Foundation was founded in 1596 to provide education and care in Croydon, South London. Today the Foundation manages an investment and property portfolio to fund its charitable objectives, and runs independent schools and sheltered and care homes in the town.
Studying German at Cambridge was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I absolutely loved the course. I learnt so much, with world class teaching and great experiences living and working abroad.
I honed many skills through the course, but the key ones which I use in my career today are communicating, empathy, and the ability to get my arms around large volumes of information. Trying to digest Buddenbrooks in a week sets you up for life!
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Simon Pare is a freelance translator and former Fair Trade worker. He studied German and French.
My name is Ysmay Gill and I am a graduate of MML, having studied French and German from 2005-2009. I did an MPhil in History of Art straight after graduating and returned to Cambridge a year later to train as a Modern Foreign Languages teacher.
I trained to teach French and German but, despite loving teaching, did not go on to work in a secondary school. Instead, I moved to Venice and did an internship at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, working in the Education Department and learning Italian. I wanted to combine my love of languages, teaching and art, and pursued jobs which would allow that, including one at the British Institute of Florence, teaching in the English Department and on the History of Art course. The job I ended up having and keeping, after these early adventures, was as a private tutor.
My first position as a private tutor was as a home-school teacher for twins, whose family spent one term per academic year abroad. I travelled with the family to German-speaking Gstaad to teach the winter term; the arrangement was a success and the family asked me to be their year-round tutor from then on, splitting my time between London and Gstaad. I stayed with this family for four years, seeing the children through to Year 8 and enjoying unforgettable adventures alongside them, before moving on to other private-tutor positions.
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Philip Plyming is the Dean of Durham Cathedral. He studied German and Russian.
I'm Rhiannon Hawkins, and I studied German with ab initio Russian from 2009 to 2013. I’m now the Assistant Librarian here at the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics.
My job covers everything from buying and cataloguing resources to offering training on referencing, by way of library system admin and helping students at the desk. I particularly enjoy the detective work involved in tracking down obscure or rare resources — it’s always rewarding to let someone know we found the item they really need for their work.
After graduating I studied for an MA in Librarianship (which is actually required!), then worked in library acquisitions in Bristol. My languages degree has always been useful in helping me communicate with a wide range of library patrons. Studying German was key to me getting my current position as I’m responsible for the German collections, so my knowledge of the literature and culture from my studies is invaluable.
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Cameron Holloway is the former Leader of Cambridge City Council and a former prison educator. He studied German and Russian.
My name is Beth and I am a recent graduate from Cambridge. I studied German and Spanish, both post-A-Level, and I will be starting a graduate scheme with United Utilities based in Greater Manchester in September. I will spend 3 years working and gaining experience across the water and wastewater sectors as a Graduate Future Leader in Wastewater Management (operations). My Modern Languages degree has been particularly helpful in securing this role as it has given me the ability to communicate well and effectively with fellow team mates and managers. In addition, studying Modern Languages has trained me to analyse and solve problems rapidly and with precision, as well as approach any problems from multiple perspectives. Most importantly, I have become more resilient, adaptable, and flexible as a result of spending time abroad and now feel confident when facing unexpected challenges or taking on new tasks.
Tell us about your career!
If you're a Cambridge Modern Languages graduate and you'd like to share your career journey with us, we'd love to hear from you! Please contact germanoutreach@mmll.cam.ac.uk to learn more.