Graduate Destinations
How does a degree in the Languages and Cultures of Africa help with my career?
The department of Languages and Cultures of Africa equips students with competency in language skills and intercultural awareness and understanding. Graduates leave SOAS not only with linguistic and cultural expertise but also with a portfolio of widely transferable skills which employers seek in many professional and management careers in both business and public sectors including written and oral communication skills; attention to detail; analytical and problem solving skills; and the ability to research, amass and order information from a variety of sources.
Former Languages and Cultures of Africa students have gone on to employment in a range of professional roles in business and public sectors, as well as continuing in the field of research either at SOAS or other institutions
Destinations of recent graduates from this department immediately after graduation include:
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Sweden): Intern
- Aviva: Street to School Consultant
- World Challenge: Expedition Planning Manager
- Refugee Council: Children's Advisor
- Tadworth Childrens' Trust: Pupil Development Assistant
- Shaftsbury Young People: Childcare Officer
- The Scarman Trust: Project Coordinator
- Westminster Refugee Consortium: Community Link Officer
- Norfolk County Council: Senior Teaching Assistant
- Foreign Office: Administration Assistant
- SOAS: MSc Violence, Conflict and Develoment
- Katholiere Universiteit Leuven: MA Social and Cultural Anthropology
- University of Oxford: MSc African Studies
- Imperial College of Science, Technology & Medicine: MSc Business
- National Film & Television School: Documentary Filmmaking
- Relationships Foundation: Head of Family Policy
- Tengborn Gruppen: Architect
- Global Career Company: Marketing Manager
- Department of Health: Information Advisor
- National Micro Finance Bank: Project Manager
- Price Waterhouse Coopers: Anti Money Laundering Officer
- Leketh Malako: Volunteer Coordinator
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Diplomat
- Thermo Fisher Scientific: Business Analyst
- Royal Norwegian Embassy: Trainee
- Euromonitor: Africa Research Analyst
- British Red Cross Society: Appeals Assistant
- Convention on Modern Liberty: Event Organiser
- Journeyman Pictures: Head of Research
- Build Africa: Projects Officer
- New College, University of Oxford: Salvesen Junior Fellow in African Literature
- University of the Western Cape, South Africa: Post-doctoral fellow
- SMBC-Divers Security: Stockbroker
- Harlequin Mills & Boon: Editorial Assistant
- Africa Practice: Consultant
- Futerra: Graphic Designer
- Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers: Intern
- London Metropolitan University: Senior Lecturer
- BBC: Researcher
- CMP Information: Marketing Executive
- BBC World Service: Producer
DLHE Statistics
The chart above shows that SOAS Languages and Cultures of Africa graduates are very employable. Graduate Destination Surveys from 2004-2011 show that 93% of graduates who could be surveyed are either in work, further study, work and study or volunteering.
Further information about DLHE is available on the Careers Service website.
What do Graduates do?
- SOAS Alumni Spotlight
- Prospects: What do graduates do
- What London Graduates do
- London Graduates Idea Generator
Job Profiles and Careers Information
- Occupational profiles for 600 career areas on Prospects
- Postgraduate study information and database on Prospects
- For more information about careers, visit Careers Tagged
Relevant Links
- Chatham House – One of the world’s leading think tanks analysing international issues
- GCHQ – The UK government’s intelligence and security organisation
- Interims for Development – A UK based company providing a range of Human Resources, Training, employment and capacity building services for Africa
- Africa Practice – A management consultancy with an Africa focus
- Stand Up for Africa – An African-led UK based NGO creating opportunities to help eradicate poverty across the continent
- Find a Job in Africa – Online jobs board for African countries
- Royal African Society – Jobs, events and links in Africa
- Mbendi – Global information resource for business including company listings
- Devdir - Directory of Development Organisations in Africa
- Africa Guide – Vacancy links, voluntary work and useful information about working in Africa
- Wango – List of Development organisations by country
- Relief Web – Vacancy search by country
- Idealist – Search for NGOs by country and sector
- Global Career Company – Career opportunities in Africa for internationally orientated African graduates and professionals
- Afford UK – UK charity which connects UK based African organisations with mainland African civil society organisations
- Africa Trust – Not-for-profit organisation with volunteer programmes in Africa
- African Medical and Research Foundation – Largest health development organisation in Africa
- Aventure – Gap year projects in Africa
- Standard Chartered – Commercial banking opportunities in South Africa
