Overview

Your future career starts at Melbourne

Language educators are key in our plurilingual society. You’ll graduate as a highly employable, versatile candidate for teaching jobs around the world.

*Please note: the Master of Modern Languages does not provide an initial teacher qualification to register with the Victorian Institute of Teaching as a school teacher in Australia. For information on becoming a teacher, please visit the Become a Teacher page.

Key career outcomes

1. Become a language teacher. Teach in a range of settings in Australia or overseas, face-to-face or online. Registered teachers can gain the Languages Teaching specialisation (available in the fast-track stream).
2. Benefit from practical instruction and career guidance. Build classroom-ready skills and a toolkit of resources from day one and be guided in right direction to get the career outcomes you’re seeking, with a strong employment focus throughout the course.
3. Consider research. Take the research option in second year to start building research skills and expertise, and continue on to a PhD or other graduate research.

Where can language education take you?

As well as becoming a languages educator, a Master of Modern Languages offers opportunities to pursue language-related opportunities in a range of sectors.

1. Education services such as foundation or bridging programs for international students
2. Government or NGOs in roles like curriculum design and language education
3. Publishing companies producing language teaching materials and assessments.

Accreditation

The Languages Teaching specialisation requires 22 days of supervised placement at a school or similar setting during school hours. This option is available in the fast-track program, and requires eligibility for Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) registration. Please contact the VIT to determine eligibility if you do not already hold current registration.

Industry connections

Develop strong professional and personal connections with community and industry to open doors in Australia and overseas.

• Meet experts and hear about the latest developments in the field with thought expert guest lectures and seminars.
• Build professional networks and develop connections on placement.
• Pursue the final-year research option to start building networks in your area of interest, and as a stepping stone to graduate research.

Career support

Plan and achieve your goals with our career support services. Access these services to build your confidence and improve your career readiness while studying.

Support includes:

• Personalised career consultations
• Workshops on resume writing, LinkedIn optimisation, and interview skills
• Access to an exclusive job portal connecting students to industry opportunities
• Networking events with alumni and professionals.

Find career advice

Hear from students and alumni

After finishing her undergraduate studies at the University of Melbourne, international student Jingyi studied the Master of Modern Languages Education with the dream to bring what she's learning to the Chinese educational industry. She shared, “The most valuable aspect of my program is that I will be able to apply pedagogies to my classroom instructions so that I can teach both Chinese students English and non-Chinese speakers the Chinese language.”

Read student and alumni stories

_{*QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025: Education and Training}

Further study

Make a difference through graduate research

Build on your masters qualification to pursue a graduate research degree through the Master of Education pathway. Supported by a globally connected research community, you’ll collaborate with supervisors, experts and peers who share your passion for discovery and impact.

Through regular connection with peers, researchers and our global network of industry partners, you’ll develop strong connections with community and industry that open the door to an outstanding future.

Explore graduate research at Melbourne