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The Graduate Project

In partnership with the British Academy and University Council of Modern Languages (UCML) we gathered short reports from graduates on the importance that the year abroad has had for them, in terms of their skill set, their careers and their lives. These reports formed the basis of the Position Statement: Valuing the Year Abroad. Browse the reports below for inspiration, and select a tag within a report to read more on that theme.

Jonathan studied abroad in Pisa and now works for an online media company in Berlin

Jonathan studied Italian and French at Leeds University and spent his year abroad studying in Pisa. He graduated in 2011 and is now working for an online media...

by Global Graduates

 
 
Paris

Eleanor is now a PA in a Paris law firm

by Global Graduates
 
Paris

Emma now works for the charity English PEN

by Global Graduates
 
Language Assistant

Belinda was a Language Assistant in Bad Bergzabern and is now a translator for a French pharmaceutical company

by Global Graduates
 
Paris

Katie now works for a property management company in California

by Global Graduates
 
Brussels

Nathalie worked abroad in Brussels and is now a European Renewable Energy Researcher

by Global Graduates
 
Vienna

Kirstie studied abroad in Vienna and Geneva and in now a translator for Siemens

by Global Graduates
 
Kirstie studied abroad in Vienna and Geneva and in now a translator for Siemens
 
Jessica studied abroad in Alicante and is now a model and actress
 
Katie now works for a property management company in California
 
Katherine studied abroad in Heidelberg and is now a Senior Recruitment Consultant
 
Mary is a Lawyer-Linguist at the Court of Justice of the EU Communities in Luxembourg
 
Jonathan studied abroad in Pisa and now works for an online media company in Berlin
 
Emma now works for the charity English PEN
 
Eleanor is now a PA in a Paris law firm
 
Nathalie worked abroad in Brussels and is now a European Renewable Energy Researcher
 
Caroline was a Language Assistant in Murcia, and is now a brand manager at Boots

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The Best of the Rest

 
Vienna

Kirstie studied abroad in Vienna and Geneva and in now a translator for Siemens

by Global Graduates
 
Heidelberg

Katherine studied abroad in Heidelberg and is now a Senior Recruitment Consultant

by Global Graduates
 
Translation

Mary is a Lawyer-Linguist at the Court of Justice of the EU Communities in Luxembourg

by Global Graduates
 
Translation

Jessica studied abroad in Alicante and is now a model and actress

by Global Graduates
 
2010

Eve worked and studied abroad in Parma and is now in the civil service

by Global Graduates
 
Marseille

Philip was a Language Assistant in Marseille and is now working for the UN in Geneva.

by Global Graduates
 
Chile

Joanna worked abroad in Chile and is now a Market Researcher

by Global Graduates
 
Tours

Natasha studied abroad in Tours and is now a web developer for ITV.com

by Global Graduates
 
Language Assistant

Charlemagne was a Language Assistant in Chemnitz and is now a graphic designer there

by Global Graduates
 
Language Assistant

Becky was a Language Assistant in Chemnitz and is now an adviser at the Citizens' Advice Bureau

by Global Graduates
 
Salamanca

Robert studied abroad in Freiburg and Salamanca and is now a pilot for an airline in Hong Kong

by Global Graduates
 
Language Assistant

Sam was a Language Assistant in Germany and is now a software developer

by Global Graduates
 
Language Assistant

Kate is now a French Broadcast Journalist

by Global Graduates
 
Lyon

Julia studied abroad in Lyon and is now a freelance dance artist and entrepreneur

by Global Graduates
 
Paris

Anthony is now working at Disneyland Paris

by Global Graduates
 
Hamburg

Hannah was a Language Assistant in Hamburg and is now Corporate Projects Manager for Holidaybreak

by Global Graduates
 
2003

Aimee studied abroad in Aix and Logrono and is now a Construction Planner in Brazil

by Global Graduates
 
2011

Thomas studied abroad in Darmstadt and now works for the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin

by Global Graduates
 
Language Assistant

Jill was a Language Assistant in Stuttgart and now has a German-speaking role at P&G

by Global Graduates
 
Grenoble

Ilze studied in Grenoble on her year abroad and is now a social policy consultant for UNICEF in Florence

by Global Graduates
 
Heidelberg

Zoe studied abroad in Heidelberg and is now an International Manager at a leading international bank

by Global Graduates
 
Bordeaux

Peter worked abroad in Ecuador and Bordeaux and is now an Officer on operations in Afghanistan

by Global Graduates
 
Munich

Richard was a Language Assistant in Munich and is now an EU official at the European Commission

by Global Graduates
 
Paris

Richard is now an International Development Manager

by Global Graduates
 
Brussels

Polly studied abroad in Ferrara and is now an entrepreneur

by Global Graduates
 
Language Assistant

Joanna was a Language Assistant in Bonn and is now works for Germany's international broadcaster

by Global Graduates
 
Mainz

Kevin was a mature Erasmus student in Mainz and is now a translator

by Global Graduates
 
Dresden

Gemma studied abroad in St. Petersburg and Volgograd and is now a German-speaking cabin crew member

by Global Graduates
 
Language Assistant

John was a Language Assistant in Bavaria and is now a teacher

by Global Graduates
 
Hamburg

Clare was a Language Assistant in Hamburg and a radio intern in Nantes and is now a teacher

by Global Graduates
 
Lyon

Tilly taught adults English in Lyon and now works in subtitling and dubbing

by Global Graduates
 
Paris

Kate-Marie worked in Paris and is now an English teacher

by Global Graduates
 
Brazil

Selina studied abroad in Brazil and Mainz and now works in international aid

by Global Graduates
 
Rome

Aline interned in Strasbourg, Turin and Rome and now works as a researcher at the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial

by Global Graduates
 
Language Assistant

Lisa now works as a French-speaking UK Police Officer

by Global Graduates
 
Russia

Paul studied in Yaroslavl and Tver and is now a senior bookseller at Waterstones

by Global Graduates
 
Living and working in Germany

Laura interned in Berlin and now works in NHS Management

by Global Graduates
 
Madrid

John was a Language Assistant in Madrid and is now an interpreter for the Armed Forces

by Global Graduates
 
Language Assistant

Kim was a Language Assistant in Perpignan and now works for a Luxury Yacht Management Company in Monaco

by Global Graduates
 
Language Assistant

Karen was a Language Assistant in Vichy and is now a Police Officer

by Global Graduates
 
Russia

Kimberley worked in Krasnodar and Kazakhstan and is now a trainee solicitor

by Global Graduates
 
Paris

Ella studied in Bologna and interned in Paris and is now a wine journalist and consultant

by Global Graduates
 
2007

Sophie was a Language Assistant in Manosque and is now a journalist and sub-editor at the Sunday Times

by Global Graduates
 
Granada

Jodianne studied abroad in Lyon and Granada and now works as an interpreter for Miss World 2011

by Global Graduates
 
Buenos Aires

Tanya studied abroad in Buenos Aires and is now on a fellowship at Harvard

by Global Graduates
 
Paris

Joanna worked abroad in Paris and is now job-hunting with an impressive CV

by Global Graduates
 
Bologna

Graduate who studied in Bologna and now works for the Financial Times

by Global Graduates
 
Valencia

John now works for the European Commission in the UK

by Global Graduates
 
Florence

Emily studied and worked in Nice and Florence and is now a dietitian

by Global Graduates
 
Paris

Rebecca is now a Masters student at Oxford

by Global Graduates
 
Granada

David studied abroad in Granada and Aix-en-Provence and is now an international Sales Manager

by Global Graduates
 
Montpellier

Harriet studied abroad in Montpellier and now works in PR

by Global Graduates
 
Bordeaux

Oliver was a Language Assistant in Extremadura and is now an International Management Consultant

by Global Graduates
 
Madrid

Eleanor interned in a Madrid law firm and is now a barrister

by Global Graduates
 
Mainz

Andrew studied abroad in Mainz and is now Director of the Prison Radio Association

by Global Graduates
 
Mexico

Helen is now a journalist for BBC Sport

by Global Graduates
 
Paris

Jennifer is now a bilingual producer at the BBC World Service

by Global Graduates
 
Language Assistant

Andy was a Language Assistant in France and Germany and is now an Assistant Headteacher

by Global Graduates
 
Madrid

Stephen studied and worked in Madrid and is now a PhD student

by Global Graduates
 
Aston Uni

John worked in Göttingen and now runs his own English Academy in Germany

by Global Graduates
 
Valencia

Komal studied abroad in Mexico and Valencia and is now training to be a Chartered Accountant

by Global Graduates
 
2011

José studied abroad in Santiago de Compostela and is now an MA student

by Global Graduates
 
Vienna

Emma was a Language Assistant in Vienna and is now a fundraiser for an international development charity

by Global Graduates
 
St. Petersburg

Caroline studied in St. Petersburg and Pau and now works in marketing for LEGO

by Global Graduates
 
Language Assistant

Caroline was a Language Assistant in Murcia, and is now a brand manager at Boots

by Global Graduates
 
Paris

Ian was a Language Assistant in Paris and is now a property planning consultant

by Global Graduates
 
2009

Elise studied in Tübingen and now works for the ambulance service by day and is a special constable by night

by Global Graduates
 
Marseille

John worked in Marseille and is now on the Renault UK grad scheme

by Global Graduates
 
Paris

Despina was a Language Assistant in Paris and is now a teacher

by Global Graduates
 
Language Assistant

Robert now works as a German-speaking sales and marketing assistant

by Global Graduates
 
Toulouse

Emma Jane was a Language Assistant in Toulouse and is now a professeur agrégé in Nice

by Global Graduates
 
Paris

Martin was a Language Assistant and intern in Paris and is now a lecteur and freelance journalist

by Global Graduates
 
Language Assistant

Tom was a Language Assistant near Montréal and is now a Law student

by Global Graduates
 
Munich

Katie worked abroad in Munich and is now an academic editor and translator

by Global Graduates
 
Language Assistant

Michael now works in Market Research in London

by Global Graduates
 
Language Assistant

Jonathan was a Language Assistant in Bochum and now works for Virgin Media Business

by Global Graduates
 
Edinburgh Uni

Victoria studied abroad in Verona and is now a newspaper journalist

by Global Graduates
 
Language Assistant

Eleanor was a Language Assistant in Andalucia and is now a PhD student

by Global Graduates
 
Marseille

Lucy was a Language Assistant in Marseille and is now on secondment to the European Commission

by Global Graduates
 
Language Assistant

Philippa was a Language Assistant in Córdoba and is now a teacher

by Global Graduates
 
Language Assistant

Lucinda was a Language Assistant in Ruhrgebiet and is now a teacher

by Global Graduates
 
Language Assistant

Tim was a Language Assistant in Göttingen and now hosts comedy and music events in Berlin

by Global Graduates
 
Language Assistant

Candy is now a secondary school language teacher in Spain

by Global Graduates
 
Milan

Katie studied abroad in Milan and now works in publishing

by Global Graduates
 
NGO

Teresa studied abroad in West Sumatra and is now an entrepreneur

by Global Graduates
 
Seville

Laura studied in Seville and Havana and is now a teacher

by Global Graduates
 
French and Maths

Susie now works for a European Programme

by Global Graduates
 
Japan

Jennifer studied abroad in Tokyo and now teaches English there

by Global Graduates
 
Volunteer Abroad

Katharine volunteered in Lisieux and Buenos Aires and now works for an NGO

by Global Graduates
 
Frankfurt

Victoria studied abroad in Frankfurt and is now a PhD student

by Global Graduates