Career Opportunities

The Japanese language is highly sought after by many businesses in New Zealand that have relationships with Japanese companies. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, primary and secondary schools, tourism industries, research institutes, law firms and translation firms all require university graduates who not only have both proficiency in oral and written Japanese but also an in-depth knowledge of Japanese culture. Your studies of Japanese at Otago will be sufficient to equip you for this sort of career.

Many students combine a Bachelor's degree in Japanese with another degree which increases their opportunities and options in the job market. Recent graduates have secured jobs in teaching, foreign affairs, trade, accountancy, marketing, information science, tourism, law, translation; many have gone off to Japan, some to teach English or to act as cultural advisers in the JET programme (a training scheme offered by the Japanese government to students from New Zealand). Others have pursued further studies at Japanese universities, or have secured positions with Japanese firms or research institutes.

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