Overview

This course places considerable emphasis on computer-assisted translation and project management, giving you valuable experience of the localisation, project and terminology management tools that are used in professional practice. You'll also work with students specialising in a wide range of languages to carry out multilingual translation projects.

Provided you pass our entry translation test(s), you can specialise in translation between English and up to three languages, as follows: from Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish into English, and from English into Arabic, Chinese and Japanese. In addition, you will be able to choose from optional modules informed by the research of our experts on topics such as audiovisual translation, machine translation, and genre analysis.

You will be taught by both leading Centre for Translation Studies researchers and contracted practitioners who will equip you with a good knowledge base and practical skills to launch an exciting career in the language services industry.

Specialist facilities

We have excellent facilities and resources to support your studies. Our Electronic Resources and Information Centres (ERIC and ERIN) support all of our translation programmes, complete with 59 high-spec PCs and a wide range of specialist software for translation and subtitling.

The Centre for Translation Studies is also constantly compiling and updating very large corpora of texts in digital form so you can analyse source texts and produce more idiomatic translations. Moreover, you can also see our interpreting students at work in our state-of-the-art conference suites.

Learning and teaching

We use different teaching methods to help you develop a range of practical skills, as well as a sound theoretical knowledge base. These include lectures and seminars, interactive online resources, and practical classes where you'll make the most of our facilities.

In addition, the Centre for Translation Studies runs a regular programme of Research and Professionalisation Talks with visiting speakers coming from the industry and sharing their experience as practicing translators, interpreters, subtitles or project managers.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed using a wide range of methods. Translation tests are an important element, as are essays and individual and team projects. You’ll also be assessed on your individual summer project, which can be either two long translation pieces or one short research project.

Career opportunities

A postgraduate qualification in Applied Translation Studies equips you with valuable skills that are increasingly important in a globalised world. You'll also develop advanced IT, research, analysis and communication skills that are very attractive to employers across different industries.

Many of our students go straight into practice with their project management or translation skills, whether they work in large organisations, small or medium-sized language service providers, or as freelance translators. Others pursue related careers in language services. Our graduates work in organisations such as the UN and affiliated organisations, the European Parliament and the European Commission, commercial enterprises and NGOs.