PMTRANSM - MA Translation

The MA Translation is a programme designed specifically for commencing or advancing a career in translation in such specialist fields as advertising, business, IT, law, medicine & politics. It successfully attracts students from around the world and is open to suitably qualified graduates, and to translators who are seeking an academic and professional qualification in translation to enhance their career development. The course aims to equip future translators with the necessary knowledge, competencies and skills that prepare them for their future profession and to that end, delivers teaching in three complementary strands: theoretical knowledge and specialised translation knowledge, practical skills and translation competence and the translator’s professional environment.

Digital learning is a large part of the course strategy and its delivery: In addition to the use of Weblearn, the University’s Virtual Learning Environment, teaching is also delivered through the use of translation technology, digital translation tools and software (terminology management tools, website translation tools, multi media and audiovisual software). Computers and translation software are easily accessible in IT labs and the newly built postgraduate suite and are equipped to work with the languages offered on the course. Many of the essential course textbooks and translation journals are available as e-books and therefore easily accessible.

Main educational aims :

• To provide students with an opportunity to study, at postgraduate level, practical and theoretical aspects of translation, culture and specialised fields within particular geographical and temporal boundaries;
• To provide an understanding of the development of translation theory, translation practice, and of the cultural contexts in which they are evolving,
• To give students the opportunity to examine critically key methodological issues in their discipline, though specific perspectives and/or interdisciplinary work in theory;
• To provide a variety of perspectives from which students can widen their critical understanding of currently dominant assumptions and their knowledge of the market which they are preparing to enter;
• To extend access to our course to a wide group, particularly in relation to international students, offering a choice of face-to-face and/or partial distance learning tuition;
• To harmonise with and contribute to the University ethos and perspectives, which encourages the development of an international dimension, encourages the development of learning technologies, and is receptive to students’ needs and interests;
• To provide tuition and training which will allow students to compete as translators/communicators in today’s commercial and industrial world;
• To promote methods of teaching, learning and assessment which provide students with the opportunity to develop self-confidence and the ability to work both independently and co-operatively with others

Course learning outcomes.

Knowledge & Understanding

Students taking this course will be able to:

• achieve a deep understanding of the translation methods available for the translation of specialised texts and evaluate critically the impact of such methods on the translated text as a whole;
• acquire substantial and discerning knowledge of translation techniques for solving fundamental translation difficulties in and emerging from LSP texts and an understanding of possible solutions for language barriers that impede cross-cultural LSP communication;
• develop a command of a number of terminology techniques for effectively assigning terms to scientific/specialised concepts and recording these and critically evaluate how to implement them appropriately;reflect critically upon cultural difference between languages and countries and the influence of interculturality as regards the domain of specialist knowledge;
• develop an evaluative understanding of the nature of translation and its main concepts and notions and deal with the complexity of the translation process;
• acquire a deep knowledge of the skills necessary to translate LSP (language for special purposes) texts into a target language and competently consider when to use them appropriately ;
• develop a discerning knowledge of appropriate techniques for analysing specialised texts and evaluate critically their suitability to such contexts ;
• reflect upon and gain knowledge of relevant issues of translation theory, terminology and research in these fields;
• gain a wide knowledge of professional regulatory frameworks and codes of conducts for professional translators in the countries where the language pair(s) they work with is used and critically examine their context of use.

Cognitive /intellectual skills

Students taking the course will be able to:

• use language creatively, precisely for a range of purposes and audiences and reflect critically on its suitability to the context of specialised communication;
• engage with and interpret layers of meaning in general and specialised documents in particular;
• use critical reflection and judgement in the light of evidence and argument;
• organise and present ideas within the framework of a structured and reasoned argument;
• engage competently in analytical and evaluative thinking and writing;
• evaluate critically on and select appropriate working methods suited to specific situations and needs;
• deal with the complexity of transferring a written text from one language/culture to another, taking account of both form and content in its entirety, not omitting or adding anything that changes the original message;
• work autonomously and independently manifested in self-direction, self-discipline and time-management;
• critically evaluate the features that distinguish different translation fields from one another , from technical to audio-visual, and competently identify the different strategies/methods needed to approach them.

Transferable skills

This course is a vocational course. Students are required to complete a placement in a translation company or agency which will help them to find employment in their field. This MA will qualify them to become professional translators, but they will also have opportunities to be terminologists, lexicographers, technical writers, localisers, subtitling specialists, revisers, post-editors and proof-readers. The skills taught on the course also prepare students for further study in translator training and research.

Subject-specific practical skills

Students taking the course will demonstrate the following skills:

• ability to evaluate and distinguish the features that differentiate general language from language for special purposes and use such knowledge appropriately;
• ability to deal with the complexity of texts to be translated, and the field(s) from which they are taken;
• competent and appropriate use of terminology management;
• capacity to use appropriate translation methods and strategies in adequate contexts;
• analytical and problem-solving skills;
• appropriate use of translation memory, machine translation systems and other electronic tools (e.g. Subtitling or Localization) specific to research and language transfer;
• ability to mediate between languages both in general language and language for special purposes;
• ability to select, evaluate an prepare complex translation tasks to a professional standard for inclusion in a range of assignments;
• ability to work in the translation market environment in the UK or abroad, through the placement;
• ability to think, work and produce results under pressure and meet deadlines in an academic and professional context;
• professional use of IT skills such as advanced word-processing, email, databases, glossaries, term banks, on-line terminology and text resources;
• competent pre-translation research and post-editing skills;
• ability to conduct independent research at postgraduate level both in relation to dissertations and complex translation tasks.

Knowledge and understanding

Reflect critically upon cultural difference between languages and countries and the influence of interculturality as regards the domain of specialist knowledge:

LNP046C work placement LO1
LNP056C Localisation (LO2)
LNP057C Subtitling (LO4)
LNPP78C Independent Translation Project (LO2)

Develop an evaluative understanding of the nature of translation and its main concepts and notions and deal with the complexity of the translation process :

TR7085 The Translator and the Translation Process (LO1)

Acquire a deep knowledge of the skills necessary to translate LSP (language for special purposes) texts into a target language and competently consider when to use them appropriately:

TR7086 Characteristics of Specialised Texts (L01 & L02)
LNP046C work placement (LO2)
LNP056C Localisation (LO1)
LNP057C Subtitling (LO2 & LO4)
TR7087 The Translator and the Specialised Text
(L01)
TR7084 Translating for International Organisations (L01)
LNPP78C Independent Translation Project (LO1, LO2)

Develop a discerning knowledge of appropriate techniques for analysing specialised texts and evaluate critically their suitability to such contexts :

TR7086 Characteristics of Specialised Texts (L04)
TR7087 The Translator and the Specialised Text
(L02)
TR7084 Translating for International Organisations (L02)
LNPP78C Independent Translation Project (LO4)

Achieve a deep understanding of the translation methods available for the translation of specialised texts and evaluate critically the impact of such methods on the translated text as a whole :

LNP056C Localisation (LO1)
LNP057C Subtitling (LO2 & LO4)
LNPP78C Independent Translation Project (LO1, LO2)

Acquire substantial and discerning knowledge of translation techniques for solving fundamental translation difficulties in and emerging from LSP texts and an understanding of possible solutions for language barriers that impede cross-cultural LSP communication :

LNP056C Localisation (LO1)
LNP057C Subtitling (LO2 & LO4)
TR7087 The Translator and the Specialised Text
(L03)
TR7084 Translating for International Organisations (L03)
LNPP78C Independent Translation Project (LO2)
TR7086 Characteristics of Specialised Texts (L05)

Develop a command of a number of terminology techniques for effectively assigning terms to scientific/specialised concepts and recording these and critically evaluate how to implement them appropriately:

TR7086 Characteristics of Specialised Texts (L03)
LNP042C Translation Tools & the Translator (LO2)
LNPP78C Independent Translation Project (L01 , L04)
TR7087 The Translator and the Specialised Text
(L02)
TR7084 Translating for International Organisations (L02)

Reflect upon and gain knowledge of relevant issues of translation theory, terminology and research in these fields:

TR7085 The Translator and the Translation Process (LO1)
TR7086 Characteristics of Specialised Texts (L03)
LNP042C Translation Tools & the Translator (LO2)
LNP057C Subtitling (LO1 & LO2)
LNP079C Independent Research Project (LO1)
TR7087 The Translator and the Specialised Text
(L02)
TR7084 Translating for International Organisations (L02)

Gain a wide knowledge of professional regulatory frameworks and codes of conducts for professional translators in the countries where the language pair(s) they work with is used and critically examine their context of use:

LNP046C Work placement (LO1, LO3)
LNPP78C Independent Translation Project (L01, LO4)
Cognitive /intellectual skills

Use language creatively, precisely for a range of purposes and audiences and reflect critically on its suitability to the context of specialised communication :

LNP056C Localisation (LO2)
LNP057C Subtitling (LO4)
LNP7087 The translator and the Specialised Text (L01)
TR7084 Translating for International Organisations (L01)
LNPP78C Independent Translation Project (LO1)
TR7086 Characteristics of Specialised Texts (L01)

Engage with and interpret layers of meaning in general and specialised documents in particular :

TR7085 The Translator and the Translation Process (LO1)
TR7086 Characteristics of Specialised Texts ( (L01)
TR7087 The Translator and the Specialised Text
L01)
TR7084 Translating for International Organisations (L01)
LNPP78C Independent Translation Project (LO1)

Be able to use critical reflection and judgement in the light of evidence and argument:

TR7085 The Translator and the Translation Process
(LO3)
LNP042C Translation Tools & the Translator (LO3 & LO5)
LNP056C Localisation (LO1 & LO4)
LNP057C Subtitling (LO1 & LO4)
TR7087 The Translator and the Specialised Text
(LO4)
TR7084 Translating for International Organisations (L04)
LNPP78C Independent Translation Project (L03, L04)
LNP079C Independent Translation Project ( L02,L03

Organise and present ideas within the framework of a structured and reasoned argument :

TR7085 The Translator and the Translation Process
(LO4)
LNPP78C Independent Translation Project (LO3, LO4)
LNP079C Independent Translation Project ( LO2,LO3)
TR7087 The Translator and the Specialised Text
(LO4)
TR7084 Translating for International Organisations (LO4)

Engage competently in analytical and evaluative thinking and writing :

TR7085 The Translator and the Translation Process
(LO3, LO4)
LNP042C Translation Tools & the Translator (LO3 & LO5)
LNP056C Localisation (LO1 & LO4)
LNP057C Subtitling (LO1, LO2 & LO4)
TR7087 The Translator and the Specialised Text
(L04)
TR7084 Translating for International Organisations (L04)
LNPP78C Independent Translation Project (LO3, LO4)
LNP079C Independent Translation Project ( LO2,LO3)

Evaluate critically on and select appropriate working methods suited to specific situations and needs:

LNP042C Translation Tools & the Translator (LO2 & LO5)
LNP056C Localisation (LO3 & LO4)
LNP057C Subtitling (LO2, LO3 & LO4)
TR7087 The Translator and the Specialised Text
(LO3)
TR7084 Translating for International Organisations (LO3)
LNPP78C Independent Translation Project (LO1, LO2)
TR7086 Characteristics of Specialised Texts ( (LO5)

Deal with the complexity of transferring a written text from one language/culture to another, taking account of both form and content in its entirety, not omitting or adding anything that changes the original message:

LNP057C Subtitling (LO2 - not omitting is not applicable to Subtitling)
TR7087 The Translator and the Specialised Text
(L01)
TR7084 Translating for International Organisations (L01)
LNPP78C Independent Translation Project (LO1, LO2)

Work autonomously and independently manifested in self-direction, self-discipline and time-management :

TR7085 The Translator and the Translation Process
(LO4)
LNP042C Translation Tools & the Translator (LO1 & LO4)
LNP056C Localisation (LO3)
LNP057C Subtitling (LO3)
TR7087 The Translator and the Specialised Text
(LO4)
TR7084 Translating for International Organisations (L05)
LNPP78C Independent Translation Project (LO1, LO4)
LNP079C Independent Translation Project ( LO4)

Critically evaluate the features that distinguish different translation fields from one another , from technical to audio-visual, and competently identify the different strategies/methods needed to approach them :

LNP057C Subtitling (LO2, LO3 & LO5)
TR7087 The Translator and the Specialised Text
L03)
TR7084 Translating for International Organisations L03)
LNPP78C Independent Translation Project (LO1, LO4)
TR7086 Characteristics of Specialised Texts ( (LO5)

Transferrable Skills

This course is a vocational course. Students are required to complete a placement in a translation company or agency which will help them to find employment in their field. This MA will qualify them to become professional translators, but they may also become terminologists, lexicographers, technical writers, localisers, subtitling specialists, revisers, post-editors and proof-readers. The skills taught on the course may also prepare students for further study in translator training and research:

LNP042C Translation Tools & the Translator (LO4)
LNP056C Localisation (LO3 & LO4)
LNP057C Subtitling (LO3 & LO5)
TR7087 The Translator and the Specialised Text
(L04)
TR7084 Translating for International Organisations (L04)
LNPP78C Independent Translation

There are no benchmarks applicable to this course

Students will be assessed via essays, presentations, textual analysis, translation portfolios; evaluative reports; translations and commentaries; research paper and PDP logs.

The compulsory work placement offers an introduction to real-life translation situations in the setting of a TSP (translation service providers/ translation agency). The student will perform all types of (simulated) translation, terminology and project management jobs professional translators usually do, under the supervision of a professional mentor who will assign the tasks to be done.

Courses shall conform to both University Scheme and University Academic Regulations. Where a course in addition has course specific regulations, which have been formally approved by the University these should be included below.

MA Translation:
TR7085 The Translator and the Translation Process
TR7086 Characteristics of Specialised Texts
TR7042 Translation Tools and the Translator
TR7046 Work Placement
TR7087 The Translator and the Specialised Text
TR7084 (Translating for International Organisations) or TR7089 (Website and Software Localisation) or TR7057 (Subtitling )( designate module)
Dissertation modules:
TR7P78 Independent Translation Project
TR7P79 Independent Research Project

Postgraduate Diploma Translation : all modules , except the dissertation modules (TR7P78 and TR7P79)

Postgraduate Certificate Translation : any three module from the above list except for the dissertation modules (TR7P78 and TR7P79)

• Workshops preparing students for work placement
• Talks by various potential employers and Translation Service Providers
• Talks by previous students now in employment in the translation industry

• External speakers on various aspects of the profession
• Yearly student visit to the European Commission’s translation services: The Directorate General for Translation, in Brussels.

This course is an excellent preparation for career opportunities in translation agencies, EU and international institutions, multinational companies, news corporations, government bodies or work on freelance basis.

A substantial built-in part of the course is the work placement, which is an opportunity to gain hands-on professional experience with one of the many translation service providers in the UK and, whenever possible, with the UN and the EU. These placements may lead to longer-term work opportunities for our graduates.

Some of our students also go on to further advanced study (PhD).

You will be required to have

• a good first class degree in translation, interpreting, modern languages and related fields. Applications from candidates with a second class degree or from non-language-based disciplines will be considered but an entry test may be required. Applicants with substantial work experience in translation but no first degree will also be considered.
• native knowledge of mother language.
• near-native proficiency in the first foreign language
• a good command of the second foreign language (if applicable).

The following documents are also required to support the application:

• two references, one of which must be academic
• first degree certificate and mark transcript

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as:

• Academic IELTS 6.5 minimum overall and 6 minimum in all components
• TOEFL (IBT) 95 minimum overall Reading - 24 Listening - 22 Speaking - 25 Writing - 24

For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.