Translation and Professional Language Skills

Overview

This one-year programme includes translation, editing and revision, précis writing, liaison interpreting and proofreading. The programme also covers real-world skills such as translation management and setting up in business as a translator.

Course Structure

The languages currently offered by the Department for this programme are French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish.

Core Units

All students take the following core units:

• Professional translation - both semesters (Trains students in the skills and techniques required by translators in the professional world)
• Editing and revision - both semesters (Focuses on developing students' awareness of style, register and usage, with a view to producing clear and concise English texts)
• Liaison interpreting - first semester only (Realistic, face-to-face interpreting with the emphasis on frequently encountered scenarios)

Optional Units

All the optional units are for a single semester.

• Précis writing for the UN (Semester 2)
• Proofreading - (Semester 1)
• Translation management - (Semester 1)
• Enterprise skills for linguists
• Additional translation - (Semester 2)
• Public service interpreting - (Semester 2)

Extra-Curricular Units

A variety of extra-curricular units are offered, designed to provide students with background knowledge that will underpin their language-related work. These include:

• Approaches to professional work
• Elements of English law
• Introduction to economics
• Law of the EU
• Basic international law
• The institutions of the European Union

Students who wish to proceed to the MA in Translation and Professional Language Skills must submit a 15,000 word dissertation after successful completion of the taught section of the programme.

Please note that the Optional Unit of Précis Writing is not available for German and Italian which means that those offering German or Italian only on the course (one language only) will have to take Public Service Interpreting as an optional unit in Semester 2.

Placements are normally organised during the year with the language services of international organisations, government departments or translation companies. They are not a compulsory part of the programme nor can they be guaranteed.

Dedication

1 year, full-time.