Bachelor's degree

In Birmingham

Price on request

Description

  • Type

    Bachelor's degree

  • Location

    Birmingham

  • Duration

    4 Years

Designed to prepare you for a successful career in translation or related professions, this course combines modules in French language, media, politics, cultural studies and linguistics, with specialist translation modules. On successful completion of this programme, students can receive accreditation from the Chartered Institute of Linguists.

Facilities

Location

Start date

Birmingham (West Midlands)
See map
Aston Triangle, B4 7ET

Start date

On request

About this course

Specific subject requirements:

GCSE: English Language grade C

A-Level French grade B or IB Diploma Higher Level 5-6 or equivalent required

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Course programme

Course outline

There is a fully integrated Year Abroad with extensive preparation and support offered by our dedicated international placements team.

Aston has a specialist Translation department and teaching is conducted by internationally renowned experts in the field. Our pioneering undergraduate Translation programme was the first dedicated Translation studies programme in England (established 1997). We have good links with translation companies and we are a member of the National Network for Translation.

Learning, teaching & assessment

You will take part in interactive seminars, presentations and group work as well as attending lectures and tutorials. There are also opportunities for individual research and guided study. We teach many of our courses in French, which means that our students are at a real advantage when it comes to gaining maximum benefit and experience from the Year Abroad.

You will be allocated a personal tutor who can provide you with help and advice.

Assessment is through a combination of written and oral exams, coursework, essays, translation tasks, presentations and an extended dissertation during your final year.

Year abroad

The Aston year abroad offers a great deal of flexibility – with the option of studying, working or undertaking a teaching assistantship - or combining several of these options!

At Aston we have a high percentage of students doing an industrial work placement in their year abroad. Recent work placements include Air France, SanofiAventis, TNS, CNG (Translation company), Sofres, Total France, Spincontrol and World Vision in Senegal. If you would like to study at an exchange university abroad we currently have links with prestigious institutions in Paris, Brussels, Ghent, Orleans and the IEP in Lille. Recent students have also undertaken Teaching Assistantships in France, Quebec and French speaking Africa.

Whichever option you choose, experienced staff in the International Placements Office will assist you in finding placements and in every aspect of preparation for the year abroad.

Professional accreditation

As the result of an excitng partnership between Aston University and the Chartered Institute of Linguists Educational Trust (IoLET) translation students at Aston are now offered the chance to gain a professional, vocational qualification to complement and strengthen their Aston academic qualification. Students can now receive a certification from the Institute and potentially also exemption from paper 1 of the Diploma in Translation examination. With this joint certification, graduates will have better chances entering a competitive job market.

Career prospects

Aston’s Modern Language courses are ranked 3rd in the UK (out of over 90 universities) for job prospects (Guardian University Guide 2009) and joint 1st for % of graduates employed.

Recent Aston graduates who have chosen to specialise in translation and related professions have found positions with companies such as Reuters, Bertelsmann (Media and Publishing), RWS Group (Translation Agency), Volkswagen and Nintendo as well as freelance work. Our Translation graduates are also successful in securing language-related jobs in European/ international business, journalism, public relations and communications. Others opt for MSc or MA programmes in Translation and Interpreting at Aston or other UK or European Universities specialising in this area.

Personal development

As well as gaining near-native fluency in French, this course helps you to develop team working skills, presentation and communication skills. Your IT skills will also benefit from use of our newly refurbished e-learning language centre.

The Year Abroad will develop your initiative, confidence and independence, as well as improving your language skills. In your final year you complete an individual research dissertation which improves your independent research skills and report writing skills.

Translation Studies: French

Price on request