BA Translation Degree

Overview & facilities

The demand for translators has witnessed unparalleled growth over the last 10 years and, driven by globalisation, migration and political changes, the EU translation and interpreting industry is forecast to continue to grow considerably. Our BA Translation degree course is designed to meet the demand as well as competencies and skills required by the industry.

The course aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the field of translation studies, in both its theoretical and vocational aspects in order to equip you with the knowledge and practical skills necessary to be a confident translation professional. It provides research training and practice either for further study or for research in the workplace. You will study Interpreting modules, as well as modules on audiovisual and machine translation, and learn to move confidently between different types of texts, from film scripts to business reports and legal documents. In addition, you will gain experience from work placement opportunities in Year Three and benefit from state-of-the-art learning facilities, including specialist translation software.

Our BA Translation degree with Honours is open to native/near-native speakers of any language, other than or in addition to English. Some of our most popular language pairs include

         * English-Mandarin Chinese

         * English-Polish

         * English-Arabic

         * English-Russian

         * English-Greek

         * English-French

         * English-German

         * English-Italian

         * English-Spanish

         * English-Turkish

If you love languages, and wish to develop a thorough grounding in the theory and practice of translation as an academic discipline and as a profession - then Middlesex University, London is perfectly positioned to foster your talents.

Content & modules

Modules

• Year 2

  Communication Techniques (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  The module aims to develop students abilities in a range of professional communication tasks which are characterised by a high degree of rhetorical convention alongside their need for individual creativity. Practical tasks during the module include introductory speeches, announcements, interviews, business presentations, press releases and written proposals, and focus on discourse strategies rather than basic English vocabulary or structures. In order to build awareness as well as practical ability, a range of linguistic approaches are used to illuminate discourse strategies appropriate to each given idiom and situation.

  Introduction to Interpreting (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  The module offers students the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the theoretical and professional considerations of interpreting. They will learn how issues occurring during the practice of interpreting have shaped debates within Translation Studies. They will meet some of these issues during their practical work in the classroom. They will acquire practical interpreting skills, such as note-taking techniques, memory enhancing techniques and public speaking.

  Specialised Translation (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  To foster and enhance students ability to translate texts on topics relating to the food industry, the cultural industries, the travel industry, business and industry and to political and social life between English and one other language.

  Translation Principles and Strategies (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to guide students through some of the important concepts in translation studies and various types of considerations that have to be taken into account in order to produce a piece of quality translation. Studying them will help students reflect on their own reactions to being translators in the translation industry and further enhance their understanding of translation.

• Year 3

  Self Assessment year long (30 Credits) - Optional

  The module enables students to reflect on their experience abroad or in work placement and to link their reflection to translation as a discipline and profession. It also enables them to reflect on their learning process and career and personal development

  Study Abroad half year (45 Credits) - Optional

  This is the half-year version of TRA3811. This module enables students to study in a university translation school abroad, following its syllabus for half the year. This will afford them a broader view of the discipline of Translation Studies and will greatly enhance their translating and language skills. They will experience life in the country of your other language and acquire cultural understanding indispensable for a translator.

  Study Abroad year long (90 Credits) - Optional

  This module enables students to study in a university translation school abroad, following its syllabus for half the year. This will afford them a broader view of the discipline of Translation Studies and will greatly enhance their translating and language skills. They will experience life in the country of your other language and acquire cultural understanding indispensable for a translator.

  Workplace Experience half year (45 Credits) - Optional

  This is the half year version of Workplace Experience. The module enables students to spend time in a professional environment interacting with others engaged in the production of translations or in a related area. They may seek placement with a translation or interpreting service provider as a trainee translator, editor, proofreader or project manager or a combination of these. The work placement will afford students a broader view of translation than they could obtain through academic study alone, the experience of a professional working environment and the opportunity to take part in everyday life in a workplace centrally concerned with translation or interpreting. Students will become skilled at working as part of a team to deadlines and instructions.

  Workplace Experience year long (90 Credits) - Optional

  The module enables students to spend time in a professional environment interacting with others engaged in the production of translations or in a related area. They may seek placement with a translation or interpreting service provider as a trainee translator, editor, proofreader or project manager or a combination of these. The work placement will afford students a broader view of translation than they could obtain through academic study alone, the experience of a professional working environment and the opportunity to take part in everyday life in a workplace centrally concerned with translation or interpreting. Students will become skilled at working as part of a team to deadlines and instructions.

• Year 4

  Interpreting Skills and Concepts (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  The module offers students the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the theoretical and professional considerations of interpreting. They will learn how issues occurring during the practice of interpreting have shaped debates within Translation Studies. They will meet some of these issues during their practical work in the classroom. They will acquire practical interpreting skills, such as note-taking techniques, memory enhancing techniques and public speaking.

  Research in Translation and Interpreting (60 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to enhance students understanding of the main research methodologies, principles and questions current in the fields of translation and interpreting studies, and of the concepts in the philosophy of science which inform these. It aims, also, to strengthen their ability to perceive relationships between hypotheses, evidence and conclusions, and to undertake sampling. Students will be prepared to undertake a research project on a topic of your own choice selected in consultation with the module tutor and tutors . The module enables students to achieve in-depth understanding of one or a cluster of issues in translation studies and to gain first-hand experience of research. They will learn how to identify a problem in an area, and to suggest means towards its solution. They will be engaged in hypothesis formation and testing, and they will relate evidence to conclusions. Their reasoning skills, research skills and spoken and written presentation skills will be enhanced and they will feel confident in their ability to make predictions.

  Translation and Technology (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This two-part module focuses on key theoretical and practical issues related to screen translation, subtitling in particular, and on the use of different types of electronic tools in professional translation.

Entry & applying

The course is open to native speakers of any language other than, or in addition to English. Non-native speakers of English: 3 A-Level equivalent qualifications, including one A-Level equivalent in English language equivalent to grade C or above or 220 tariff points, plus IELTS 6.0. Mature students without formal qualifications please contact Christina Delistathi c.delistathi@mdx.ac.uk

Entry requirements

Apply now

Qualifications accepted

For a comprehensive list of qualifications accepted by Middlesex, see further information under entry requirements

English language requirements

You must have competence in English language and we normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification. The most common English Language requirements for international students are IELTS 6.0 (with minimum 5.5 in all four components) or TOEFL internet based 72 (with at least 17 in listening & writing, 20 in speaking and 18 in reading).

Middlesex also offers an Intensive Academic English course (Pre-Sessional) that ranges from 5-17 weeks depending on your level of English. Successful completion of this course would meet English language entry requirements. For more information on applying for the pre-sessional please email english@mdx.ac.uk.

Entry into year two or three (transfer students)

If you have achieved a qualification such as a foundation degree or HND, or have gained credit at another university, you may be able to enter a Middlesex course in year two or three. For full details of how this works see transfer students

UK/EU applicants with existing higher education qualifications

If you have already been awarded a qualification at the same level as the course you are applying for, you may not be eligible for a tuition fee loan, see fees and funding for more information.

Applying

Applications for UK and EU students should be made to UCAS – the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. The institution code for Middlesex is M80, and the code name is MIDDX. You also need the code for the course you wish to apply for – this is found in the 'at a glance' box above.

International students from outside the EU can make a direct application.  We have a network of regional offices across the world to assist you with your application.  They have worked with people from your region coming to Middlesex before and can help. Read more on international applications

Fees & funding

The tuition fee for the 2012/2013 academic year for UK/EU students is £9,000.
The tuition fee for the 2012/2013 academic year for International students is £10,400.

Click here to find out more about fees, funding and our scholarships in 2012.

Careers & placements

Placements

Work placements are proven to increase your success in the job market – as well as being a fantastic experience, so we encourage as many students as possible to grasp this opportunity. BA Translation allows you to undertake a half or full year work placement as part of your third year.  This placement will provide you with first-hand experience of working within a professional environment.  You may find a placement with organisations such as translation or interpreting service providers as a trainee translator, editor, proofreader or project manager or a combination of these. We have a Placement Office which will support you through the placement process.