MA Translation Studies with Intercultural Communications

Native English speakers: A minimum of a UK 2.2 honours degree – or equivalent – in a relevant language, translation or other relevant subject. Speakers of other languages: an equivalent to a minimum of a UK 2.2 honours degree in English or another relevant subject. Non-native speakers of English without a first degree in English that has been taught and assessed in English also have to meet the English language requirements specified for this programme.

English language requirements

IELTS minimum overall: 6.5

IELTS minimum by component: Reading: 6.0
Writing: 7.0
Speaking: 6.0
Listening: 6.0

All fees are subject to increase or review for subsequent academic years. Please note that not all visa routes permit part-time study and overseas students entering the UK on a Tier 4 visa will not be permitted to study on a part-time basis.

Compulsory modules include:

• Translating Cultures
• Interpersonal Communication
• Translation Issues 1 and 2
• Dissertation

Optional modules normally include:

• Creative Writing and Professional Practice
• Intercultural Communication for Business Purposes
• Globalisation, Communication and Postmodernity
• Translation of Persuasive Texts
• Research Methods in Translation Studies
• Economics/Business Translation
• Scientific/Technical Translation
• Ab initio Language for Translation Purposes

Module Overview

Translating Cultures

This module helps you to focus on important issues of global, national, regional and gender identities, as seen through the lens of translation activity. The module will help you to scrutinise the linguistic and cultural resources employed by translators to assimilate, channel and exploit discourses and voices in their respective environments. The focus will be on such areas as literature, tourism, politics and journalism.

Interpersonal Communication

This module helps you to understand interpersonal communication in its intercultural and cross-cultural dimension. It provides you with opportunities to analyse communication in various institutional settings, as well as to use conceptual tools in order to identify and solve communication problems that may emerge in mediated and non-mediated contexts.

Translation Issues 1 and 2

These two modules provide you with a framework for understanding important aspects of the product and process of translation. They constitute a critical overview of significant developments in the area of translation studies and offer you the opportunity to use relevant conceptual tools when tackling specific translation tasks, as well as to reflect on your own translation activity. The issues that the modules elaborate are organised chronologically, along the lines of important milestones, and thematically, in terms of specific problems in translation.

Dissertation

This module allows you to specialise in an aspect of the programme which is of particular interest to you by writing a topic-based dissertation. The dissertation gives you the opportunity to explore a particular translation problem that arises in instances of intercultural mediation. If language-pair availability allows it and you have taken a practice-based module as an option, you may also write a dissertation that consists of a project with commentary.

Optional Modules

In addition to the compulsory modules, you will be able to select optional modules, depending on how you wish to customise your degree. You can further refine your understanding of intercultural communication in various settings (for example, business transactions) or explore issues of linguistic/cultural identity in the discourse of consumption, globalisation and constant (technological or other) mobility.

Alternatively, you can focus on the cultural and ideological load of translated texts in such areas as advertising. Finally, there is also the option of complementing your translation skills by learning a new language for translation purposes, or by taking up a practical translation module (subject to demand: Scientific/Technical Translation or Economics/Business Translation).

Students may join the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) or the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIoL) as student members.