Chapter 2 Literature Review
2.5 Translation programmes
2.5.1 Translation programmes in the UK
According to the ATA website, there are 28 UK universities on their approved list on the ATA website by the time of my survey. Most of them also are cited in the website of lexicool.com. Based on these, I searched for basic information about the courses in 30 UK universities which run 82 different MA or postgraduate translation courses. They are tabulated in Table 2.1.
Table 2.1: UK MA or postgraduate translation programmes No Name of
university
Subject Major feature
1 Aston University MA in Translation Studies in a European Context (member of the EMT Network)
Develops translation expertise within an understanding of European integration
MA in Translation studies Study the social role and function of translation for intercultural communication, representation and perception
MA in TESOL & Translation Studies TESOL, translation theory and practice 2 University of Bath MA in Interpreting & Translating Prepare linguists for careers as professional
interpreters and translators MA in Translation & Professional
Language Skills
Training linguists for specialized language settings, translation
3 University of Birmingham
MA in Translation Studies Training professional translators
MA Translation Studies Open Distance Learning
59 4 University of Bristol MA/Diploma in Translation (e-
learning programme)
Facilitate translation practice in distance learning technology
5 Durham University MA in Translation Studies (member of the EMT Network)
Prepare candidates to work as translators
6 University of East Anglia
MA in Applied Translation Studies Focus on non-literary translation; train in- house professional translator or work as freelance translators
PhD in Translation Doctoral study
MA in Literary Translation provide an academic qualification for professional translators and a good basis for further research.
7 Heriot Watt University
Translating And Conference Interpreting MSc/Dip/Cert Arabic-English Translating & Conference Interpreting MSc/Dip/Cert.
Chinese-English Translating & Conference Interpreting MSc/Dip/Cert Translation & Computer-Assisted Translation Tools MSc/Dip/Cert
Translation and MT
Arabic-English Translation & Computer-Assisted Translation Tools MSc/Dip/Cert
Translation, computer
Chinese-English Translation & Computer-Assisted Translation Tools MSc/Dip/Cert
8 University of Edinburgh*
MSc/Dip in Literary Translation as Creative Practice
Literary translation and writing
9 University of Essex MA in Translation & Comparative Literature
Translation and literature
MA Translation, Interpreting & Subtitling
Written translation, oral interpreting and film, video subtitle
MA Chinese-English Translation & Interpreting
MA Translation
10 University of Hull MA in Translation Studies MA in TESOL with Translation Studies (general translation theory & practice, here referring to cultural studies)
Language teaching, translation theory and practice
MA in Translation Studies with TESOL
11 University of Leeds MA in Applied Translation Studies Translation and project management skills; a route to doctoral research into translation studies, esp. machine translation MA in Conference Interpreting & Training translators and interpreters for
60 Translation Studies different language pairs
MA in Translation Studies & Interpreting
MA in Audiovisual Translation Studies
audiovisual media, subtitling for the deaf, theatre captioning
MA in Interpreting: British Sign Language-English
PG Diploma Conference Interpreting Training interpreter PG Diploma Applied Translation
Studies
translation
12 Leeds Metropolitan University
Vocational Diploma in Interpreting
13 University of Leicester
MA in Translation Studies prepare students for the translation
professions and for advanced professional or academic research
14 Chartered Institute of Linguists
Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (DPSI)
Language skills required for interpreters in the UK Public Service context.
15 City University (London)
Audiovisual Translation MA/Diploma Media like telephone or interview translation
Legal Translation Diploma/MA Document translation in legal contexts Institute of Linguists Educational
Trust Diploma in Translation
Postgraduate Certificate in Translation Skills (PGCTS)
16 Imperial College London*
MSc in Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation with Translation Technology (member of the EMT Network)
Grant MSc degree Translation and technology
PhD in Translation Studies Doctoral study 17 London Metropolitan
University
MA Applied Translation
Studies(member of the EMT Network) Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, MA Interpreting
18 Middlesex University (London)
MA Theory and Practice of Translation
19 Roehampton University
MA/PGDip Audiovisual Translation (member of the EMT Network)
Media and translation
20 University College London
MA Translation Theory & Practice
PhD/MPhil in Translation Studies Doctoral study MA in Conference Interpreting
21 University of MA in Translating & Interpreting Prepare for entering interpreting and translating, especially in marketable fields
61
Newcastle such as technology, commerce, international
relations and journalism. MA in Professional Translating for
European Languages
Translation relates to European contexts
22 University of Portsmouth
MA/PgD Translation Studies (member of the EMT Network)
MA Translation Studies (Distance Learning) (member of the EMT Network)
Online study
MA Translation & Technical Communication
Translation, technology and communication
23 University of Salford MA/PgDip in Translating (member of the EMT Network)
Translator training
MA/PgDip in Interpreting & Translating
Training interpreters
MA/PgDip in Arabic/English Translation with Interpreting
Pair language for Arabic-English
MA/PgDip in Chinese/English Translation with Interpreting
Pair language for Chinese-English
MA/PgDip Translating for International Business
Business
24 University of Sheffield
MA in Translation Studies Theory and practice
MA in Screen Translation Media 25 University of Surrey MA in Translation (member of the
EMT Network)
MA in Audiovisual Translation Translation and media MA in Business Translation with
Interpreting
Business
PG Cert/PG Dip/MA in Public Service Interpreting
DPSI training
PG Diploma / MA in Translation Studies
Translation and theory
PG Dip/MA in Translation Studies with Intercultural Communication
Translation and communication
MA in Monolingual Subtitling & Audio-description
Subtitling and Audio trans. And inter. training
MA Business Interpreting in Chinese and English
Specialized in Chinese contexts
26 Swansea University MA in Translation with Language Technology (member of the EMT Network)
Translation and language engineering
Two-year European Master's in Translation with Language Technology (member of the EMT
62 Network)
MA in Literary Translation Translation and literature Postgraduate Certificate in Translation
Technology
MT and TM
PhD in Translation Doctoral study 27 University of
Warwick
MA in Translation & Transcultural Studies
Translation and culture
MA/Diploma in Translation, Writing & Cultural Difference
Translation, writing and culture
28 University of Westminster
MA in Bilingual Translation (member of the EMT Network)
Train translators and interpreters
MA in Technical and Specialised Translation (member of the EMT Network)
Technology and translation
MA in Interpreting Training interpreters MA in Translation & Interpreting
MA in Translation & Linguistics (member of the EMT Network)
Translation and linguistics
MA in International Liaison & Communication
Translation and communication
29 University of Manchester
MA in Conference Interpreting MA in Intercultural Communication MA in Translation & Interpreting Studies
MPhil in Translation & Intercultural Studies
PhD in Interpreting Studies PhD in Translation & Intercultural Studies
Provide for translator education and training and research
30 Universities of Manchester,
Edinburgh, University College London
The Translation Research Summer School
Short translation sessions for research purpose and meeting scholars from different places
Evidently in Table 2.1 MA postgraduate translation programmes in the UK universities offer a variety of size, scope and emphasis. Many programmes present different features in order to be distinct though I could not provide details for each. Among them, ten universities run MA programmes in Translation Studies. Eight universities mix Translation Studies with other areas like TESOL, Intercultural Communication and Audiovisual Translation. Seventeen universities focus on practical and professional translator training. Three universities manage an MA in
63
Applied Translation Studies. Fifteen universities manage Translation and Interpreting Studies with interdisciplinary specialist subjects such as comparative literature, linguistics, writing, law, business, and scientific, technical and medical
domains. Six universities develop their programmes in Audiovisual Translation and Interpreting. Some universities open translation and interpreting specialized in the use of computer and other kinds of technical software. Examples can be seen in the MSc in Translation And Computer-Assisted Translation Tools at Heriot Watt University, the MA in Translation and Technical Communication at University of Portsmouth and MA in Translation with Language Technology at Swansea University. Five institutions offer translation research programmes such as doctoral studies in Translation Studies: Imperial College London and University of Manchester, MPhil /PhD in Translation Studies at University College London and PhD studies in Translation at Swansea University and at University of East Anglia. The University of Manchester also offers MPhil/PhD in Translation and Intercultural Studies and a PhD in Interpreting Studies. While many programmes focus on a range of specific languages, or engage in Translation Studies
predominantly illustrated through specific case languages, some programme titles show particular language specification in relation to English: thus four programmes deal with Chinese-English, three with Arabic-English, one with British sign language, two with European languages with a further 8 linked to the EMT network which implies they tackle a range of European languages.
British higher education allows institutions relative independence in what programmes are offered and, according to the university strategy, perceived market and employment needs nationally and internationally, each may decide the focus of
64 a particular programme. Programme planning or designs in the UK institutions are audited by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), which I will discuss further in the complementary data in Chapter 7.
Viewing those programmes tabulated above, I find that most are located in departments or schools of modern languages and linguistics, or in language centres. However, most have their own academic and administrative team: they are relatively independent of foreign language teaching and cultural studies. Usually the postgraduate translation programme is a taught course of one-year’s full-time or two-year’s part-time study. The teaching style comprises a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials. The programme of each university is based on its own chosen features and strengths. Curriculum design is varied and depends on individual objectives and assessments, as approved by relevant university committees. The assessment system varies according to the institution, but tends to reflect its quality control of teaching and learning. The applicants should have a good degree and excellent command of one or two foreign languages. International students should have a certificate of English language such as IELTS 6.5 minimum or TOEFL 600 (Paper Based) or TOEFL 250 (Computer Based Test). More details of teaching method and assessment courses will be explored in chapter 6.