Translation with a Placement Year Abroad

Translation is a major actor on the world stage.It is also one of the most fundamental of human activities, allowing us to interact with one another within and across cultures.

On our 4-year BA Translation with a Year of Study Abroad programme you’ll develop the ability to translate and mediate between languages, cultures and communities. You’ll gain high-level language and communication skills, excellent intercultural and critical-thinking competences, as well as an in-depth understanding of the professional contexts of translation. Furthermore, you’ll foster resilience and independence through time spent in immersive foreign language contexts.

Our BA Translation with a Year of Study Abroad equips you well for a translation career and for a range of jobs where language skills are an asset. Moreover, by studying translation you’ll acquire a wealth of transferable skills and knowledge beneficial to the wider world of employment, making you competitive and attractive in an increasingly global workforce and opening the doors to a variety of other career paths.

You can choose to study translation with one or two* of the following languages:

- French

- German

- Italian

- Portuguese

- Spanish

- Japanese

- Chinese

*Please note: Chinese and Japanese cannot be combined with any other languages; they can only be studied on our single-language pathway.

We run two programme pathways. One for those with an A-level or equivalent competence in a modern language (Upper Elementary) and one for those with limited or no knowledge of a modern language (Elementary).

You’ll develop your writing, oral and listening skills through a range of learning activities and audio-visual materials. In addition, you’ll hone your linguistic and critical thinking skills by studying our bespoke translation modules, which have been developed by a team of experienced translation and language specialists with rich research expertise and a passion for languages. An integral part of this programme is the opportunity to spend time working or living abroad to experience life in the culture of the languages you are studying. You’ll have the choice of either studying at a partner university or completing a work placement in each semester.

On completion of this programme, you’ll have excellent practical translation skills and be a confident and independent user of one or 2 modern foreign languages. You’ll be able to speak and write fluently and accurately, and read, understand and analyse complex texts in those language(s) and in English with confidence.

If you choose to study the two language pathway, you cannot select two Elementary language modules. To study the 2 language pathway, you must be able to study a minimum of one of your language choices at Upper Elementary level (A Level of equivalent).

Distinctive Features of the Programme

- Vocational focus: focus on translation as professional practice combined with traditional modern language training.

- The world is your classroom: spend your third year studying or working in the countries of your chosen language(s).

- A dynamic experience: learn from native and near-native speakers, with blended learning and digital technologies embedded in teaching and learning activities.

- Extra-curricular activities: A vibrant programme supports your language learning and immersion into the culture (e.g. conversation classes with exchange students, language cafes and student language societies).

- Your future in mind: A structured skills programme which embeds academic, transferable and employability skills into learning from the very beginning.