Translation Studies, MSc at University of Aberdeen

Demand for professional translation and interpreting skills is at an all-time high. Equip yourself with the expert practical knowledge and advanced linguistic and cross-cultural communication skills to enter professional life as a translator or an interpreter and benefit from a rewarding and varied career choice.

We offer a broad programme that gives greater flexibility and greater choice to tailor things around your own individual linguistic skills and, just as importantly, around your career aspirations too.

Languages on offer include Arabic, French, Gaelic, German, Irish, Mandarin, Spanish and Welsh. Other languages may be offered based on demand. One of the distinguishing features is that you will have the opportunity to specialise in more than one language pairing, should you want to. This is something that could make you a more attractive candidate to a wider range of future employers. In honing your language knowledge, you will enhance your analytical skills which underpin all language work.

The year is structured around two core courses and seven option courses, together with a dissertation/translation project completed in the summer term.

Core courses are designed to help you to familiarise yourself with the techniques and strategies involved in translating different types of texts (expository, narrative, argumentative, vocative) and with different degrees of specialisation, in a range of subject matters (business, legal, medical) at a professional level, as well as an awareness of the key theories and approaches that have been developed in Translation Studies. You will also develop the ability to critique and engage with foundational theoretical texts.

Learning Methods

• INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS
• LECTURES
• RESEARCH
• SEMINARS
• TUTORIALS
• WORKSHOPS

Why Study Translation Studies?

• Develop the intellectual and practical skills needed to translate not just the language but to convey inter-cultural understanding.
• Be able to negotiate and bridge cultural difference in different contexts for a variety of clients or stakeholders.
• Acquire practical ability to translate with the help of technology, to proofread, edit and review.
• You are taught by professionals in translation and interpreting with a strong career history and global research capability in translation and interpreting.
• The language industry is one of the sectors in which high-quality jobs are being created worldwide, with attractive job opportunities for graduates with the right qualifications.
• The programme can also be used to progress an academic, research-based career and be part of a journey towards gaining a PhD.
• There is an excellent balance between theory and practice using a range of teaching methods.
• This programme has close links with professional organisations.

Careers

Given the increasing internationalisation of government, business and other employment sectors, high-level skills in different languages will be vital to have in the future.

Whether you aim to work in an international organisation or company, in publishing, as a freelance translator, or in academic research, you will find this MSc is as practical as it is academically rigorous. And with a programme like this, you will leave with a significant skills advantage across a number of potential job roles.

The Fields of science, law, industry, finance, government, education and media are all now more globally connected and interactive. We live in a digital age where communications travel at the speed of light. It’s a world where institutions, companies and individuals need to translate their communications accurately and appropriately from one language and culture to another.

It’s a world where the focused skills that we help you acquire can become highly prized. This MSc can help open up a fast-moving, highly rewarding world for you.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

• Editor
• Lecturer
• Professional Translator (Freelance, In-House)
• Project Manager
• Proofreader
• Researcher
• Teacher