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Translation Studies (Distance Learning) (2 Year) at University of Portsmouth - UCAS

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2024 - 20252025 - 2026
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Course summary

Overview Whether you're a university graduate or a practising translator, you can further your knowledge and career with our flexible and industry ready MA Translation Studies degree course. Advance your practical language, translation and technology skills whilst developing your understanding of professional practises, and networking with industry experts. You'll benefit from the rich research experience and industry collaborations of teaching staff, who'll provide you with the most up to date theoretical knowledge and working practises, to best prepare you for your career in translation. This is a flexible course – you can study around your existing professional and personal commitments by choosing between full-time, part-time, campus-based or distance learning options. You can also work towards one of the following exit awards, depending on the number of credits and length of your study:

  • MA in Translation Studies (180 credits)
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Translation Studies (120) credits
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Translation Studies (60) credits
When you graduate, you'll be qualified to work as a translator in the UK or abroad, or to pursue further studies, such as a PhD. Eligibility This course accepts UK, EU, and international students. What you'll experience
  • Specialise in translation between English and your choice of nine languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian or Spanish
  • Gain free access to translation software's MemoQ and Ooona, the most widely used software tools in the profession
  • Choose to have your dissertation supervised by an industry professional, who'll act as an advisor and an insight to the industry
  • Combine the newest theories with the most current industry practices to prepare you for your career in translation
  • Benefit from the rich research experience of teaching staff and their collaborations with major translation stakeholders, including the European Language Industry Association (ELIA) and the Association of Translation Companies (ATC)
  • Network with industry professionals as part of your course, and through internship and job opportunities
"[The course has] everything an individual with a passion for languages would ever wish for - the theory behind how languages interact with each other, as well as the cultural knowledge needed to make the process of translation possible." - Gabriela Wanat, MA Translation Studies Careers and opportunities Once you complete your Translation Studies MA you'll have the rich academic knowledge and industry know-how to start or advance your career in translation. This well networked course benefits from collaborations with field experts, including the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI). These ongoing relationships help shape the content of the course and provide you with the right training for you to graduate with the skills you need to thrive within the industry. Graduates of this course have gone onto areas such as:
  • Translation project management
  • Translation
  • Freelance Translation
  • Editing
  • Copywriting
Graduates of this course have gone on to work for companies such as:
  • Association of Translation Companies (ATC)
  • Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI)
  • Parallel Translations
  • Wessex Translation
During your course you'll have expert career support from your tutors and our Careers and Employability Centre – which you can access for up to 5 years after you graduate. Course structure This Master's degree will take 2 years (part-time study) You can expect
  • Up to 3 hours of teaching time every week (lecture, seminar or workshop) for each module you study.
  • 12–15 hours of independent study each week.
In the last 3 months of the course you'll be focusing on your dissertation or major project.

Modules

Year 1 Core modules:

  • Critical Approaches to Specialised Translation (30 credits)
Optional modules:
  • Professional Portfolio (30 credits)
  • Translation Project (30 credits)
Year 2 Core modules:
  • Dissertation/Major Project – 60 credits
Optional modules:
  • Multimodal Translation (30 credits)
  • Professional Aspects of Translation (30 credits)
  • Professional Portfolio (30 credits)
  • Project Management (30 credits)
  • Translation Project (30 credits)
  • Translation Technologies (30 credits)
Visit our course page for full module details. We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies. Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Assessment method

You’ll be assessed through:

  • translations and commentaries
  • essays
  • presentations
  • projects
  • portfolios
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark. You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

Entry requirements

A minimum of a second-class honours degree in a relevant subject, or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications. Applicants whose main language is English require advanced knowledge of at least one other language (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian or Spanish). Applicants may be subject to assessment if their language competency is not evidenced by their qualifications/application.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 7.0 with no component score below 6.5.
Cambridge English AdvancedCambridge English: Advanced (CAE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 185 with no component score less than 176.
Cambridge English ProficiencyCambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 185 with no component score less than 176.
TOEFL (iBT)100 with a minimum of 24 in Reading, 23 in Listening, 25 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.
PTE AcademicAn overall score of 68 with a minimum of 61 in each skill.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

EU £5200 Year 1
England £5200 Year 1
Northern Ireland £5200 Year 1
Scotland £5200 Year 1
Wales £5200 Year 1
Channel Islands £5200 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £5200 Year 1
International £5200 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice. Fees may also go up in later years, in line with inflation.
Translation Studies (Distance Learning) (2 Year) at University of Portsmouth - UCAS