This course offers an introduction to the academic discipline of Translation Studies, broadening the students’ understanding of diverse approaches to translation theory and practice. The course also helps students acquire competence in translation practice, apply analytical thinking and come into contact with elements of the translation profession, such as terminology, CAT tools and working as a freelance translator.

Student Experience

“Doing the Translation Studies MA at Bangor has been a massively rewarding experience: the course is broad but thorough, with a good balance of theory and practice; the department is small and friendly; tutors are accessible and supportive. Thanks to their encouragement I have entered competitions, met leading translation scholars and been awarded a PhD studentship, also at Bangor. I can’t wait to take my studies further in September.

What will you study on this course?

Core modules in Semester 1 introduce the theoretical and methodological underpinnings for research in Translation Studies. Modules in Semester 2 provide students with an opportunity to investigate various aspects of the translation profession and work on an extensive practical translation portfolio on the languages of their expertise. The dissertation project consolidates students’ learning either through research or translation practice. The School of Modern Languages can offer supervision in a variety of areas and languages, including: Welsh, Spanish, Catalan, Chinese, English, French, Galician, German, and Italian.

Semester 1:

• Research Methods (30 credits)
• Translation Studies: The Making of a Discipline (30 credits)

Semester 2:

Content modules (students choose ONE of the two modules)

• Translation in Practice (30 credits)
• Transcreative Writing (30 credits)

Practice Module

• Working on a Translation Portfolio (30 credits) [languages covered: Welsh, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Galician, Catalan, Modern Greek, Chinese and Arabic] (30 credits)

Summer:

Dissertation (60 credits; topic relevant to chosen language specialism OR comparative). The dissertation may be a theoretical and research-based approach to any aspect of Translation Studies, or a proposed extended translation plus a critical commentary. The chosen text cannot have already exists in translation into the relevant language.

Assessment

Coursework includes short exercises on Research Methods, critical essays and reflective translation exercises. Your Research Project will be a 20,000-word dissertation, either on a critical aspect of Translation Studies or on a practice-led translation project accompanied by an analytical commentary.

Modules for the current academic year

Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Translation Studies Modules  page.

Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.

You will be prepared for a range of careers as translators within public organisations, such as the European Commission, as well as in private commercial companies and translation agencies. You may also consider careers in other areas that require advanced language and communication skills such as marketing, public relations, technical writing or language teaching. If you wish to further your study subsequently, there is an opportunity to continue in Bangor with either a practice-led or a research-based doctorate in Translation Studies.

Bilingualism is the study of the way speakers of two (or more) languages acquire and use their languages and how these languages are represented in the mind. Our courses provide the necessary theoretical, analytical and methodological tools and skills to undertake advanced research in a specialist field.