Translation, Ph.D.

COURSE OVERVIEW

A PhD or MPhil in Translation enables you to pursue a substantial project led by your own passions and interests.

It represents a highly respected qualification which can present a pathway to a career in academia, or widen your scope for employment in fields such as translation, linguistics, education, government or the private sector.

The PhD takes three years full-time or six years part-time, and the MPhil takes two years full-time or four years part-time.

You submit a thesis of up to 90,000 words for PhD assessment and up to 60,000 words for MPhil assessment, demonstrating original research with a significant contribution to the subject area.

Dynamic research in our department has won attention and funding from external bodies including the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Wellcome Trust and the EU. The Language Research Centre is based here and we are pioneering a project on the visualization of translation variation.

We support the following research groups and centres, where many postgraduate research students are based:

• Centre on Digital Arts and Humanities (CODAH)
• Comparative Study of Portugal, Spain and the Americas (CEPSAM)
• Contemporary German Culture (CCGC)
• The Language Research Centre (LRC)

We invite proposals on various translation and interpreting topics but have a particular interest in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Welsh.

You will develop and hone research skills needed for high-level work in the field of modern languages, translation and interpreting, while skills and training programmes available on campus provide further support. You will have the opportunity to deliver presentations to research students and staff at departmental seminars, and at the College of Arts and Humanities Postgraduate conference.

You may also have the chance to teach undergraduate tutorials and seminars from the second year, for which you receive training and payment. Financial support is also provided (subject to approval) for attending conferences or conducting research away from Swansea.

Career Opportunities

Having a PhD demonstrates that graduates can work effectively in a team, formulate, explore and communicate complex ideas and manage advanced tasks. Jobs in academia (eg postdoctoral research, lecturing), education, government, management, the public or private sector are possible. Examples include administrators, counsellors, marketing specialists, and researchers.

The Postgraduate Research Office Skills Development Team offer support and a training framework for example in creating a researcher profile based upon publications and setting up your own business. The Swansea Employability Academy assists students in future career opportunities, improving CVs, job applications and interview skills.