Principles and Practice of Translation  Postgrad Certificate

Overview

City's distance-learning Principles and Practice of Translation course prepares you for entry into the IoLET Diploma in Translation and is also a PG Certificate in its own right.

This course will provide you with a theoretical framework for translation, which will inform your translation practice. You will be working with a wide range of generalist and semi-specialist source texts from different domains.

You will identify and develop specific skills involved in the process of translating; develop research and documentation strategies; develop awareness of professional standards, norms and translational ethics in the industry, and you will be able to develop your own professional identity.

The course will also prepare you for the Chartered Institute of Linguists' Diploma in Translation examination through covering relevant domains in the practice modules.

We offer the following language combinations:

English into: Arabic, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Slovak, Spanish and Turkish.

From the following languages into English: Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

You take one language combination only and are required to translate into your mother tongue.

Course Fees:

  • Part-time EU: £2,500
  • Part-time Non EU: £3,500

Start Date:

24 September 2012

How to Apply

Entry Requirements

You should normally have a good first degree (2:1 or equivalent) in a relevant subject.

You need to demonstrate linguistic competence (in your foreign language) at a level equivalent to either a first degree in your foreign language, or IELTS 7.0 (in the reading, writing and listening components).

You also need to possess the following:

  • excellent competence, including writing skills, in the target language
  • time-management and organisational skills
  • a high degree of self-discipline and a commitment to the course
  • an ability to assess, and reflect on, your own work.

Technical requirements:

  • Reliable internet access
  • Microsoft Office Word (97-2003 or 2007).

Other Suitable Qualifications

If you do not possess the standard entry requirements, you may still  be considered if you possess extensive relevant professional experience and are able to provide evidence of knowledge and skills equivalent to a first degree.

You will be required to demonstrate graduate-level intellectual and practical skills and capabilities: the ability to find and process information, to exercise critical judgement, to analyse arguments and to question underlying assumptions and values.

All non-standard entry applicants will be interviewed, and will also need to demonstrate their academic writing skills, in English.

Visa Requirements

The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course at City, there are different rules for:

  • Students on courses of more than 6 months
  • Students on courses of less than 6 months
  • Students on a pre-sessional English Language course

For more information see our main Visa page.

When and Where

Start Date:
24 September 2012
Duration:
One year part-time by distance learning.

Course Content

The course covers theoretical principles of translation and how they relate to and inform translation practice. The course will help you develop your practical translation skills, with theoretical concepts increasingly informing translation practice as the course progresses.

You will be introduced to the translation process and its stages, source text analysis, translation method and procedures and fundamental notions in translation such as equivalence and translatability. You will gain the theoretical tools, strategies and procedures required to make translation decisions in a systematic way.

The translation practice modules focus on your practical skills and on developing them to professional standard. These modules are differentiated by emphasis on different types of source texts and with emphasis on different aspects of translation that increase in complexity as the course progresses. The practice modules cover generalist and semi-specialist domains in line with the Chartered Institute of Linguists' professional examination.

You will cover all domains included in the particular module while having the opportunity to focus on preferences.

Course Structure

Modules:

Teaching and Assessment

The course is taught entirely by distance via Moodle, an online course management system. This is used to provide you with course contents as well as with constructive individual feedback to enable you to progress and develop your skills. You will be required to undertake extensive reading and independent study with respect to theoretical aspects of translation as well as to the cultural and socio-economic and political environments of your source and target language.

You will also have:

  • online discussion with peers and/or tutors
  • written feedback on formative translation assignments
  • one-to-one telephone or email tutorials on the practice modules
  • self-assessment and self-evaluation through exercises and tutorials
  • feedback sessions via webinars/skype seminars

Assignments are assessed through coursework, including translation assignments, translation assignments with reflective commentary and text analysis.

Fees

  • Part-time EU: £2,500
  • Part-time Non EU: £3,500
Please note that, for part-time courses, the tuition fee is likely to increase by a small percentage in subsequent years.

Funding

For up-to-date information about tuition fees, living costs and financial support, visit Undergraduate Fees and Finance or Postgraduate Fees and Finance.

Career Prospects

This course leads to an academic translation qualification which is tailored to professional requirements. With experienced staff, we can offer a course both for working translators who have no formal qualification and for those who wish to embark on a career in the translation industry, working as in-house or freelance translators. At the same time, the course prepares you for a  professional body exam, the Chartered Institute of Linguists' Diploma in Translation examination.

Find out more about City University London

Application Deadline

Applications are welcome for September 2012 entry. The application deadline is 30 June 2012.

Principles and Practice of Translation PG Cert

To apply for this course, you should submit:

  • An application form (either electronically or by post)
  • Two references (one of which should be from an academic referee)
  • You may also be asked to bring sample translations to  interview

Please ensure you include a personal statement with your application. The statement needs to include your chosen language combination (source language and target language) and explain why you wish to specialise in translation.

You should give details of any experience in translation, your educational background and achievements. When discussing previous courses taken, please write the course name, name of the institution and award given in full in the source language.

Apply online now for the course starting in September 2012