Guest Post - Undergraduate Degrees in Translation

From my time spent working in the translation industry, I am well aware of the negative perceptions that exist in regard to translation degrees. They’re hugely expensive (three detailed below each add up to £27,000 over three years), and for such a massive amount of money it has been questioned just how much you get out of them. A common argument is that once you have the language skills – perhaps gained instead from the seemingly more logical route of a straight language degree – what else worthwhile is there to learn that warrants such a huge burden in terms of time and finances?

There are many who disagree with the above sentiments, however, which I’ve been made particularly aware of since taking up my new role at London Translation Agency. I have the pleasure of interacting with translators and interpreters more closely than I did at sister agency Quick Lingo, giving me the chance to hear in more detail about their experiences. A significant proportion of linguists we work with in their 20s are graduates of undergraduate translation-related degrees, some of whom I’ve had the chance to talk to about their experiences good and bad. In about half of these examples, the translators have gone on to do relevant master’s degrees and have cited their undergraduate degrees as beneficial preludes at the very least.

I have detailed five of the degrees I’ve heard first-hand and second-hand accounts about from professional linguists. All are four-year courses if you include the either highly recommended or compulsory third year working abroad in a country where a student’s language of choice is spoken.

Cardiff University – Translation BA

I’ve heard good things about the master’s degrees on offer in various elements of translation at Cardiff, but last year was the first time they taught an undergraduate course that a few associates of our translators experienced. Students are required to undertake the course in conjunction with a major language and a minor language (yes – it can be Welsh!), studying a broad overview of translation theory, principles and methods. The Politics and History modules that the course combines are apparently very interesting, if not wholly relevant to a career in translation.

Aston University – Translation Studies BSc (Hons)

Aston is another university that is without a doubt serious in dedicating energy and resources to translation and interpreting degrees. A total of six are available that enables a student to study French, German or Spanish as their main language or combine the two of them. A 90% satisfaction rate pretty much mirrors accounts I’ve heard about the courses, again offering a range of modules ranging from detailing specialised types of translation to advice on starting out in the translation industry.

University of Surrey – Translation BA (Hons)

Guildford’s close proximity to London has made these courses combining two major languages quite popular with international students. The second year does genuinely allow you to build further on language skills rather than taking the emphasis too far away from linguistics, as can be the case with some degrees. High-tech facilities available allowing students to put their studies into practice have received rave reviews, although the undisputed highlight of the course for most is the placement year that offers opportunities to work at major firms overseas including EDF and Volkswagen.

University of East Anglia – Translation and Interpreting with Double Honours Language BA (Hons)

If anything, these three courses (Japanese and French, Spanish and French, Spanish and Japanese) serve more as language degrees than translation degrees, not that that is necessarily a bad thing even for a budding translator. By the time the fourth year comes around where the proper focus on translation and interpreting really starts, students will have reached a level of proficiency in their chosen languages that makes the modules a natural progression, rather than bringing them in too early before they are at an ultra-advanced stage with their language.

University of Westminster – Translation BA (Hons)

Nothing in terms of course content makes Westminster’s three BA translation degrees stand out particularly, although having Mandarin as one of the three main language options alongside French and Spanish does make that degree one of the few undergraduate courses to specialise in such a currently in-demand language translation-wise. As with the degrees at Cardiff, part-time learning options are available.

Robert Davies is Editorial Executive at London Translation Agency.

http://www.london-translation-agency.co.uk/