Description
This qualification is an exciting opportunity to develop your skills as a professional translator, equipping you to work in the fast-growing translation services industry. You'll experiment with different genres through practical, inspiring translation activities, and hone your practice through peer review. You'll gain hands-on experience in using tools necessary to operate in this rapidly evolving area (e.g. audiovisual translation or cloud-based translation tools). You'll underpin your work with an understanding of translation theories and debates. The languages offered on this qualification are French, German, Italian, Spanish, Modern Standard Arabic, or Mandarin Chinese, in combination with English.
Key features of the course
- Choose to translate using either French, German, Spanish, Italian, Mandarin Chinese or Modern Standard Arabic.
- Engage in authentic translation tasks and connect with established translation communities to develop useful employability skills.
- Have the option to undertake a substantial translation or a more traditional academic dissertation.
The Open University is recognised as a Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) UK HE registered provider and is a Corporate Member of the Institute of Translation & Interpreting (ITI). We are also institutional members of the Association of Programmes in Translation and Interpreting Studies of the UK and Ireland (APTIS).
Planning your studies
1If your first language is English, and you’ve passed an OU level 3 module in your second language, your language proficiency should be suitable, as the exit level of our OU level 3 language courses is CEFR C1.
How long it takes
This qualification is designed for 20 hours per week to study part-time. It can be completed in a minimum of two years, up to a maximum of six years.
Career relevance and employability
There is an increasing global demand for translators and language specialists, and this masters degree will provide you with the knowledge and skills to embark on a career as a translator. This is an immensely rewarding profession for those with an interest in languages and communication, and encompasses a wide and growing range of areas, including audio-visual translation, advertising or website localisation, as well as semi-specialised and specialised translation.
If you wish to pursue a career as a translator, be it as an in-house or freelance translator, this masters degree will equip you with the necessary professional skills and familiarity with the professional tools needed in this fast-moving field. You will also acquire a raft of highly valued transferable communication and collaborative skills such as peer reviewing and team working, which are useful in a range of occupations in the communications sector.
If you are aiming for an academic career in higher education, this qualification will provide a route towards the higher-level research qualification (PhD or EdD), essential for such a career. A Masters degree can help to enhance your career prospects as a teacher in secondary, further and higher education.
If you already have a career in the translation field and are seeking a further qualification as a way to develop your career or as a means to update your skills, then a Masters degree can prove invaluable.
Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.
CIOL UK Registered Provider
The Open University is recognised as a Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) UK HE registered provider. By studying for this qualification you will be entitled to free membership of CIOL as a Student Affiliate. Being a Student Affiliate is the first step on your career ladder to becoming a Chartered Linguist.
Membership of the Institute of Translation & Interpreting
The Open University is a Corporate Member of the Institute of Translation & Interpretation (ITI). As such, we have signed the ITI Code of Professional Conduct and are committed to providing quality training for the translation and interpreting industry. By studying for this qualification you will be eligible for student membership of the ITI.
Membership of the Association of Programmes in Translation and Interpreting Studies of the UK and Ireland (APTIS).
The Open University is an Institutional Member of APTIS. Membership of this innovative network allows us to share expertise with our partners as regards the teaching of translation and interpreting studies at UK and Irish HE institutions. We aim to advance education for the public benefit in the UK and Ireland so as to improve the quality of learning and teaching as well as research on translation and interpreting programmes at Higher Education institutions.
Modules
To gain this qualification, you need 180 credits as follows:
180 credits from:
You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 60 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
If you’ve successfully completed some relevant postgraduate study elsewhere, you might be able to count it towards this qualification, reducing the number of modules you need to study. You should apply for credit transfer as soon as possible, before you register for your first module. For more details and an application form, visit our Credit Transfer website.
On completion
On successfully completing this course, we’ll award you our MA in Translation. You’ll be entitled to use the letters MA Trans (Open) after your name.
If your masters degree is awardable with a distinction or a merit, the qualification regulations explain how you can achieve these.
You’ll have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
How to register
If you want to study for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of
our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the
module you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that module.
During the registration procedure you will be asked to declare which qualification you are studying towards.
See a full list of modules available for this qualification