| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | UK Master's Degrees in Translation Thread poster: joescotty
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I have been accepted to the following MAs in Translation:
Imperial College London,
Westminster,
Surrey,
London Met,
Bristol (1 yr Distance learning)
Portsmouth
Roehampton
Which am I better off going with?
All round, Swansea appears the best value and the cost of living is low there.
However, I've noticed Westminster has the best reputation in Translation and Imperial is one of the top universties in the U... See more I have been accepted to the following MAs in Translation:
Imperial College London,
Westminster,
Surrey,
London Met,
Bristol (1 yr Distance learning)
Portsmouth
Roehampton
Which am I better off going with?
All round, Swansea appears the best value and the cost of living is low there.
However, I've noticed Westminster has the best reputation in Translation and Imperial is one of the top universties in the UK.
Furthermore the 1 year distance learning course offered by Bristol could be useful as I am planning to go to South America for a year, this course could allow me to combine this experience with studying for a Master's.
Surrey also looks appealing as it does a Translation for International Business course, which would tie in nicely to my undergraduate Business and Management with Spanish course ehich I've just completed.
Does anyone have any good advice as to which uni to take or any experiences of these unis?
Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
[Edited at 2012-08-02 10:12 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Oliver Walter 
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:12
German to English
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| What, seven?! | Aug 1, 2012 |
joescotty wrote:
I have been accepted to the following MAs in Translation:
Imperial College London,
Westminster,
Surrey,
London Met,
Bristol (1 yr Distance learning)
Portsmouth
Roehampton
...
Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
What, you've been accepted for 7 (seven) degree courses?
That means you have applied to at least 7 universities, presumably all for the academic year 2012-13 (or possibly 2013-14), and, because 7 have accepted, you will have to inform 6 of them "Sorry, I'm not coming after all; apologies for causing you the inconvenience."
I imagine they're all quite good - you'll have to judge partly from how they specialise. I did the Imperial course in its first year (2001-2) and it specialises in technical, scientific and medical texts. It was just what I wanted and luckily I already lived where I could travel between home and Imperial in less than 1 hour each way.
Oliver
| | | | Diana Coada (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:12
Portuguese to English
+ ...
in the translation and interpreting field if you want a highly-regarded degree, Westminster is the place to go.
However, I would research very carefully what these courses have to offer and go for the one that specializes in as many fields as I would like to specialize. Keep in mind that degrees with ''translation'' in their name are more theoretical, while the ones that say ''translating'' are more practical.
Also remember that with any studies you get what you ... See more in the translation and interpreting field if you want a highly-regarded degree, Westminster is the place to go.
However, I would research very carefully what these courses have to offer and go for the one that specializes in as many fields as I would like to specialize. Keep in mind that degrees with ''translation'' in their name are more theoretical, while the ones that say ''translating'' are more practical.
Also remember that with any studies you get what you put in, so reputation is secondary. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Thanks for your insights | Aug 1, 2012 |
Yes, I have indeed applied to seven universities. I wasn't sure whether I'd be accepted to all of them or not. Now I have a dilemma, although both of your comments are greatly appreciated. Thanks again.
[Edited at 2012-08-02 10:11 GMT]
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| Surrey, Westminster or Swansea | Aug 2, 2012 |
Does anybody have any thoughts/experience regarding these particular unis other than what's been said?
From the advice so far I'm veering towards the following unis/courses:
MA Translation with Language Technology - Swansea
MA Translation and Interpreting - Westminster
MA Business Translation with Interpreting - Surrey
| | | | Phil Hand
China
Local time: 15:12
Chinese to English
| Call me a snob but... | Aug 2, 2012 |
...environment matters.
In imperial, even if you're in a minority subject, you know that you'll be among people who are at the top of their field. The opportunities to meet interesting scholars from other countries (potential future work contacts?) will be much greater. If there's not a big difference in course content, then the availability of high-quality academics and academic resources is surely the next most important consideration.
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I did the Swansea MA in Translation with Language Technology and it was excellent. It is however geared towards first language native English speakers or rather it was when I did it seven years ago.
Which languages would you be studying?
Swansea has a great deal to offer as a city and is evolving all the time.
I have to say I am a little biased as my son also did his degree at Swansea, though it was a little weird to be doing my Masters at the same time as he was in his final ... See more I did the Swansea MA in Translation with Language Technology and it was excellent. It is however geared towards first language native English speakers or rather it was when I did it seven years ago.
Which languages would you be studying?
Swansea has a great deal to offer as a city and is evolving all the time.
I have to say I am a little biased as my son also did his degree at Swansea, though it was a little weird to be doing my Masters at the same time as he was in his final year. Anyway, the Only Way Is Swansea! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Michal Glowacki
Poland
Local time: 09:12
Member (2010)
English to Polish
+ ...
I'd go for Swansea. I did it and I found it excellent. The course is also part of the European Masters in Translation network, which is another indicator of quality education.
And the setting is stunning, Swansea is cheap and great to live in for a year. I can thoroughly recommend going there.
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| Great advice thanks! | Aug 2, 2012 |
I've just finished a Business and Management with Spanish degree at Aberystwyth University. I'd be studying English-Spanish, with English being my native language.
Swansea University does look good and I like the fact that there is a job placement in the 2 year MATLT.
It's also considerably cheaper than living in London and the South East.
In what ways was the course at Swansea excellent?
| | | | Michal Glowacki
Poland
Local time: 09:12
Member (2010)
English to Polish
+ ...
The main idea behind the course is "hands-on experience", so basically what they did was devise a course that is as practical as it's possible and then they added some academic modules, so that they can award MAs. But besides the few academic things that you have to do, everything is aimed at providing you useful knowledge and skills. For instance:
- lectures and talks by real translators, PMs, representatives of some translation companies
- hands-on Language Technology module... See more The main idea behind the course is "hands-on experience", so basically what they did was devise a course that is as practical as it's possible and then they added some academic modules, so that they can award MAs. But besides the few academic things that you have to do, everything is aimed at providing you useful knowledge and skills. For instance:
- lectures and talks by real translators, PMs, representatives of some translation companies
- hands-on Language Technology module on CAT tools (focus on Trados with the possibility of doing the Trados Certification, but you also get to know Wordfast, Passolo, Catalyst and maybe something else - not sure what they're doing now)
- great, enthusiastic teachers
- practical projects (the final thesis is a translation with commentary), running a mock translation company as part of a module, learning CV-writing skills
- not too many modules, so most of the work is done on your own or in teams in your own time
- all around access to a Language Technology lab where there are like 30 or more computers with Trados and most of the other CAT tools plus the option of connecting to their license server from your computer while you're a student, so you can use Trados from home
That's just form the top of my head, but I think it really is worth taking. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Good info, thanks again. | Aug 2, 2012 |
It sounds really practical, which is what i'm looking for. What range of specialist texts did you translate i.e. commerce, legal, literary, scientific etc?
Were there any disadvantages?
| | | | Michal Glowacki
Poland
Local time: 09:12
Member (2010)
English to Polish
+ ...
| advanced translation | Aug 2, 2012 |
You translate a little bit of everything, going through various fields. The main disadvantage, in my opinion, is the fact that there is only one translation module. You can take more, depending on what languages you know, but there is one per language combination. In comparison, my Warsaw University course had 3-4 translation modules per year, with each focusing on a different field. There was much more translation done there (but then again - language technology was virtually non-existent.
... See more You translate a little bit of everything, going through various fields. The main disadvantage, in my opinion, is the fact that there is only one translation module. You can take more, depending on what languages you know, but there is one per language combination. In comparison, my Warsaw University course had 3-4 translation modules per year, with each focusing on a different field. There was much more translation done there (but then again - language technology was virtually non-existent.
At least that's what it looked like in "my days". Check the curriculum - maybe something has changed. ▲ Collapse
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| Swansea Advantages/Disadvantages | Aug 14, 2012 |
I graduated from Swansea with MATLT in 2011. I did the one-year option. I can't speak to Spanish (I did French and German) option, but I found it good for the money I spent. I had a fabulous time with my course mates and my housemates.
Advantages:
- hands-on practical experience with the software, you can get a level 3 certification in SDL Trados 2011 for free
- running a mock-translation agency
- most of the professors, particularly Andy Rothwell and Pius ten Hac... See more I graduated from Swansea with MATLT in 2011. I did the one-year option. I can't speak to Spanish (I did French and German) option, but I found it good for the money I spent. I had a fabulous time with my course mates and my housemates.
Advantages:
- hands-on practical experience with the software, you can get a level 3 certification in SDL Trados 2011 for free
- running a mock-translation agency
- most of the professors, particularly Andy Rothwell and Pius ten Hacken are excellent, some people found Pius' lectures a little dry, but he is brilliant
- small class size
- dissertation option or 2 long translations with commentary
Disadvantages:
- only 1 to 2 translation modules for the entire year
- I am American and used to a different higher educational system (I went to Swansea because doing the 1 year, living there, and the flights were actually cheaper than doing a typical 2-year Master's program in the US which did not have much focus on CAT tools) but I thought the courses lacked academic rigor. They were extremely easy and I did not feel that I was challenged.
- not too much work with doing translations
- would have liked longer translations for homework since the classes only meet once a week
- not everyone seemed to care and as a result did slack off a lot which is not great when you are trying to do group projects (maybe an American thing because of how expensive master's programs are but if you are doing a Master's in the US you typically want to be there and want to do your best, maybe also due to our Protestant work ethic)
I hope that helps. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Very thorough review, thanks! | Aug 14, 2012 |
The course does seem highly vocational and not "academically-focused" but I am looking for something practical so it does seem appealing.
I would also like the opportunity to work with many specialist subject areas and the fact that they only offer a limited amount of translation modules is not ideal.
Did the course help you secure a job in translation or not?
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Yes, you could say it helped me secure a job. After finishing the program and returning to the states, I found a job within a month as an in-house translator. I discovered I didn't like that job - the work environment was poor, the head of the company and I had two different translation methods and he tried to change what worked well for me, and the documents I translated were technical/financial. I come from a humanities background so I did not like the exacting nature of the translation. I fou... See more Yes, you could say it helped me secure a job. After finishing the program and returning to the states, I found a job within a month as an in-house translator. I discovered I didn't like that job - the work environment was poor, the head of the company and I had two different translation methods and he tried to change what worked well for me, and the documents I translated were technical/financial. I come from a humanities background so I did not like the exacting nature of the translation. I found a new job that I enjoy much better and use the computer skills I learned at Swansea. I still freelance for one of the companies in Swansea from time to time - not very often due to the time difference. I was almost hired by one of the companies in Swansea at the end of my program for a paid internship leading to high probability of employment. I think my visa situation had something to do with their decision not to hire me. If you want more details, you can private message me I think. I assume you can. ▲ Collapse
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