Skip to Content

Courses

Postgraduate Programme Specification

PgDip Translation

Academic Year 2022/23

A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be registered. All programmes of the University are subject to the University's Quality Assurance processes. All degrees are awarded by Queen's University Belfast.

Programme Title PgDip Translation Final Award
(exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes)
Postgraduate Diploma
Programme Code SPA-PD-TR UCAS Code HECoS Code 101130 - Translation studies - 100

ATAS Clearance Required

No

Health Check Required

No

Portfolio Required

--

Interview Required

--

Mode of Study Part Time or Full Time
Type of Programme Postgraduate Length of Programme Part Time - 2 Academic Years
Full Time - 1 Academic Year
Total Credits for Programme 120
Exit Awards available No

Institute Information

Teaching Institution

Queen's University Belfast

School/Department

Arts, English and Languages

Quality Code
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code

Higher Education Credit Framework for England
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/higher-education-credit-framework-for-england

Level 7

Subject Benchmark Statements
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements

The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/quality-code/qualifications-frameworks.pdf

N/A

Accreditations (PSRB)

No accreditations (PSRB) found.

Regulation Information

Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations
(Please see General Regulations)

N/A

Programme Specific Regulations

Awards, Credits and Progression of Learning Outcomes
The following regulations should be read in conjunction with the University’s General Regulations for Postgraduate Students.
Examinations
The pass mark for each module is 50%.

Students must pass all taught modules (120 CATS points) to be awarded the PG Diploma in Translation.

Students who fail one or more of the taught modules are permitted one further attempt to pass the module at the next available opportunity for a maximum of 50%.

Students with protected characteristics

N/A

Are students subject to Fitness to Practise Regulations

(Please see General Regulations)

No

Educational Aims Of Programme

The PG Diploma in Translation aims to:
•Enable students to develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the prevailing theories and practices of translation through intellectual and interactive enquiry and advanced translation practice;
•Provide grounding in the field of Translation Studies, defined as theory and practice, that will enable students both to undertake independent research and/or to work as professional translators;
•Encourage sophisticated intellectual enquiry and debate with fellow students, academics and professional practitioners, drawn from a range of relevant backgrounds, through interrogation of theoretical models and analysis of practice-based work;
•Encourage students to develop professional translation skills and/or to theorise within the context of the discipline and/or their own practice;
•Provide students with a good knowledge of the translation market place;
•Foster a dynamic and innovative approach to translation as a mode for understanding the socio-political and cultural complexities posed by the movement of peoples and the demands of multilingual and multicultural organisations and societies;
•Equip students to use their writing talents to the best of their ability, and to develop as independent translators and self-reflective lifelong learners;

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes: Cognitive Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Formulate and express ideas and perspectives deriving from translation studies and from the application of translation methods within in a number of different contexts

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These skills will be developed through:
•textual and contextual analyses
•a programme in which theory and practice are demonstrated to be mutually illuminating
•a programme in which translation, both in terms of theory and practice, is examined as a real-world activity
•analysis of the process and products of translation
debate, discussion and creative and professionally-based learning activities

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed by written assignments including critical essays, translation and reflective commentaries, practical projects and reflective learning logs

Question and critically examine assumptions about language, and the relationship between language, identity and place

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These skills will be developed through:
•textual and contextual analyses
•a programme in which theory and practice are demonstrated to be mutually illuminating
•a programme in which translation, both in terms of theory and practice, is examined as a real-world activity
•analysis of the process and products of translation
debate, discussion and creative and professionally-based learning activities

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed by written assignments including critical essays, translation and reflective commentaries, practical projects and reflective learning logs

Question and critically examine assumptions about text and how texts transmit meaning

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These skills will be developed through:
•textual and contextual analyses
•a programme in which theory and practice are demonstrated to be mutually illuminating
•a programme in which translation, both in terms of theory and practice, is examined as a real-world activity
•analysis of the process and products of translation
debate, discussion and creative and professionally-based learning activities

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed by written assignments including critical essays, translation and reflective commentaries, practical projects and reflective learning logs

Critically analyse their own translation practice, in the case of students who take language-based modules, and/or that of others over a range of text types

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These skills will be developed through:
•textual and contextual analyses
•a programme in which theory and practice are demonstrated to be mutually illuminating
•a programme in which translation, both in terms of theory and practice, is examined as a real-world activity
•analysis of the process and products of translation
debate, discussion and creative and professionally-based learning activities

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed by written assignments including critical essays, translation and reflective commentaries, practical projects and reflective learning logs

Think independently, laterally and creatively

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These skills will be developed through:
•textual and contextual analyses
•a programme in which theory and practice are demonstrated to be mutually illuminating
•a programme in which translation, both in terms of theory and practice, is examined as a real-world activity
•analysis of the process and products of translation
debate, discussion and creative and professionally-based learning activities

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed by written assignments including critical essays, translation and reflective commentaries, practical projects and reflective learning logs

Summarise and synthesise theoretical and experiential learning, drawing on a range of sources, text types and perspectives

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These skills will be developed through:
•textual and contextual analyses
•a programme in which theory and practice are demonstrated to be mutually illuminating
•a programme in which translation, both in terms of theory and practice, is examined as a real-world activity
•analysis of the process and products of translation
debate, discussion and creative and professionally-based learning activities

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed by written assignments including critical essays, translation and reflective commentaries, practical projects and reflective learning logs

Learning Outcomes: Transferable Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Examine and assess the effectiveness of texts and utterances within a wide range of contexts

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These will be developed:
By a programme that in its individual and group activities emphasises the transferability of its skillset – close-reading skills, discourse analysis, pragmatic analysis, the relationship between text, subtext and context, writing, entrepreneurial, research and presentational skills

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed:
By a range of assessment methods that are designed to evaluate the application of core skills.

Have developed effective time-management awareness

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These will be developed:
By a programme that in its individual and group activities emphasises the transferability of its skillset – close-reading skills, discourse analysis, pragmatic analysis, the relationship between text, subtext and context, writing, entrepreneurial, research and presentational skills

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed:
By a range of assessment methods that are designed to evaluate the application of core skills.

Have developed the ability to devise, plan and deliver projects

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These will be developed:
By a programme that in its individual and group activities emphasises the transferability of its skillset – close-reading skills, discourse analysis, pragmatic analysis, the relationship between text, subtext and context, writing, entrepreneurial, research and presentational skills

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed:
By a range of assessment methods that are designed to evaluate the application of core skills

Offer and receive constructive criticism of their own and others’ work

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These will be developed:
By a programme that in its individual and group activities emphasises the transferability of its skillset – close-reading skills, discourse analysis, pragmatic analysis, the relationship between text, subtext and context, writing, entrepreneurial, research and presentational skills

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed:
By a range of assessment methods that are designed to evaluate the application of core skills.

Participate actively in debate and discussion

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These will be developed:
By a programme that in its individual and group activities emphasises the transferability of its skillset – close-reading skills, discourse analysis, pragmatic analysis, the relationship between text, subtext and context, writing, entrepreneurial, research and presentational skills

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed:
By a range of assessment methods that are designed to evaluate the application of core skills.

Respond positively and productively to feedback on their own work

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These will be developed:
By a programme that in its individual and group activities emphasises the transferability of its skillset – close-reading skills, discourse analysis, pragmatic analysis, the relationship between text, subtext and context, writing, entrepreneurial, research and presentational skills

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed:
By a range of assessment methods that are designed to evaluate the application of core skills.

Think creatively and professionally

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These will be developed:
By a programme that in its individual and group activities emphasises the transferability of its skillset – close-reading skills, discourse analysis, pragmatic analysis, the relationship between text, subtext and context, writing, entrepreneurial, research and presentational skills

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed:
By a range of assessment methods that are designed to evaluate the application of core skills.

Have developed an understanding of the technologies available to assist the translator

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These will be developed:
By a programme that in its individual and group activities emphasises the transferability of its skillset – close-reading skills, discourse analysis, pragmatic analysis, the relationship between text, subtext and context, writing, entrepreneurial, research and presentational skills

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed:
By a range of assessment methods that are designed to evaluate the application of core skills.

Have developed entrepreneurial and presentational skills

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These will be developed:
By a programme that in its individual and group activities emphasises the transferability of its skillset – close-reading skills, discourse analysis, pragmatic analysis, the relationship between text, subtext and context, writing, entrepreneurial, research and presentational skills

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed:
By a range of assessment methods that are designed to evaluate the application of core skills.

Understand the importance of producing work within the framework of appropriate conventions

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These will be developed:
By a programme that in its individual and group activities emphasises the transferability of its skillset – close-reading skills, discourse analysis, pragmatic analysis, the relationship between text, subtext and context, writing, entrepreneurial, research and presentational skills

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed:
By a range of assessment methods that are designed to evaluate the application of core skills.

Learning Outcomes: Knowledge & Understanding

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Understand the key concepts of translation theory and apply these to practice in a range of academic and professionally-based contexts

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These skills will be developed through:
•a programme of interactive seminars that deal with the history of translation studies, current issues, new
perspectives and wider applications
•a programme of guided practice in text translation
•a programme of recommended reading
•a programme of workshops that analyse the relationship between text and context, and critically assess
students’ practice
•extended interaction with a range of visiting speakers, professional practitioners and other trainers

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed:
Through essays, projects, research exercises, translations, reflective learning logs and think-aloud protocols

Critically analyse the translation process with a view to developing their own theoretical positions

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These skills will be developed through:
•a programme of interactive seminars that deal with the history of translation studies, current issues, new
perspectives and wider applications
•a programme of guided practice in text translation
•a programme of recommended reading
•a programme of workshops that analyse the relationship between text and context, and critically assess
students’ practice
•extended interaction with a range of visiting speakers, professional practitioners and other trainers

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed:
Through essays, projects, research exercises, translations, reflective learning logs and think-aloud protocols

Understand the relationship between creativity and constraint across a full typology of texts

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These skills will be developed through:
•a programme of interactive seminars that deal with the history of translation studies, current issues, new
perspectives and wider applications
•a programme of guided practice in text translation
•a programme of recommended reading
•a programme of workshops that analyse the relationship between text and context, and critically assess
students’ practice
•extended interaction with a range of visiting speakers, professional practitioners and other trainers

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed:
Through essays, projects, research exercises, translations, reflective learning logs and think-aloud protocols

Understand what it means to be a professional translator and to undertake professional translation and/or further research within the discipline of Translation Studies

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These skills will be developed through:
•a programme of interactive seminars that deal with the history of translation studies, current issues, new
perspectives and wider applications
•a programme of guided practice in text translation
•a programme of recommended reading
•a programme of workshops that analyse the relationship between text and context, and critically assess
students’ practice
•extended interaction with a range of visiting speakers, professional practitioners and other trainers

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed:
Through essays, projects, research exercises, translations, reflective learning logs and think-aloud protocols

Understand the application of translation as an intellectual mode and model of cultural encounter to a wide range of social and cultural contexts

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These skills will be developed through:
•a programme of interactive seminars that deal with the history of translation studies, current issues, new
perspectives and wider applications
•a programme of guided practice in text translation
•a programme of recommended reading
•a programme of workshops that analyse the relationship between text and context, and critically assess
students’ practice
•extended interaction with a range of visiting speakers, professional practitioners and other trainers

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed:
Through essays, projects, research exercises, translations, reflective learning logs and think-aloud protocols

Learning Outcomes: Subject Specific

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Demonstrate the relationship between theoretical models prevalent in translation studies and translation practice

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These skills will be developed:
Synoptically and individually through the programme of seminars, guided independent translations, workshops, visiting speakers and recommended reading

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed:
Through essays, projects, research exercises, translations, reflective learning logs and think-aloud protocols

Apply their understanding of the broad issues in translation studies to their own writing practice

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These skills will be developed:
Synoptically and individually through the programme of seminars, guided independent translations, workshops, visiting speakers and recommended reading

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed:
Through essays, projects, research exercises, translations, reflective learning logs and think-aloud protocols

For those students who choose language-based modules, demonstrate a good level of specific skills relating to translation practice, including: major contrastive phenomena between their principal foreign language and English; issues of register and dialect; specificities of text type, including literary translation and subtitling; the importance of cultural context

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These skills will be developed:
Synoptically and individually through the programme of seminars, guided independent translations, workshops, visiting speakers and recommended reading

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed:
Through essays, projects, research exercises, translations, reflective learning logs and think-aloud protocols

Apply a range of business, academic and professional skills applicable within the context of translation practice

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These skills will be developed:
Synoptically and individually through the programme of seminars, guided independent translations, workshops, visiting speakers and recommended reading

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed:
Through essays, projects, research exercises, translations, reflective learning logs and think-aloud protocols

Apply a working understanding of the intercultural models supplied by translation theory to issues of relevance to the public domain

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These skills will be developed:
Synoptically and individually through the programme of seminars, guided independent translations, workshops, visiting speakers and recommended reading

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed:
Through essays, projects, research exercises, translations, reflective learning logs and think-aloud protocols

Undertake theoretical and/or practice-based research

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These skills will be developed:
Synoptically and individually through the programme of seminars, guided independent translations, workshops, visiting speakers and recommended reading

Methods of Assessment

These skills will be assessed:
Through essays, projects, research exercises, translations, reflective learning logs and think-aloud protocols

Module Information

Stages and Modules

Module Title Module Code Level/ stage Credits

Availability

Duration Pre-requisite

Assessment

S1 S2 Core Option Coursework % Practical % Examination %
Translating for Performance MML7019 7 10 YES -- 12 weeks N -- YES 100% 0% 0%
Translation and Media MML7025 7 10 YES -- 12 weeks N -- YES 100% 0% 0%
Technical Translation MML7018 7 10 -- YES 12 weeks N -- YES 100% 0% 0%
Preparing for the Dissertation MML7060 7 10 -- YES 12 weeks N YES -- 100% 0% 0%
Literary Translation MML7024 7 10 -- YES 12 weeks N -- YES 100% 0% 0%
The Business of Translation MML7016 7 20 -- YES 12 weeks N YES -- 100% 0% 0%
Theory and Practice of Translation MML7059 7 30 YES -- 12 weeks N YES -- 100% 0% 0%
Audiovisual Translation MML7035 7 10 -- YES 12 weeks N -- YES 100% 0% 0%
Meaning, Sense, Translation MML7033 7 10 YES -- 12 weeks N -- YES 100% 0% 0%
Principles of Community Interpreting MML7021 7 20 YES YES 24 weeks N -- YES 100% 0% 0%

Notes

The Postgraduate Diploma in Translation is an exit award offered to students who pass 120 CAT points of taught modules but decide not to progress to the dissertation or fail to achieve the 50% pass mark in their dissertation.

Full-time students must take the 3 compulsory modules (MML7059, MML7060, MML7016); they choose additional modules totalling 30 CATS points in first semester, and 30 CATS in second semester.

Part-time candidates will normally take modules totalling 60 CAT points in each of their two years of study.