Program Overview
The Translation Studies (Distance Learning) at University of Portsmouth is a MA programme in Humanities over 36 months, delivered Online. This programme equips graduates with advanced knowledge and practical skills for professional and academic careers in the field.
Students gain a rigorous grounding in both the theoretical foundations and applied dimensions of humanities. The programme combines coursework, research components, and practical projects that develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and specialist expertise relevant to industry and research needs.
Graduates of the Translation Studies (Distance Learning) programme are well-prepared for careers in academia, industry, government, and the private sector across United Kingdom and internationally. The programme provides an internationally recognised qualification within the Bologna higher education framework.
Key Program Features
- Duration: 36 months
- Language of instruction: English
- Study mode: Online
- English requirement: IELTS 7
- Tuition: GBP 1,730 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; GBP 1,730 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Translation Studies (Distance Learning) programme are prepared for diverse careers in humanities:
- Researcher / Academic
- Cultural Programme Manager
- Editor / Writer
- Translator / Interpreter
- Museum Curator
- Communications Specialist
Program Curriculum
Course Structure
- Critical Approaches to Specialised Translation: For the theoretical strand of this unit, students will be introduced to a series of concepts and theoretical frameworks in linguistics and translation studies. This unit makes substantial use of task-based learning in order to help the students to learn to apply these concepts and frameworks to the analysis of translations by other people and to their own translation practice. For the practical strand of this unit, students will work in language specific groups. They will practice translation and the preparation of commentaries as well as other translation related activities on four different specialised translation domains.
- Dissertation: Students have the choice to complete a 15,000 word dissertation on a translation related topic or an extended translation and commentary. (Taken once core unit and options have been passed)
- Translation Technologies and Subtitling: This unit is designed to provide students with an opportunity to familiarise themselves with software tools which are relevant and in use in the professional world of translation. It will cover both the theory and the practice of glossary development, translation memory/machine translation usage and subtitling.
- Technical Communication:This unit is designed to develop students\x92 ability to communicate technical information effectively to specific audiences. It will examine a range of factors that can influence the effectiveness of communication and provide strategies to overcome communication problems
- Translation Project: The Translation Project provides an opportunity for students to produce an extended translation in a domain of their choice. Students will be required to address a range of practical and professional issues, including market demand, time and resource management and billing, and reflect critically on them.
- Professional Portfolio: The Professional Portfolio is designed as a unit which allows students to profile their studies in a way which is academically or professionally important to them on the basis of previous professional experience, a work placement or internship, or any specific interests they may have in translation. This unit may be used to perform a deeper exploration of elements relating to the translation and interpreting sector not covered in other units on the MA, with the final artefact presented in the form of a small research project, report or essay.
- Professional Aspects of Translation: This course will provide students with tools to maximise their employability in the sector and to enhance their professional business skills. The unit show cases current professional issues and trends.
- MA in Translation Studies (one core unit, two optional and the dissertation): 180 credits
- Postgraduate Diploma in Translation Studies: 120 credits
- Postgraduate Certificate in Translation Studies: 60 credits
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
- A good honours degree in a relevant subject, or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications. Applicants whose main language is English require advanced knowledge of at least one other language (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Russian or Spanish).
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 7.0 with no component score below 6.5.
English Proficiency: IELTS 7 or equivalent.
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
GBP 1,730 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; GBP 1,730 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
Tuition fees: GBP 1,730 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; GBP 1,730 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
IELTS requirement: 7
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Contact University of Portsmouth directly for scholarship, grant, and financial aid information for this programme. Many European universities offer merit-based and need-based funding for international and domestic students.
About University of Portsmouth
University of Portsmouth
Portsmouth, United Kingdom
University of Portsmouth is a distinguished institution of higher education committed to academic excellence, innovative research, and preparing students for leadership in their chosen fields. The...
University Profile- Start Date September 2026
- Language English
- Duration 36 months
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