Translation

This postgraduate certificate enables you to start developing your professional skills as a translator. You'll engage in authentic translation tasks to develop useful employability skills, explore different approaches to translation and develop an understanding of the links between theory and practice. With a focus on recent research, you'll develop an awareness of the wider cultural, ethical and professional contexts of translation. 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

Engage in authentic translation tasks to develop useful employability skills.

Choose to translate using either French, German, Spanish, Italian, Mandarin Chinese or Modern Standard Arabic in combination with English.

Develop your professional skills with a combination of collaborative activities and peer-reviews.

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).

Modules
To gain this qualification, you need 60 credits as follows:

60 credits from:

Module Credits
Introduction to translation theory and practice (L801) 60

You should note that the University's unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 20 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.

A UK honours degree (preferably a 2:1 or above) or other recognised equivalent qualification1

Proficiency in your first language at Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level C2

Proficiency in your second language at CEFR level C12

1If you don't have an honours degree, talk to an advisor.

2If 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.

Minimum - 8 months.

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 eight months.

Career relevance
There is an increasing global demand for translators and language specialists, and this postgraduate certificate will provide an introduction to the knowledge and skills that are needed for 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 qualification will introduce you to the professional skills needed and provide you with a basic understanding of the professional tools you will need in this fast-moving field. You will also acquire a raft of highly valued transferable communication and collaborative skills such as team working, which are useful in a range of occupations in the communications sector.

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, you might also want to consider the Postgraduate Diploma or the MA in Translation.

Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.