MA in Translation at Bristol Uni, Westminster or UCL?
Thread poster: Victoria Maravi
Victoria Maravi
Victoria Maravi  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 16:46
Spanish to English
+ ...
Apr 30, 2012

Hello everyone!

I'm very new to the forums and I'm interested in pursuing translation as a career (maybe even interpreting, but I'm not so sure about that). I'm fluent in both Spanish and English, and I'm planning on improving my French in the near future. My mother is willing to help me with the MA (we don't have many student loans or grants in Peru) if I choose Translation. My dream MA is Modern Languages at Oxford University. It really is a dream and I'm not expecting to fulfil i
... See more
Hello everyone!

I'm very new to the forums and I'm interested in pursuing translation as a career (maybe even interpreting, but I'm not so sure about that). I'm fluent in both Spanish and English, and I'm planning on improving my French in the near future. My mother is willing to help me with the MA (we don't have many student loans or grants in Peru) if I choose Translation. My dream MA is Modern Languages at Oxford University. It really is a dream and I'm not expecting to fulfil it until I can pay for it myself!

Anyway, in two years I will finish my BA in Humanities, with an emphasis on Language and Culture. There's still a long time to go, but I want to know what you think about masters in Translation in the UK. I wanted to go to Bath Uni at first, but they replied saying that they only accept native English speakers at the moment, which is a pity. I'm considering doing the online MA at Bristol, but... I partly want to do my masters abroad because I want to travel! So I've been looking other options that would allow me to stay in Europe for longer, hopefully even finding a job and settling down in the UK. I found that some of you also recommend Westminster Uni and UCL, which are London-based. I know UCL and Bristol rank higher in the charts than Westminster, but the latter is really good in Translation.

What do you recommend from what you've heard and personal experience? Which uni will help me place myself in the job market in Europe?

Thanks in advance!
Collapse


 
Frances Leggett
Frances Leggett  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:46
Italian to English
+ ...
Also MA at University of Portsmouth May 1, 2012

I only mention it because I did my MA in Translation via distance learning with the University of Portsmouth and found it to be very good.
I imagine the syllabus would be quite similar from Uni to Uni.
The Uni of Portsmouth gives you a very good balance between Theory and Practice of Translation and Translation Practice.

In terms of the market place, when you feel you are ready, you can start applying to work with agencies as a translator. Most will send you a short test
... See more
I only mention it because I did my MA in Translation via distance learning with the University of Portsmouth and found it to be very good.
I imagine the syllabus would be quite similar from Uni to Uni.
The Uni of Portsmouth gives you a very good balance between Theory and Practice of Translation and Translation Practice.

In terms of the market place, when you feel you are ready, you can start applying to work with agencies as a translator. Most will send you a short test to do and if you pass the test, they will put you on their database.
Another good way to get started after an MA is to start working (even freelancing) in the Quality Assurance team of an agency or as a proofreader; i.e. checking other people's translations. It's a good way to learn in my opinion.

Good luck!

[Edited at 2012-05-01 08:03 GMT]
Collapse


 
Victoria Maravi
Victoria Maravi  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 16:46
Spanish to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Portsmouth May 1, 2012

Thank you for the advice, Frances! I will take a closer look to Portsmouth's syllabus, although I saw it takes 3 years to complete if you take it online?

 
Paul Harrison MITI
Paul Harrison MITI
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:46
French to English
MSc at Heriot Watt May 2, 2012

There's an MSc in translation and interpreting at Heriot Watt that attracts students from a broad range of nationalities, and would also let you try your hand at interpreting.

I did my undergrad degree there and enjoyed it, and the staff definitely know their stuff.


 
LuciaC
LuciaC
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:46
English to Italian
+ ...
Dreams May 2, 2012

My dream MA is Modern Languages at Oxford University. It really is a dream and I'm not expecting to fulfil it until I can pay for it myself!



If this is what you really want to do, why not go for it? Fees will be trebling after the summer. As a non-EU citizen, you will have to pay a huge amount of money for any MA or MSc in the UK, so you might as well try Oxford...


 
Victoria Maravi
Victoria Maravi  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 16:46
Spanish to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Heriot Watt May 3, 2012

Thank you! I looked at its Webpage and it's definitely interesting! But the campus seems to be a bit faraway from Edinburgh.
I guess my university choice involves having a good social life (I'm not moving miles away for nothing!) and the possibility of finding quick placements in the EU job market, with the university's help.
Any other ideas?


 
Anna Heath
Anna Heath  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:46
Spanish to English
Social stuff and teacher specialisms May 12, 2012

Hello!

I´m afraid I can´t answer your question from the point of view you´re looking for, ie., from the point of view of a professional translator with acquaintances from those universities or who have heard tantalising comments or anecdotes about them and the careers of their alumni.

I´m looking for the same advice as you, except I´m making a last-minute application and need to apply by the end of this month!

I am from Bristol and have lived in Lon
... See more
Hello!

I´m afraid I can´t answer your question from the point of view you´re looking for, ie., from the point of view of a professional translator with acquaintances from those universities or who have heard tantalising comments or anecdotes about them and the careers of their alumni.

I´m looking for the same advice as you, except I´m making a last-minute application and need to apply by the end of this month!

I am from Bristol and have lived in London for about 4 years. As you are probably thinking already, knowing people in the cities is very important. I started my other MA thinking it´d be a great way to meet new people, but ended up disappointed because everyone just wanted/needed to study, and it wasn´t at all like the first few weeks of a BA where everyone wants to make friends. Do you know people in these cities? If not, go for the smallest place possible (...Edinburgh? Portsmouth?). In London it was, "Hi, Bye". You do make friends but it´s only gradual.

As for Westminster, I don´t know anyone who has been there except for my (North!) American cousin (not first cousin, distant relative). She is great and I´m sure she could tell me/you about the university. Of course, UCL and Bristol are higher up the rankings but in my opinion there are many, many good institutions in the UK, and as you say, it´s the quality of the department that matters, not the university. The course at UCL looks less market-orientated to me. The market is certainly not looking for literary translations, yet that seems to be the only specialism promoted at UCL (look at the profiles of the teachers). That´s why I´m definitely leaning towards Westminster. Do you know anyone who knows more about Westminster?! If I get info from my cousin I´ll let you know. P.S. Hi from... Peru!
Collapse


 
Vanessa Di Stefano
Vanessa Di Stefano  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:46
Member (2014)
Italian to English
MA in Translation at Bristol May 12, 2012

Hi vmaravi and ajahea,

I am currently doing an MA in translation at Bristol and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

There is a really good balance between theory and practice, but even the theory is very geared towards making you a better translator in practice.

As for the social side, well of course this is an online course, so you only "meet" your fellow students online, but collaboration and interaction are really highly valued on the course and so you
... See more
Hi vmaravi and ajahea,

I am currently doing an MA in translation at Bristol and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

There is a really good balance between theory and practice, but even the theory is very geared towards making you a better translator in practice.

As for the social side, well of course this is an online course, so you only "meet" your fellow students online, but collaboration and interaction are really highly valued on the course and so you do actually get to know your fellow students quite well. And of course the variety of locations where people live adds a really interesting dimension to the whole thing.

However, even if it were a course that required physical attendance, the chances are you would not have time to have much of a social life. As one of the other people on this forum pointed out, you (and most others) will be too busy studying - MAs are quite intensive! This is especially true if you do the course full-time, but even if you do it part-time (like me), it is still very time consuming.

Nevertheless, like I said at the start of this post, I think this is a brilliant course with some fantastic tutors, and I am really loving it. And I think the way it promotes collaboration so much is a fantastic dimension that is incredibly useful and positive.

[Edited at 2012-05-12 23:07 GMT]
Collapse


 
Victoria Maravi
Victoria Maravi  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 16:46
Spanish to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
ajahea and Vanessa May 14, 2012

Thank you very much for replying! And hi from Peru, ahah!

Bristol Uni is the most tempting choice by far. Thanks from letting us a have an inside perspective, Vanessa! The only issue is a personal one because I would like to live abroad while I'm doing my MA. I do have friends in London if I apply to Westminster Uni, though! I enjoy the anonymity of being in a big city.

Ultimately, it all goes down to whe
... See more
Thank you very much for replying! And hi from Peru, ahah!

Bristol Uni is the most tempting choice by far. Thanks from letting us a have an inside perspective, Vanessa! The only issue is a personal one because I would like to live abroad while I'm doing my MA. I do have friends in London if I apply to Westminster Uni, though! I enjoy the anonymity of being in a big city.

Ultimately, it all goes down to where we get accepted! And ajahea, it'll be great if you can get some information from your cousin. Good luck choosing where you'll do your MA, let me know how it goes.

Thanks again!

[Edited at 2012-05-14 17:28 GMT]
Collapse


 
Amany Hamdy
Amany Hamdy  Identity Verified
Local time: 17:46
English to Arabic
+ ...
Your input about MA in Portsmouth. Aug 1, 2017

Hi all, 5 years since you have discussed this matter, if any of you have already finished his/her MA in Portsmouth,
Please share the experience with us.
Also, is this MA respected from the point of view of the clients?
Also, does this master qualify for a further PHD?

Regards
Vanessa Di Stefano wrote:

Hi vmaravi and ajahea,

I am currently doing an MA in translation at Bristol and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

There is a really good balance between theory and practice, but even the theory is very geared towards making you a better translator in practice.

As for the social side, well of course this is an online course, so you only "meet" your fellow students online, but collaboration and interaction are really highly valued on the course and so you do actually get to know your fellow students quite well. And of course the variety of locations where people live adds a really interesting dimension to the whole thing.

However, even if it were a course that required physical attendance, the chances are you would not have time to have much of a social life. As one of the other people on this forum pointed out, you (and most others) will be too busy studying - MAs are quite intensive! This is especially true if you do the course full-time, but even if you do it part-time (like me), it is still very time consuming.

Nevertheless, like I said at the start of this post, I think this is a brilliant course with some fantastic tutors, and I am really loving it. And I think the way it promotes collaboration so much is a fantastic dimension that is incredibly useful and positive.

[Edited at 2012-05-12 23:07 GMT]


 


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:


You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

MA in Translation at Bristol Uni, Westminster or UCL?







Wordfast Pro
Translation Memory Software for Any Platform

Exclusive discount for ProZ.com users! Save over 13% when purchasing Wordfast Pro through ProZ.com. Wordfast is the world's #1 provider of platform-independent Translation Memory software. Consistently ranked the most user-friendly and highest value

Buy now! »
Protemos translation business management system
Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!

The system lets you keep client/vendor database, with contacts and rates, manage projects and assign jobs to vendors, issue invoices, track payments, store and manage project files, generate business reports on turnover profit per client/manager etc.

More info »