Translation (BA)

at Cardiff University

Become a global citizen

Respond to demand; learn translation skills that are needed by businesses globally.

Translation as a profession

Gain industry insights including the use of leading translation technologies and present work according to professional standards.

Forge your own path

You have the freedom to specialise in any two languages.

Institutional translation

Apply translation to institutional contexts: media, legal  and multinational business.

Our aim at the School of Modern Languages is to develop and educate our students to become ‘global citizens’.  In addition to developing high-level language skills, our BA Translation programme allows you to gain an in-depth intercultural understanding that encompasses a specific knowledge of the culture of the language you are studying. You will develop high-level communication and critical-thinking skills, and foster resilience and independence through time spent in immersive foreign language contexts.

Translation is a major actor on the European and world stage. By studying Translation you will gain a wealth of transferable skills and knowledge beneficial to the world of employment, making you competitive and attractive in an increasingly global workforce and opening the doors to a variety of career paths.

We offer Translation for students with advanced language skills and for beginners. In terms of language acquisition, this course will enable you to develop your writing, oral and aural skills through a range of learning activities and audio-visual materials. In your first year, in addition to your language tuition, an introduction to Translation history and culture and Introduction to Translation Methods seek to provide a solid foundation for more specialised studies as you progress through your course.

You will continue to develop these key skills and competencies in Year 2.

In the final year, you have the opportunity to write either a dissertation, which stimulates initiative and can serve as a useful preparation for postgraduate study or an Annotated Translation Project, which are useful to showcase to future employers.

It is important to remember that studying languages is not just about the language itself, it involves exploring many aspects of a country, and we aspire to offer a genuinely broad course that offers challenging and stimulating modules. 

On completion of this three-year programme, you will have a high level of proficiency in the language, as well as a critical understanding of key aspects of Translation history, culture, literature, politics and contemporary society.  

Please note: You can specialise in up to two languages on this programme, if choosing French, German, Spanish, Italian or Portuguese. However, if you choose to specialise in either Japanese or Chinese, you will only be able to study one language alongside Translation. Neither Japanese or Chinese can be combined with other languages.