Have a look at what our Graduates have been doing since they completed their study and find out what our students think about our Translation and Interpreting programmes. We are proud of their success and continue to strive to ensure our degrees offer an excellent student experience.
I found the use of CAT tools very useful. As for linguistics, I gained an understanding of what a text is and its structure. I learned new skills during the work placement I undertook. All the assignments we did, the team work and the extended translation gave me an idea about what the translation market is like. In general, it has been very useful for me. Before the Masters I already worked as a translator, but now, I have more clients and I am able to meet the translation agencies requirements, thanks to the Masters.
Alicia Arranz Aceves, MATLT (S)
The most useful modules for starting my career as a self-employed translator were the more practical oriented modules, especially the ones about using the software. This has definitely given me an advantage during marketing myself as a translator.
Jacinta Kal, MATLT (S)
After the internship that I completed through my European Master's in TLT at a small translation company in Swansea, I took on a sales position within the same company. They knew that my interests were more in project management and that my ultimate goal was to become a translator once I had gained some experience within the industry.
After three months as a sales executive, a project management role opened up in the company and I took it. As this role was in the certified translation department, I was able to build on the legal translation knowledge I had gained through my European Master's in TLT. My role did involve completing some small translations in-house when time permitted and also reviewing the work of freelance translators and interns. I was also able to complete freelance translation work alongside this role. After eighteen months in this position, I moved to SDL to start an in-house translation role and have been in this new role for two months so far.
The programme gave me a solid basis from which to develop my translation career. I still refer back to notes I made during my degree, particularly from the advanced translation modules and language technology module. Breaking into the translation industry can be difficult due to the amount of experience required. I feel that I had an advantage over graduates from other universities in that I had completed the translation work experience module, extended translation projects and an internship as part of my European Master's in TLT.
Having a focus on CAT tools across the programme was useful as I was able to practice applying the skills I had learnt in the language technology module in different translation situations. My knowledge of CAT tools was valuable to the operations management team during my project management role and it is now vital for me as a translator at SDL International.
The programme tutors were friendly, approachable and helpful. Thus I was able to gain information on personal development opportunities such as in the ITI. Staff also promoted translation conferences which I have found to be useful networking opportunities.
I would recommend this course to anyone looking to enter the translation industry.
Jennifer Green, MATLT (E)
I have found that the range of text types covered in the Advanced Translation modules and the Extended Translation at Swansea have provided me with a good and broad basis from which to approach the translations I have been doing during my internship. I have also found that the Translation Theory module has proven a lot more useful than I could have anticipated, as it has given me a better understanding and awareness of the range of considerations which need to be taken account when translating, why this is, and how decisions can affect the overall outcome/nuance of the target text. I have also found the Language Technology module to be very useful - I was able to apply my knowledge of Trados to Across, meaning that I did not need extra training on this when I began my internship.
I greatly enjoyed the Swansea translation course, and found it very varied, interesting and useful. I particularly appreciated the amount of practical translation offered, and I found the translation theory to be interesting and a good background/foundation for working in the translation industry. I am also very pleased that I had the opportunity to learn how to use Trados, as Language Technology clearly plays a vital and increasing role in the translation industry. I also found the interpreting module very interesting, and a challenge. Although I have not yet been able to make use of this professionally, I hope that I may be able to do so in the future. Now that I am working as an intern (to gain the experience required) I am certainly finding that the content of the course has provided me with a very solid theoretical (and, in many ways, also practical) background which I am now able to apply to my work.
Anthea Hayes, MATLT (S)
My experience so far of the programme I have studied has been very useful and constructive. Above all, I have been able to practice interpreting at an advanced level with professional and real life criteria. The programme, on the whole, offers a wide variety of both theoretical and practical modules which have reinforced my knowledge of the related fields (i.e. translation and interpreting). Teaching meticulously planned (especially the interpreting modules), good interaction and supplementary opportunities to put language knowledge into good use (extra sessions and lectures). I expect my course to be of great value and hope it will help me achieve my professional goals for, I consider, it has provided me with the necessary skills to help me build a future career.
Maria Chaikali, MATI (S)
Overall, I found the programme quite comprehensive in scope. Various aspects of the translation process, including reflecting on the type of audience you are targeting the translation at, as well as the practical element of being able to put everything acquired through the taught part of the MA into practice in the shape of an internship.
In a world that increasingly assigns a lot more importance to practical, industry-specific experience, the internship was by far the most enlightening, both in terms of employing the skills learned and, growing professionally within the industry. Furthermore, in this light, I found it the most useful aspect of the degree programme, as it allowed me to apply myself, theoretically and practically, while convincing me of my will to intend to work in the translation industry.
Robert Conniff, MATLT (S)
Whilst I have rated 'History of Translation' lower, I found the module to be very interesting and am glad that I chose it. Whilst it has less of a direct relevance to my career, it added a more traditional academic element to the programme, which provided a good balance. It has also helped to give me a background to some of the cultural sensitivities involved in translation today, which will indirectly benefit my approach to my work. I enjoyed, and benefitted from, every module. The Language Technology module can be daunting, but the support provided is excellent, and you obtain a real sense of achievement once you understand the technology and its benefits.
I was already working when I started the programme, not directly in translation, but translation was required in order to produce materials bilingually. I have not completely ruled out a career purely in translation, but this is not my main focus at present. However, translation is frequently required in order to produce materials and I do not rely on the institution's translation service at all. The course has given me the confidence to approach this work in a systematic and efficient manner. It has also helped me to 'revive' a third language which I had not used for some time.
Studying the course part-time was challenging at times, particularly in terms of finding time to attend the labs, but in most cases it was possible to work from home due to the licensing arrangements on SDL Trados. I sometimes felt that the spread of the work may benefit from being reconsidered for part-time students, but I understand that there are practicalities involved. Many of the deadlines for part-time students were the same as full time students (part one), which could be challenging when working. Also, much of what was learnt in the first year was highly relevant to the third year work, and in some cases it was difficult to keep up to date with changes in the field.
Tutor/supervisor support was excellent. In terms of administration, again, it was felt that the programme would benefit from being considered from a part-timer's point of view as some of the correspondence/communication was confusing in this respect as it was largely aimed at full-timers.
Overall, an excellent programme with an appropriate balance of the academic and the professional. Highly knowledgeable and professional lecturers.
Nia Besley, MATLT (S)
The Master's Degree was excellent. I gained valuable knowledge, experience and the course had good applicability to my future working career. I worked in transcreation and marketing campaigns for brands such as Maserati, Cointreau, Rémy Martin, etc.
Clara Pircalaboiu MATI, FT
It was useful in launching my academic career and I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a lot.
Eleanor Gluck MAPT, FT
I think that all modules in my programme were very useful for my future career and I really enjoyed my studies at Swansea University, especially thanks to our excellent teaching staff. I must say that two of the modules that turned out to be especially useful for me were Translation Tools and Translation Work Experience, which gave me a chance to develop my translation skills other than linguistic knowledge. I am also very glad that I had an opportunity to extend my studies and join METS programme this year, because I was able to develop my skills even further by studying in two different countries, which was a truly amazing experience. After finishing my degree, I am feeling ready to work as a professional translator and even confident enough to launch my own translation-related business.
Agnieszka Szymoniak, MAPTE
I think that the MA at Swansea University is a very good MA. The lecturers are very experienced and approachable which is a very good point. I think that the best points were multiculturalism as it enabled me to speak other languages than English and French with my classmates. The conferences with translators in activities were also very useful as I could receive tips from real translators and not only lecturers even if my lecturers were very interesting! After my MA, I felt ready to enter the translation world thanks to my internship during which I gained a lot of self-confidence, as my problem was a lack of self-confidence! I have kept my notes and documents from the CAT Tools module and I still refer to them when I hesitate when I work with TRADOS.
Aude David, MAPT FT
It has been extremely useful because it taught me everything I needed to know about working in this sector. Also, I did the internship at the end of the programme and the translation agency I worked with as an intern is now my main employer as a freelancer.
Camille Thompson MATI, FT
The teaching staff are all very helpful and inspiring, it gave me lots of researching insights.
Wang Leung LEE, MATI
I like that Swansea focused less on theory and much more on practical aspects.
James Brooks, MAPTE/METS
