Undergraduate Degrees
BA Translation and Interpreting ( Q9R8 )
- UCAS Course Code:
- Q9R8
- Duration:
- 4 years
- Attendance:
- Full Time
- Award:
- Degree of Bachelor of Arts
- School of Study:
- Language and Communication Studies
- Brochure:
- School of Language and Communication Studies Undergraduate Brochure (PDF)
- Typical A-Level Offer:
- ABB
As well as taking this programme from post-A level, it is possible to start from beginners level in Spanish or GCSE level in French or Spanish. In these cases, more intensive language study is provided prior to the year abroad in year three. This more intensive study reduces slightly the number of optional modules available in year 1. If you study two languages to Honours level, only one of them can be studied from below A level.
Translating and interpreting is a four-year degree programme which is designed for those students who are particularly interested in developing expertise in translation and interpreting while extending and consolidating their proficiency in French and Spanish in roughly equal measure. The programme enables you to devote between about one-half and two-thirds of your time to improving your command of the two languages and, by following the prescribed modules in translating and interpreting, to hone your linguistic skills in these specialised areas. A range of other non-language options is also available.
The programme year by year
You study core language modules in French and Spanish throughout the course. In the first semester of Year One, you also take a module entitled Study, Research and Communication Skills which develops the core academic skills, attributes and knowledge necessary for language students to make the most of their study at university. You also choose one module from French Language in Action, Introduction to Popular Culture in Latin America, Introduction to International Relations or Languages, Culture and Interpersonal Communication, or Discourse and Power.
In Year Two you continue to study both French and Spanish, which include the development of both translation and interpreting skills, and then choose one module from a range which normally includes Subtitling and Dubbing, Aspects of the French Language, European Media, Language and Politics, French Language in Action (level 2), Latin American Development, France Through the Eye of The Lens, Spain Through the Eye of the Lens, Translation and Adaptation and An Introduction to Latin American Film. You also have 20 credits in Year Two which are taken up by Free Choice; this enables you to choose an appropriate module from the range offered across the university, as well as from the modules listed above. In Year Two you also have the possibility of choosing from our wide range of Subsidiary languages and thus developing your expertise in a non-A level language or of increasing the range of languages you possess by starting a new one. Our range of Subsidiary languages is currently as follows: British Sign Language, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Modern Greek, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish. There are also post-A level subsidiary courses in some languages. Your choice of options is made in consultation with your Adviser who will ensure that it not only reflects your interests, but that it is also academically coherent.
In your Final Year, after the year abroad, your compulsory study focuses on interpreting. You also choose a module in advanced/specialised translation in either French or Spanish and a module from a range which includes more language work in French or Spanish, or Subtitling and Dubbing, Translation Work Experience or Translation Theory and Practice.
In addition to proficiency in your two languages you will be expected to maintain a high degree of commitment to the programme. Language study at this level requires continuous reference to, as well as constant reinforcement and revision of, key concepts and items of vocabulary. Our most successful students have a keen interest in current affairs and cultural matters, keeping abreast of events in both the English and foreign language press, radio and television. They listen to and watch discussion programmes and documentaries as well as news reports; and they read widely.
Honours Language Work
Each year, you have on average 8 contact-hours per week in your Honours languages (more if you study Spanish from beginners’ level). The Honours language teaching is closely related to the study of contemporary society in the country (or countries) where your Honours languages are spoken and your experience of learning language at UEA will include a combination of lectures, seminars and conversation classes. It will cover grammar, translation from and into French and/or Spanish, reading and listening comprehension, précis and paraphrase work, the study of different styles and registers, lexical exercises and oral work. You will also spend a significant proportion of your time working independently using subject-orientated teaching dossiers, radio, TV, films, transcripts, newspapers and online resources while keeping abreast of current affairs and cultural life at home and abroad. Our Language Centre has a digital language laboratory, a viewing and editing room, an interpreting suite for advanced language training, live satellite television broadcasts in French and Spanish, a large, multi-media self-access resources room with a wide range of French and Spanish DVDs and reference books, computers linked to the internet, and translation software. You will acquire specific expertise in the traditional language skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening, as well as transferable skills such as time management, self-discipline and self-motivation, intercultural awareness, flexibility and resourcefulness, mediation skills, IT literacy and teamwork.
The Year Abroad
Your Third Year is spent in countries where your Honours languages are spoken. For further information, please click on the Study Abroad tab above.
Ms. Claudine Tourniaire
The School of Language and Communication Studies is a small, lively School where we offer flexible undergraduate degree programmes with an emphasis on language competence and on issues relating to contemporary language and translation. Our graduates are highly employable and enter an extremely wide range of professions using their well-developed language and communication skills, and intercultural sensitivity.
Our MA graduates are equally successful professionally. Courses at this level enable flexible planning in the combination of core and optional modules and in the range of possible dissertation topics, while the Faculty of Arts and Humanities provides a rich interdisciplinary environment designed to encourage dialogue and the cross-fertilisation of ideas.
New for 2012-13
We’re always working to build on our strengths here in LCS, improving your student experience – and your prospects. Here are some new Key Features for 2012-13 that you won’t yet find in our brochure:
- Smaller groups in language classes – as few as 10 – mean even better quality learning.
- New high-spec professional interpreter training facilities – helping to keep you ahead of the game.
- Employability boost – extra timetabled sessions to develop your skills and employability profile for a range of professions using language skills right from the start of your degree course.
Find out what our undergraduate students say or check out our Facebook page for 2013 applicants where you can ask our current students questions about studying and living here:
www.facebook.com/groups/UEALCSapps2013
UniStats Information
Compulsory Study (100 credits)
Students must study the following modules for 100 credits:
| Name | Code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| INTRODUCTION TO LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES | LCS-1E05 | 20 |
| POST A-LEVEL FRENCH LANGUAGE 1/I | LCSU1F21 | 20 |
| POST A-LEVEL FRENCH LANGUAGE 1/II | LCSU1F22 | 20 |
| POST A-LEVEL SPANISH 1/I | LCSU1H21 | 20 |
| POST A-LEVEL SPANISH 1/II | LCSU1H22 | 20 |
Option A Study (20 credits)
Students will select 20 credits from the following modules:
| Name | Code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AN INTRODUCTION TO POPULAR CULTURE IN LATIN AMERICA | LCS-1H34 | 20 |
| DISCOURSE AND POWER | LCS-1L20 | 20 |
| FRENCH LANGUAGE IN ACTION (LEVEL 1) | LCS-1F36 | 20 |
| INTRODUCTION TO CONTEMPORARY POLITICS | PSI-1A02 | 20 |
| LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION | LCS-1L22 | 20 |
Compulsory Study (80 credits)
Students must study the following modules for 80 credits:
| Name | Code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POST A LEVEL SPANISH LANGUAGE 2/I | LCSU2H21 | 20 |
| POST A LEVEL SPANISH LANGUAGE 2/II | LCSU2H22 | 20 |
| POST A-LEVEL FRENCH LANGUAGE 2/I | LCSU2F01 | 20 |
| POST A-LEVEL FRENCH LANGUAGE 2/II | LCSU2F02 | 20 |
Option A Study (20 credits)
Students will select 20 credits from the following modules:
Free Choice Study (20 credits)
Students will select modules worth 20 credits from the course catalogue with the approval of their School
Compulsory Study (120 credits)
Students must study the following modules for 120 credits:
| Name | Code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| YEAR ABROAD | LCS-2X0Y | 120 |
Compulsory Study (40 credits)
Students must study the following modules for 40 credits:
| Name | Code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ADVANCED TRANSLATION (FRENCH TO ENGLISH) | LCS-3T47 | 20 |
| SPECIALISED TRANSLATION (SPANISH) | LCS-3T52 | 20 |
Option A Study (20 credits)
Students will select 20 credits from the following modules:
| Name | Code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| INTRODUCTION TO CONFERENCE INTERPRETING | LCS-3T51 | 20 |
| INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC SERVICE INTERPRETING | LCS-3T58 | 20 |
Option B Study (60 credits)
Students will select 60 credits from the following modules:
| Name | Code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DISSERTATION IN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE (AUTUMN) | LCS-3C05 | 20 |
| DISSERTATION IN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE (SPRING) | LCS-3C06 | 20 |
| FRENCH ORAL AND WRITTEN COMPOSITION | LCS-3F13 | 20 |
| INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION IN PRACTICE | LCS-3C04 | 20 |
| INTRODUCTION TO CONFERENCE INTERPRETING | LCS-3T51 | 20 |
| INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC SERVICE INTERPRETING | LCS-3T58 | 20 |
| SPANISH HONOURS 3: ADVANCED HISPANIC STUDIES | LCS-3H11 | 20 |
| SPANISH HONOURS 3: WORLD SPANISHES | LCS-3H10 | 20 |
| SUBTITLING AND DUBBING (LEVEL 3) | LCS-3T17 | 20 |
| TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS FOR SUBTITLING AND DUBBING (LEVEL 3) | LCS-3T56 | 20 |
| TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS FOR TRANSLATING AND REAL-WORLD TRANSLATION (LEVEL 3) | LCS-3T54 | 20 |
| TRANSLATION (ENGLISH TO FRENCH) | LCS-3F14 | 20 |
| TRANSLATION AND ADAPTATION (LEVEL 3) | LCS-3T22 | 20 |
| TRANSLATION ISSUES IN THE MEDIA (LEVEL 3) | LCS-3T26 | 20 |
| TRANSLATION THEORY AND PRACTICE | LCS-3T07 | 20 |
| TRANSLATION WORK EXPERIENCE (LEVEL 3) | LCS-3T15 | 20 |
Disclaimer
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules and regular (five-yearly) review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff or sabbatical leave. Where this is the case, the University will endeavour to inform students.
Year Abroad
Your Third Year is spent in countries where your Honours languages are spoken. If you are taking Spanish and French from A level, you will normally split the year between two countries where those languages are spoken. If you are taking one of the languages from below A level, you will normally spend your year in a country where the weaker language is spoken and the summer in a country where your stronger language is spoken. The main option available to you is attending a university, normally as part of an exchange programme, one semester each in a French and a Spanish-speaking country. Students of French can, for instance, attend the prestigious Ecole de Traduction et d'Interprétation in Geneva. We have Erasmus exchange schemes and well-established links with a range of universities in France and Spain: (France) Clermont Ferrand, Corsica, Montpellier III, Nancy II, Nice, Paris, and Tours; (Spain) Alicante, Alcalá de Henares, Castilla La Mancha, Madrid (Antonio de Nebrija, Autónoma and Complutense), Granada, Salamanca, Toledo and Zaragoza, as well as the Universidad de Guadalajara and the Universidad de las Américas in Mexico.
It is also possible to take up a work placement but, because you will need to split your year, it is rare to be able to find a work placement for a short enough period. The final option of working as a language assistant is not open to you because you will need to split your year abroad and contracts for assistants are for more than six months. If you are a highly proficient native or near-native speaker of French or Spanish, then you are normally exempted from the compulsory year abroad for that language and spend your first year studying a completely different language from our wide range of subsidiary languages. In your following two years your compulsory language strand consists of final year level modules in your native language. If you are studying two languages to Honours level and one of these is your native language, then you will spend a year abroad in a country where your non-native language is spoken.
For further information, please visit the Study Abroad website.
Entry Requirements
- A Level:
- ABB
- International Baccalaureate:
- 32
- Scottish Advanced Highers:
- ABB
- Irish Leaving Certificate:
- AABBBB
- Access Course:
- Please contact the University for further information.
- HND:
- Please contact the University for further information.
- European Baccalaureate:
- 75%
Students for whom English is a Foreign language
We welcome applications from students from all academic backgrounds. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading). Recognised English Language qualifications include:
- IELTS: 6.5 overall (minimum 6.0 in all components)
- TOEFL: Internet-based score of 88 overall (minimum 18 in the Listening and Writing components; 19 in the Reading component; and 21 in the Speaking component)
- PTE: 62 overall with minimum 55 in all components
If you do not meet the University's entry requirements, our INTO Language Learning Centre offers a range of university preparation courses to help you develop the high level of academic and English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study.
Interviews
The School does not currently interview all applicants for undergraduate entry as standard, however we do offer the opportunity to meet with an academic individually on a Visit Day in order to gain a deeper insight into the course(s) you have applied for.
Gap Year
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year.
Deferred Entry
We also welcome applications for deferred entry, believing that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry and may wish to contact the appropriate Admissions Office directly to discuss this further.
Special Entry Requirements
It is generally expected that you should have at least a Grade B at A Level, or its equivalent, in the language or languages that you intend to take at honours level.
In the case of Spanish or Japanese studied from Beginners' or Spanish, French or Japanese from post-GCSE level, we require evidence of foreign language learning ability, such as a good grade in a foreign language at GCSE.
Intakes
The School's annual intake is in September of each year.
Alternative Qualifications
If you have alternative qualifications that have not been mentioned above then please contact the University directly for further information.
GCSE Offer
Students are required to have Mathematics and English at Grade C or above at GCSE level.
Assessment
For the majority of candidates the most important factors in assessing the application will be past and future achievement in examinations, academic interest in the subject being applied for, personal interest and extra-curricular activities and the confidential reference. We consider applicants as individuals and accept students from a very wide range of educational backgrounds and spend time considering your application in order to reach an informed decision relating your application. Typical offers are indicated above. Please note, there may be additional subject entry requirements specific to individual degree courses.
Fees and Funding
University Fees and Financial Support: UK/EU Students
Further information on fees and funding for 2012 can be found here
University Fees and Financial Support: International Students
The University will be charging International students £11,700.00 for all full time School of Language and Communication Studies undergraduate programmes which start in 2012.
Please click to access further information about fees and funding for International students.
Applications need to be made via the Universities Colleges and Admissions Services (UCAS), using the UCAS Apply option.
UCAS Apply is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time Undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom. It is made up of different sections that you need to complete. Your application does not have to be completed all at once. The system allows you to leave a section partially completed so you can return to it later and add to or edit any information you have entered. Once your application is complete, it must be sent to UCAS so that they can process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.
The UCAS code name and number for the University of East Anglia is EANGL E14.
Further Information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances with the Admissions Office prior to applying please do contact us:
Undergraduate Admissions Office (Language and Communication Studies)
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
Please click here to register your details online via our Online Enquiry Form.
International candidates are also actively encouraged to access the University's International section of our website.


