MA Literary Translation (Part Time)
Key Details
- Attendance
- Part Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2024
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Course Overview
What do Karl Ove Knausgård, Valeria Luiselli and Clarice Lispector have in common with Jo Nesbø, Georg Trakl and Yoko Tawada? They’ve all been translated into English by graduates from the MA Literary Translation at UEA!
On this course, you’ll focus exclusively on literary translation, combining translation practice with translation theory. You’ll gain the academic qualification needed for a career as a professional translator, as well as laying the foundation for further academic research.
We have been training literary translators for over 30 years. Our students have gone on to become award-winning translators, writers, editors and academics.
The course is supported by the British Centre for Literary Translation (BCLT).
On this two-year course, you’ll combine a strong practical focus with serious reflection on stylistic, cultural and theoretical questions.
At its heart is a lively programme of literary translation workshops taught by leading practitioners in the field.
Many of our students go on to become published translators, while others work in publishing or the media. Alternatively, the MA Literary Translation will provide you with a very good basis for PhD study, should you choose to take your studies further. You’ll also benefit from our annual programme of readings, visits and residencies from writers and translators.
Throughout the course, you’ll have the chance to build your understanding of the professional aspects of translation. In the three main modules that make up the course – and in special workshops with professional translators as well as in the BCLT Summer School – you will have plenty of opportunities to network and learn more about what being a translator involves.
You may also have the opportunity to join the editing team and/or to contribute a translation to our anthology.
Study and Modules
Structure
In the first semester of your first year, you’ll gain a firm grounding in the history and theory of literary translation and you’ll also learn how to approach translation from a more experimental angle. Considering writing, rewriting and textual intervention, you will explore process not only as it relates to doing a translation, but as something that may be incorporated into the text itself.
Compulsory Modules
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. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with 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. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
You’ll benefit from a distinguished and experienced team of lecturers on this course:
Duncan Large, who specialises in translation and translation studies (especially historical translation theory), comparative literature (especially Anglo-German literary relations), and history of thought in the German-speaking world (especially Friedrich Nietzsche and French Nietzsche interpretation).
Cecilia Rossi, whose expertise lies in literary translation (especially poetry translation), Latin American literature (especially poetry), literary translation and creativity (theoretical, pedagogical and practical applications), the writer’s archive and the literary translator, and literary translation and cultural memory.
Thomas Boll, a specialist in the theory and practice of translation, the Latin American, European and Anglo-American avant-garde, twentieth-century Spanish American fiction, contemporary poetry in Spanish and English, Mexican history and culture, and archives.
Assessment
Throughout the MA, your modules will be assessed by an essay or project work (5,000 words each). The projects may involve working on a translation with commentary.
Structure
In the first semester of your second year, you’ll examine translation across various genres and consider the ways texts are disseminated across different cultures. This module has a creative-critical format, giving you the opportunity to analyse translations closely and practise your own translation skills. In your second semester, you’ll be able to tailor your studies to your interests by choosing an optional module from the exciting list of modules offered across the MA programmes of the School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing.
In this semester, you’ll also assemble a dossier of your translations for submission to a tutor, who will be an expert in the source or target language of your choice. Your practical translation workshops will help you prepare for your dissertation, which can be either a critical project or a translation with commentary.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)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. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with 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. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
In the second semester, you’ll be taking the third core module, and also choose an optional module from a range of modules taught in the School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing.
You’ll also be taking the year-long Literary Translation Research and Methodology Training Seminar, which offers you an exciting series of translation workshops taught by leading translators and staff.
Independent study
Your dissertation will be supervised by one of the tutors above, who will guide you through a project that combines translation and commentary or a sustained critical project on some aspect of Literary Translation.
Assessment
In the second year, you’ll take the third core module, for which you will write an essay or project (5,000 words).
For optional modules, assessment will vary slightly with each module.
You’ll also write a 15,000–20,000-word dissertation, which will be either a translation with commentary or a critical essay. You will begin work on your dissertation, with the guidance of a supervisor, in the spring of your second year, and you’ll hand it in at the beginning of September.
Entry Requirements
- Degree Classification
- Bachelors (Hons) degree - 2:1
- Degree Subject
- Literary or related subject preferred
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 7.0 overall (minimum 7.0 in Writing and 6.0 in all other components)
Test dates should be within 2 years of the course start date.
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:
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- Intakes
This course is open to UK and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year .
Additional Information or Requirements
Candidates will be required to submit a translation of a short story, poem or literary text with the source text of no more than 5 pages with their application.
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2024/25 are:
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UK Students: £9,975 (full time)
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International Students: £21,200 (full time)
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
We estimate living expenses at £1,023 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
FURTHER INFORMATION
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.
Employability
After the Course
Our MA Literary Translation will be a hugely valuable qualification when it comes to starting your career in this field. There is evidence that even firms specialising in technical or commercial translation value an MA Literary Translation.
As well as going on to careers in literary, technical and commercial translation, many of our graduates choose to combine freelance translation teaching, lecturing, librarianship, work in the media, or publishing. In these fields, too, this MA will give you an advantage, both through the transferable skills you’ll gain, and the technical and creative expertise you’ll build.
Careers
A degree at UEA will prepare you for a wide variety of careers. We've been ranked 1st for Job Prospects by StudentCrowd in 2022.
Example of careers that you could enter include:
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Professional freelance translator
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Editor
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Publisher
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Academic
Discover more on our Careers webpages.