SOAS, University of London (The School of Oriental and African Studies)

Structure

The programme may be taken over 12 months full-time, 24 months two-year part time, or 36 months three-year part time. The MA consists of taught courses and a dissertation. The assessment of most of the taught courses includes a written examination paper or papers, taken in June. The dissertation, of 10,000 words, is due by 15 September of the year in which it is taken.

The marking guidelines for MA Theory and Practice of Translation Studies dissertations are different to those for other programmes. Please refer to this PDF document. Marking Criteria for MA Translation Dissertations (pdf; 66kb)

Courses

The MA consists of three taught courses (the half-unit course Translation Theory and a one unit course or two half-unit courses of Practical Translation are compulsory) `and a 10,000- word dissertation on an approved topic.

Core Courses

All students must take:

• Translation Theory - 15PLIH047 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

All students must take the equivalent of one unit from this list.

• Arabic/English/Arabic Translation - 15PLIC001 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Practical Translation: Chinese to English - 15PCHH004 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Practical Translation: English to Chinese - 15PCHH005 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Practical Translation: Japanese into English - 15PJKH003 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Practical Translation: English into Japanese - 15PJKH002 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Practical Translation from and into Korean - 15PJKC002 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Practical Translation from and into Persian - 15PNMC051 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2013/2014
• Practical translation from and into Swahili - 15PAFC029 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Optional Courses

Students take the equivalent of 1.5 units from these lists.

Full Unit Optional Courses

• Translation Technology - 15PLIC018 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• The Qur'an:Language,Style and Translation in English - 15PNMC142 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Language Pedagogy - 15PLIC015 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Introduction to the Study of Language - 15PLIC008 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Modern Chinese Literature in Translation - 15PCHC002 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Modern Chinese Literature (MA) - 15PCHC003 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Modern Documentary Texts - 15PEAC007 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Classical Documentary Texts - 15PEAC006 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Traditional Chinese Literature in Translation - 15PCHC004 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Culture and Society of Japan - 15PANC086 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Topics in the History and Structure of the Korean Language - 15PEAC060 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Topics in Modern Korean History - 15PEAC059 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Readings in Korean Literature (Masters) - 15PJKC016 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Readings in Modern Japanese Literature - 15PJKC003 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Half Unit Optional Courses

• Trajectories of Modernity in 20th Century Korean Literature (Masters) - 15PJKH006 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Literary Traditions and Culture of Korea (Masters) - 15PJKH005 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Translation of Journalistic Texts from and into Chinese - 15PLIH035 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Language, Society and Communication (Masters) - 15PLIH004 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Modern Film from Taiwan and the Chinese Diaspora - 15PCHH002 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Modern Chinese Film and Theatre (MA) - 15PCHH001 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Syntactic Structure of Japanese 1 - 15PEAH006 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Syntactic Structure of Japanese 2 - 15PEAH007 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Topics in the Structure of Chinese (Masters) - 15PLIH009 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2013/2014
• Second Language Acquisition in Japanese - 15PJKH004 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Modern Japanese Literature (Masters) - 15PEAH012 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Morphology (Masters) - 15PLIH006 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2013/2014
• Issues in Semantics (Masters) - 15PLIH012 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Historical Linguistics (Masters) - 15PLIH020 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Directed Readings in Linguistics/the Structure of Language A - 15PLIH001 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Directed Readings in Linguistics/the Structure of Language B - 15PLIH002 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Research Methods In Translation Studies - 15PLIH046 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

One-third Unit Optional Courses at SLAIS/UCL

Please see the teaching and learning tab for more information on SLAIS/UCL courses which are considered as 0.33 unit courses for this degree.

MA Dissertation

The 10,000 word dissertation may take the form of a translation project (60%) with commentary (40%) or a theoretical discussion of translation grounded in an African or Asian language.

Programme Specification

• MA Theory and Practice of Translation (Asian and African Languages) - Programme Specifications 2012/13 (pdf; 30kb)

Teaching & Learning

Teaching & Learning

One-third courses at SLAIS/UCL 

(Any combination of three of these modules equals one full course. Each module involves a total of 30 hours of teaching contact time over a single term.) Please speak to course convenor for more information.

• Internet Technologies
• Principles of Computing and Information Technology
• Modern Book Trade
• Electronic Publishing
• Legal and Social Aspects
• Systems Management
• XML
• Digital Resources in Humanities
• Introduction to Programming and Scripting

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the Programme will:

• have competence in the practice of translation
• be familiar with the major theories of translation
• have some understanding of translation research and methods

Teaching Staff

• Prof. Muhammad Abdel-Haleem, English-Arabic Translation, Islamic Studies
• Dr Cosima Bruno, Chinese- English Translation
• Dr John Breen, Japanese-English Translation
• Dr Chege Githiora, English-Swahili Translation
• Dr Mika Kizu, English-Japanese Translation
• Dr Grace Koh, Korean- English Translation
• Dr Defeng Li, Translation Studies, English vs Chinese Translation
• Dr Nima Mina, English-Persian Translation
• Dr Lianyi Song, English-Chinese Translation

Destinations

Our graduates find employment both in the United Kingdom and around the world. They will work with:

• Translation agencies
• Multinational companies
• International organizations
• Education institutions

They can also pursue further MPhil/PhD research in translation studies at SOAS or other academic institutions.

How to apply

How to apply

• How to Apply
• Online Application
• Funding options
• English language requirements
• Tuition Fees
• Admissions Contacts

Scholarships

For further information visit the Scholarships section