Glossary

Use this search only if you have an exact code for a Program, Stream, or Course, e.g. 3403, ACCTA13502, ACCT1501 or ACCT*.

Translation - 8203

Program Summary

Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Contact: hal@unsw.edu.au

Campus: Sydney

Career: Postgraduate

Typical Duration: 1.5 Years

Typical UOC Per Semester: 24

Min UOC Per Semester: 6

Max UOC Per Semester: 24

Min UOC For Award: 72

Award(s):

Master of Translation

View program information for previous years

Program Description

THIS PROGRAM IS FOR STUDENTS COMMENCING IN 2015 ONWARDS.

The Master of Translation (MTran) program is approved by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI). The program aims to equip graduates with the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills to work as competent and ethical translators in international and domestic settings. The areas of specialisation covered in the program are legal, medical, business, diplomacy and media. The program is staffed by leading researchers and practitioners in the field, students receive training that draws on the results of research and practical experience to ensure relevance and effectiveness. Academic content is complemented by professional practical experience where students are able to apply what was learned in class in real professional settings. The program is offered in the following language combinations, subject to student demand: English and Chinese (Mandarin), French, Indonesian*, Japanese, Korean, Russian and Spanish.

*Indonesian is not available in 2015.

Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes

The Master of Translation aims to:

Prepare students to obtain the Professional level Translator NAATI accreditation
Equip students with the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills of translation to work as competent and ethical practitioners in international and domestic settings
Develop students’ thorough understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of the practice of translation, based on the results of research, to allow them to make informed choices as professional translators
Develop students’ understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of the process and the practice of translation
Develop students’ ability to critically review the theoretical and research literature in the field of translation
Develop students' ability to analytically reflect on their own practices as professional translators
Develop students' ability to work collaboratively in a team and collaborate with colleagues
Develop students' ability to communicate efficiently in multi-cultural and multi-lingual settings

Program-level learning outcomes

By the end of the program, the students will acquire the program-level learning outcomes necessary to meet the occupational needs of the translation profession, which include:

1. Advanced disciplinary knowledge and practices

An advanced understanding of the established theories and practical skills of translation
The developed capacity for the application of the theories and practices to a variety of translation settings at home and overseas

2. Enquiry-based learning

The developed capacity for planning and implementing professional projects
The developed capacity for the application of translation principles and practices to the translation of complex documents in specialized areas such as legal, medical, business, diplomacy and media

3. Cognitive skills and critical thinking

The developed capacity for translating complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level
The developed capacity for the critical evaluation of new research findings in the field of translation
The developed capacity for analysing their own translation problems and issues, making informed choices as professional translators and justifying them professionally

4. Communication, adaptive and interactional skills

The developed capacity for translating complex ideas in a variety of fields (e.g. legal, medical, business and media)
The demonstrated development of a high level of personal autonomy and accountability in the application of translation knowledge and skills
The developed capacity for the application of the principles of teamwork and collaboration

5. Global outlook

An understanding of cultural and linguistic differences in multicultural communication
The developed capacity for efficient communication in multicultural settings

Career Opportunities

The Translation profession offers varied opportunities for employment in the government and private sectors including media, newspapers, and business.

Entry Requirements

The entry requirements are as follows:

For the 1.5 year (72 UOC) stream

Bachelor degree (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant discipline with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65% and an advanced level of bilingual proficiency
Bachelor degree (or equivalent qualification) in any discipline with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65% plus one year relevant professional experience and an advanced level of bilingual proficiency
Honours degree or Graduate Diploma* (or equivalent qualification) in any discipline with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65% and an advanced level of bilingual proficiency

For the 1 year (48 UOC) stream

Honours degree or Graduate Diploma* (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant discipline with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65% and an advanced level of bilingual proficiency
Bachelor degree (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant discipline with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65% plus one year relevant professional experience and an advanced level of bilingual proficiency

Relevant disciplines include:

Interpreting and Translation
Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences
Media, Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Advertising, Marketing
Business, Economics, Commerce
Law
Linguistics
Languages
TESOL
Cognitive Science

Applicants with a degree in a discipline not listed here but who wish to make a case for its academic relevance to these programs should enquire here: studyarts@unsw.edu.au.

* It is expected that a Graduate Diploma will have been completed after an undergraduate degree.

Program Structure

The program consists of theoretical and practical courses that complement each other. Theoretical courses cover the theories that can be directly applied to inform and improve practice. The results of the latest research form an integral part of the content of the program's courses. The practical courses apply the learning from the theoretical courses to the development of bilingual translation skills. In addition to the knowledge and skills of translation as a discipline and as a profession, students will also learn related academic and practical skills such as critical analysis, independent research and preparation, project management and team work - which are all related to the work of translators. Students will also learn about the different settings in which translators work, such as law, health, business, diplomacy and media. Teaching methods match the objectives of the program by combining lectures with practical tutorials and a variety of exercises where students actively participate. Students will be assessed through different tasks that target the varied skills and knowledge the courses aim to develop; these include authentic translation projects, critical self analysis of students' own performance, oral presentation, portfolio development, personal language enhancement projects, critical analysis of texts and academic essays.

The program has a strong linguistic component which underpins the theoretical basis of the process and practice of translation. It offers a wide variety of language combinations not available at other institutions. The program combines theoretical lectures delivered in English with language-specific practical tutorials where the theories learned in the lectures are applied to the practice. It also provides students with a comprehensive practicum component.

MTran 1.5 year (72 UOC) stream

Core Courses (48 UOC)
Prescribed Elective Courses (24 UOC)

MTran 1 year (48 UOC) stream

Core Courses (42 UOC)
Prescribed Elective Courses (6 UOC)

ARTS5503 Academic Writing (6 UOC)
This course can be taken as an additional course for students wishing to develop their academic writing skills. It will not count towards the program requirements. Click here for further details about the course.