Translation

Entry requirements

MPhil: An upper second-class degree or international equivalent. Please note, acceptance will also depend on evidence of your readiness to pursue a research degree.

PhD: A master's qualification, or be working towards a master's qualification, or international equivalent. Applicants without a master's qualification may be considered on an exceptional basis, provided they hold a first-class undergraduate degree (or international equivalent). Applicants with a non-traditional background may be considered provided they can demonstrate substantial equivalent and relevant experience that has prepared them to undertake their proposed course of study.

Months of entry

January, September

Course content

The School of Modern Languages has particular research strengths in translation studies, including: audiovisual translation (especially subtitling and video game localization); translation technologies (especially machine translation and post-editing); translation history; literary translation, including poetry, drama, fiction, practice-oriented research; adaptation studies; and censorship in translation. Languages include Catalan, Chinese, Czech, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

The school's translation activities benefit from extensive collaborations with outside institutions and networks. Dr Carol O'Sullivan is a former board member of the European Society for Translation Studies, a former member of the steering group of Advancing Research in Translation and Interpreting Studies (ARTIS) and Editor-in-Chief of the journal Translation Studies. The Penguin Archive and the Theatre Collection, housed at the University, offer important resources for research in translation publishing and performance.

We welcome applications from students wishing to pursue tailor-made research to master's or doctoral level in any of the above areas. Our postgraduates are fully integrated in a professionally and personally supportive departmental community. We encourage you to attend and give papers at school and University research events, as well as national and international conferences. Funding is available to support field work and participation in external events. We support you in developing a full range of academic skills, including teaching.

Our research facilities foster interdisciplinary collaboration between all departments through research seminars and other events, and include the Multimedia Centre: a specialist language centre comprising a language laboratory, media suite, a library of foreign films, newspapers and magazines, and an 18-seat screening room.

Information for international students

See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.

Fees and funding

The University of Bristol is part of the South, West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership (SWW DTP2), which will be offering studentships for September 2023. For information on other funding opportunities, including University-funded studentships, please see the Faculty of Arts funding pages.

Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.