Advanced Language Skills (MA)

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Course Overview
Key Facts
Course Outline
Why Choose This Course?
Course Fees
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Course Overview

This course is not on offer for entry in September 2023. You may find the MA (Translation Studies) or MA (Languages and Business) of interest instead.

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Watch course video presentation here.

This master’s programme provides advanced linguistic and technical training to prepare you for work as a linguist. There is a growing demand for such specialised services. You will develop your language skills to a high level and gain experience in the area of translation technology. You will acquire a high level of communication skills in your chosen language speciality of French, German, Italian or Spanish.

Course content includes:

Translation Methodology and Text;
Audiovisual Translation;
Language and Intercultural Communication;
Translation Studies;
Dissertation.

*Note on Master’s Programmes in the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures

Each master’s programme in the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures is made up of 60 taught credits and a dissertation worth 30 credits. Every programme has a minimum of 20 core compulsory credits in taught modules and students can complete the 60 credit requirement by selecting taught modules from all programmes in the school to build a tailored programme to suit their individual needs. Modules focus on developing advanced skills in language, literature or translation and students can select literature modules studied through the original language or international literature in English translation. Language specialisms in this programme are currently, advanced French, Gaeilge, German, Italian, Spanish, and beginners and advanced Latin.

Applications and Selections

Applications are made online via the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System.

Who Teaches this Course

Prof. Hans W Schmidt-Hannisa

M.A, Dr. Phil

Professor
DEPARTMENT OF GERMAN
NUIG
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Prof Paolo Bartoloni

B.A.,Ph.D.

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Dr Máire Aine Mannion

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Prof Laura McLoughlin

PhD

Personal Professor
Dept. of Italian
Room 314
Arts Millennium Building
NUI Galway
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Dr. Pilar Alderete Diez

MA., Ph.D

Lecturer Type A
University of Galway
University Road
Galway
H91 TK33
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Dr Mel Boland

BA, M.LITT, Ph.D.

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Requirements and Assessment

Assessment will include a mixture of project work, assignments, and examinations. Language proficiency will be assessed continuously throughout the year and examined in a written examination. An oral examination, generally consisting of a research presentation, will also take place.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Second Class Honours NQAI Level 8 degree or equivalent, with Second Class Honours Grade 2 or equivalent in the language to be studied.

Additional Requirements

Duration

1 year, full-time

Next start date

NOT ON OFFER for entry 2023

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

Closing Date

Please view the offer rounds website.

NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

Award

CAO

Course code

MA-ALS

Course Outline

Translation Methodology and Text: development of skills in advanced and specialised translation with an emphasis on translation software.
Audiovisual Translation: interlingual subtitling (French and Italian). Elements of analysis of film discourse and audiovisual translation. Hands-on workshops with short subtitling projects.
Language and Intercultural Communication: the aim of this module is to equip students with the transferable skills necessary to work successfully in an international environment.
Translation Studies: this module provides a strong theoretical focus and a history and development of the field of translation studies.
Dissertation: a research dissertation of approximately 20,000 words on a topic to be decided in consultation with the course coordinators.

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits: You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module: An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Subject: Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
Optional: A module you may choose to study.
Required: A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Required Core Subject: A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
Semester: Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

Year 1 (90 Credits)

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Our students have found employment in a variety of contexts, both in Ireland and abroad. In particular, graduates have been employed by national and international translation companies, EU offices, and international customer care and marketing centres.

Many have taken up second and third-level teaching positions. A number of graduates have progressed to doctoral studies and have obtained prestigious scholarships.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€Not on offer 2023/24

Fees: Tuition

€N/A

Fees: Student levy

€N/A

Fees: Non EU

€Not on offer 2023/24

Find out More

Dr Máire Áine Ní Mhainnín
T: +353 91 493 397
E: mary.mannion@universityofgalway.ie

Quick Links

What Our Students Say

Margaret O' Connor |

I found the course an enjoyable and worthwhile experience. It helped me to develop skills that are useful for the workplace with the study of translation technologies such as Trados. It also offered me the opportunity to study academic disciplines that interested me, such as Translation Studies. The skills that I developed should provide a good foundation for my future career.

Tom Ryan | Jr Translation Project Manager/Reviewer, Nova Language Ltd.

The MA (Advanced Language Skills) offers students a great opportunity to further develop their language skills, increase their awareness of the translation field and gain new skills in the area of the translation software. I really enjoyed the range of subjects on offer and the practical, translation-intensive nature of the course. Translations varied from literary to medical and always offered new challenges. Classes in interpretation and oral skills really helped to develop my confidence in my spoken French and the film subtitling module offered a unique insight into the concepts of audiovisual translation, which I found very interesting. The dissertation gave me an opportunity to work independently, researching the strategies and concepts involved in translating children’s literature all the while translating a children’s book and commenting on the approaches I took throughout. All of the theoretical and practical experience greatly benefitted me in my subsequent career as a translation project manager where I translate and review texts in the areas of IT, marketing and gaming, using a wide array of the translation software.

What Our Graduates Say

Marie Carrere | Former MA Advanced Language Skills Student

I completed the MA Advanced Language Skills in 2021, and I would definitely recommend it! I really enjoyed the variety of the courses. It helped me strengthen and discover my knowledge of different cultures with the module on intercultural communication or the Literature of France in Algeria. The courses also equipped me with large and sound skills in the theoretical and practical areas of translation. In addition to the quality of the courses, what I appreciated the most was the kindness of the academic staff. During this weird time of Covid and online classes, the teachers have always helped us, been available and offered excellent materials. Thanks to this master's degree, I was fully equipped to start my new job as a freelance translator.

in Connect with Marie