Pages in topic:   < [1 2]
Open Uni versus Bristol for MA Translation
Thread poster: Mithradates
David Hayes
David Hayes  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 00:07
French to English
I'd recommend the Open University Mar 18, 2019

I'm doing the Open University MA at the moment. It is ideal for me since you only sign up for a module at a time (meaning you don't have to fork out a fortune at the beginning, and can work around other commitments). I have been impressed by the quality of the course materials (everyone is done online - mainly written work but also some lectures and tutorials) and the support available. I know there is at least one American doing the course at the moment.
The course provides a good theore
... See more
I'm doing the Open University MA at the moment. It is ideal for me since you only sign up for a module at a time (meaning you don't have to fork out a fortune at the beginning, and can work around other commitments). I have been impressed by the quality of the course materials (everyone is done online - mainly written work but also some lectures and tutorials) and the support available. I know there is at least one American doing the course at the moment.
The course provides a good theoretical introduction to translation, with plenty of opportunities to actually translate as well. It is quite a lot of work if you have a job and/or other commitments too, but is managable. The cost compares very favorably with other UK universities. I'd recommend it!
For me, it is ongoing professional development. I do not think it absolutely necessary to complete an MA in translation before starting to work as a translator.

[Edited at 2019-03-18 20:13 GMT]
Collapse


Rachel Waddington
 
Tom in London
Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 23:07
Member (2008)
Italian to English
Not for long Mar 18, 2019

poissonrouge wrote:

I am an EU citizen


Maybe only until the end of this month.


 
Kate Chaffer
Kate Chaffer
Italy
Local time: 00:07
Member (2009)
Italian to English
French Mar 18, 2019

Tom in London wrote:

poissonrouge wrote:

I am an EU citizen


Maybe only until the end of this month.


Why won't the OP be French after the end of the month?

[Edited at 2019-03-18 21:06 GMT]


Josephine Cassar
 
Diana Coada (X)
Diana Coada (X)  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 23:07
Portuguese to English
+ ...
Agree Mar 19, 2019

DZiW wrote:

Considering your 15+yrs background and a recent multi-million cheating and bribery scandal in "elite" universities, I still cannot see why you allegedly can't translate at least in your fields--you need:
(1) more exp -or- (2) just a certificate?

[Edited at 2019-03-18 20:50 GMT]



Now that we've established your background and that you are not eligible for home fees, why not sit the DipTrans in one or every language pair? Or maybe the ATA test?


DZiW (X)
 
Lincoln Hui
Lincoln Hui  Identity Verified
Hong Kong
Local time: 07:07
Member
Chinese to English
+ ...
The obvious Mar 19, 2019

Kate Chaffer wrote:

Tom in London wrote:

poissonrouge wrote:

I am an EU citizen


Maybe only until the end of this month.


Why won't the OP be French after the end of the month?

[Edited at 2019-03-18 21:06 GMT]

The impending exit of France from the European Union, obviously.


 
Adam, MA Trans
Adam, MA Trans
United Kingdom
Local time: 23:07
French to English
+ ...
The OU is very good Mar 24, 2019

Hi,

I was asking myself this very question not 6 months ago!

The advantage of Bristol is you can work with 2 source languages, however I went with the OU because I read very good things about it (some on this website and some on reddit).

I don't regret my decision in the slightest. The OU course has been interesting, well-structured, and more importantly, relevant. I had about 7 years' experience in translation prior to enrolling and still feel I've improve
... See more
Hi,

I was asking myself this very question not 6 months ago!

The advantage of Bristol is you can work with 2 source languages, however I went with the OU because I read very good things about it (some on this website and some on reddit).

I don't regret my decision in the slightest. The OU course has been interesting, well-structured, and more importantly, relevant. I had about 7 years' experience in translation prior to enrolling and still feel I've improved as a translator since starting at the OU. So far it's been a balance between theory and then applying theory to our translations.

I wish you good fortune in whatever you decide to do!
Collapse


 
Mithradates
Mithradates
United States
Local time: 16:07
French to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Thanks Adam! Mar 24, 2019

Very helpful, Adam! Thank you.

 
Mirko Mainardi
Mirko Mainardi  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 00:07
Member
English to Italian
Interesting, but... Mar 24, 2019

Adam-MSCR wrote:

I don't regret my decision in the slightest. The OU course has been interesting, well-structured, and more importantly, relevant. I had about 7 years' experience in translation prior to enrolling and still feel I've improved as a translator since starting at the OU. So far it's been a balance between theory and then applying theory to our translations.


I looked at the OU MA myself, but what I found weird is that there's no structured and detailed study programme, just a generic description for the 2 modules (and final thesis). I asked them, and they said the only info about it is what is published on their website...

Also, while this is not an issue in the UK, recognition of the degree in other countries (for various purposes) might be, and how do you ask national authorities for their opinion about the course and its equivalence to national ones if there's no detailed info about it?

Maybe someone else took it and can chime in about this?

P.S. https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/education/university/recognition/index_en.htm

[Edited at 2019-03-24 17:06 GMT]


 
david199
david199
United Kingdom
Think carefully before choosing Bristol... Dec 30, 2019

Hello,

I am currently studying the Masters in Translation at the University of Bristol but I would really not recommend it. 

1. Some of the teaching staff are very difficult to contact and you have to send several emails before they reply, which is incredibly frustrating for a distance learning course where you can't call someone or knock on their door
 
2. For the specialised translation modules, you cannot choose your specialism. So you just get assigned
... See more
Hello,

I am currently studying the Masters in Translation at the University of Bristol but I would really not recommend it. 

1. Some of the teaching staff are very difficult to contact and you have to send several emails before they reply, which is incredibly frustrating for a distance learning course where you can't call someone or knock on their door
 
2. For the specialised translation modules, you cannot choose your specialism. So you just get assigned something like engineering or legal translation even though you might have no interest in this

3. There is really minimal communication with most of the other students. The discussion forums are completely dead except for a flurry of activity at the start of each term when all the new students introduce themselves. Then everyone gets busy with their jobs and families and just focuses on the assessed work, which is submitted privately. So if you want an MA where you get actual feedback on your translations, look elsewhere... 

In terms of the reputation of the universities in the UK, Bristol has a good rep. But IMHO it's not worth doing this particular course just to get the word Bristol on your CV. Several of the students on the course have a really bad grip of English (I don't think they really refuse anybody entry to the course -- they want your tuition fees after all) so I don't think the MA at Bristol will come to be particularly well respected. 

But I don't think these are the only two distance MA translation courses on offer -- have you checked out Portsmouth or Birmingham?
Collapse


 
david199
david199
United Kingdom
European Masters in Translation Dec 30, 2019

Also, in terms of international visibility, this is a thing: https://ec.europa.eu/info/resources-partners/european-masters-translation-emt/list-emt-members-2019-2024_en

Neither Bristol nor the Open University are on the list...


 
Pages in topic:   < [1 2]


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:


You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

Open Uni versus Bristol for MA Translation







Wordfast Pro
Translation Memory Software for Any Platform

Exclusive discount for ProZ.com users! Save over 13% when purchasing Wordfast Pro through ProZ.com. Wordfast is the world's #1 provider of platform-independent Translation Memory software. Consistently ranked the most user-friendly and highest value

Buy now! »
CafeTran Espresso
You've never met a CAT tool this clever!

Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer. Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools. Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free

Buy now! »