Which source languages can I take with the BA Translation Studies?

Major options are French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Russian. Less commonly taught languages may be available subject to tutor capacity — speak to admissions if your language isn't in the main list.

How does the BA Translation Studies handle machine translation and AI tools?

Honestly. Machine translation is part of the working translator's toolkit and the course teaches post-editing, quality assurance and the ethical questions AI translation raises. We don't pretend machine translation doesn't exist, and we don't pretend it makes human translators obsolete — both positions are wrong.

Can I specialise in literary translation on the BA Translation Studies?

Yes. Literary translation is one of the four specialist modules in year two, with continued option in year three. Students with a literary focus typically build their portfolio around a longer literary translation project as part of their final-year work.

Is there an industry placement on the BA Translation Studies?

Yes — a structured placement in year two, lasting six to ten weeks. Options include translation agencies, in-house translation desks at international organisations, and supervised freelance shadowing. Online and distance students arrange placements in their own region with support from the LSJHML placements team.

Will the BA Translation Studies prepare me for a Master's in interpreting?

Yes — the BA covers the linguistic and methodological foundations both translation and interpreting Master's programmes require. Students aiming specifically at interpreting are encouraged to take the year-three Interpretation Studies option module alongside their core translation modules.

BA Translation Studies in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The BA Translation Studies at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a three-year UK honours degree for students who already speak at least one language other than English at upper-intermediate level (CEFR B2 or above) and want to train as professional translators. The degree pairs translation theory and practice with hands-on training in the computer-assisted translation tools (CAT) the industry runs on, and with specialist modules in legal, technical, literary and audiovisual translation.

This is a degree about working translation — what publishers, law firms, broadcasters, courts and international organisations actually need translators to deliver. You graduate with a translation portfolio, a working CAT toolset, an industry placement on your CV, and a route into either Master's-level specialism or direct freelance practice.

Key Features

UK honours degree in translation studies — three years full-time, with online and distance routes for students with a working translation practice or job already in place.
One or two source languages studied alongside your translation training — bring one to B2; add or strengthen a second across the degree.
CAT tools training — SDL Trados Studio, memoQ, OmegaT, Phrase. Industry licences provided.
Specialist translation modules in legal, technical, scientific, literary and audiovisual translation.
Industry placement in year two — agency, in-house translation desk or freelance shadowing.
Portfolio module — graduate with a 30,000-word translation portfolio across specialisms, ready to share with agencies and direct clients.

What You Will Learn

The BA Translation Studies is structured around the working life of a professional translator — receiving a brief, scoping the job, using the right tools, delivering on time, and standing by the choices you made. The course blends translation theory, technological literacy and sustained translation practice.

Translation theory — Schleiermacher, Nida, Venuti, Toury, contemporary translation studies debates.
Source-language consolidation in your chosen languages — strengthening from B2 to C1.
Translation practice — sustained weekly translation exercises in multiple registers.
CAT tools — translation memories, termbases, quality-assurance checks, project files.
Specialist translation — legal, technical, scientific, literary, audiovisual (subtitling, dubbing scripts, accessibility).
Localisation principles — software, web, marketing, gaming.
Translation ethics — accuracy, fidelity, neutrality, conflicts of interest.
Professional practice — agency relationships, direct clients, rates and contracts, CPD.

Who This Course Is For

School leavers with at least one second language at B2 or above (heritage learners welcome).
Bilingual adults working in administrative or customer-service roles who want to professionalise their translation skills.
International students with strong English and a non-English first language seeking a UK translation qualification.
Working translators without a formal qualification ready to consolidate their practice and earn a recognised UK degree.

Career Pathways

Translation is a profession with multiple entry points — staff jobs in international organisations, agency in-house roles, and the freelance market that absorbs most graduates. The BA Translation Studies opens all three. Typical first roles include:

In-house Translator (translation agency, law firm, multinational corporation)
Localisation Specialist (software, video games, e-commerce)
Subtitler (streaming platform, broadcaster, accessibility provider)
Project Manager (translation agency)
Freelance Translator (legal, technical or literary specialism)
Translator-Reviser (publisher, international organisation)

The BA is structured to prepare graduates for MA Translation Studies or MA Interpretation Studies at LSJHML or a partner institution, and for the professional credentials offered by CIOL and ITI.

Entry Requirements

Three A-Levels at BBC or above (or international equivalent — IB 28 points, BTEC DMM, or accepted national qualification).
Demonstrated CEFR B2 or above in your chosen source language (placement test offered at application stage).
GCSE English Language at grade 5 or equivalent English proficiency test.
IELTS 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) for non-native English speakers.
A short personal statement; mature applicants (21+) may apply with a portfolio and short interview.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.