Program Overview

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PG Diploma Chinese-English Translation and Interpreting should interest you if you want to build your language proficiency in Chinese and English, and further develop the translation and interpreting techniques that are required by employers. Postgraduate (PG) Diplomas last for six to nine months (full-time) and include the modules and assessed work of a Masters, without a dissertation. This allows you to proceed to a Masters in Languages if your undergraduate degree was in a different subject. Building on our internationally recognised expertise in the teaching of practical foreign language skills, our course offers written translation, oral interpreting and film and video subtitling in a single programme. By the end of your studies, you will have developed the practical language and key skills necessary for employment in professional translation, interpreting and subtitling. Our course will build on the knowledge and skills you acquired in your previous qualifications, and is unique in the emphasis it places on hands-on training. With the help of native speakers, you learn how to use your language skills to translate, interpret and subtitle effectively, using the latest industry-standard software, in a culturally sensitive way. You cover topics including:

• Bilateral, consecutive and simultaneous interpreting
• Technologies of translation
• Effective note-taking
• Written translation

If you want a global outlook, are interested in human communication, and want to study for a degree with real-world practical value in a world-class department, welcome to Essex. Why we're great.

• We are 1st in UK for research impact in modern languages and linguistics (Grade Point Average, REF 2021)
• Work in our state-of-the-art interpreter training lab and UN-style conference interpreting booths
• Weekly multilingual interpreting conferences, field trips and workshops led by internationally renowned experts from the industry

Our expert staff

Our lecturers are skilled interpreters and translators, experienced in training students with the necessary skills for professional practice. We maintain excellent student-staff ratios with capped language-specific seminars and all our language teachers are native or bilingual speakers. Our lecturers on the PG Diploma (Dan Chen, Nan Zhao and Yanxi Wu) are professional interpreters and translators experienced in training students in the necessary skills for professional practice.

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Specialist facilities

• Our new interpreting lab provides 10 booths to interpret conferences with up to 20 interpreters
• Use our lecture theatre equipped with five interpreting booths, and the capacity to interpret lectures of up to 350 people – we are the only university in the UK with such facilities
• We regularly use two multimedia language teaching labs equipped with top-of-the-range computers integrating audio-visual projectors and large screens
• Use specialist software such as SDL Trados Studio 2019 and MemoQ for technical translation, Avidanet Live and Black Box for Interpreting and WinCaps Qu4ntum for Subtitling
• Use our professional recording studios to video record a small audience or for presentations
• An exciting programme of research seminars and other events
• Our Languages for All programme offers you the opportunity to study an additional language alongside your course at no extra cost

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Your future

Our course directly leads to a career in translation, interpreting and subtitling, in the media, business and tourism between the English-speaking world and China. We work with the University’s Careers Services to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities. After the Postgraduate Diploma Chinese-English Translation and Interpreting study, many of our students move on to an MA course, for example: MA Translation and Professional Practice, MA Advanced Interpreting with Specialised Translation and MA Conference Interpreting and Translation, where you can focus on modules and topics you are most interested in for another year to hone your translation and/or interpreting skills for employment, as well as doctoral studies if you prefer. Within our Department of Language and Linguistics, we also offer supervision for PhD and MPhil. We offer supervision in areas including language acquisition, language learning and language teaching, culture and communication, psycholinguistics, language disorders, sociolinguistics, and theoretical and descriptive linguistics. Our graduates are successful in a wide variety of career paths. They leave Essex with a unique set of skills and experience that are in demand by employers. “I’ve had the opportunity to use state-of-the-art equipment in the interpreting lab and be involved in some wonderful lectures, both of which have given me an unparalleled study experience. Studying here has reassured me of my aspirations and also helped me realise my potential.” Yanzhu Chen, Former Postgraduate Diploma Chinese-English Translation and Interpreting student