Translation Leiden University

Overview

The specialisation in Translation at Leiden University offers a unique combination of translation theory, research and practice. If you aspire to become a translator, subtitler, terminologist, linguist, project manager or technology consultant, this is the perfect programme to launch your career!

As a student in the Translation programme, you will become familiar with all aspects of translation. The art of translation is so much more than changing words and sentences from one language to another. To master this craft, you will practice the translation of different kinds of texts – from legal contracts to young adult novels and from medical leaflets to Netflix shows – using the appropriate tools and technologies, including machine translation and LLMs. Most people don't realize just how complex the task of the translator, subtitler and interpreter really is. Recent research clearly shows that it is highly unlikely – not to mention undesirable – that human translators will become obsolete because computers and artificial intelligence provide ‘perfect’ translations, even though that is exactly what Big Tech wants us to believe. You will familiarize yourself with the latest research in Translation Studies to reflect on your own translation decisions as well as on the economic, political, technological and ethical factors that influence the translation industry.

What you will learn

The Master's programme in Translation at Leiden University equips you with a range of transferable skills and knowledge that will help you stand out in your future career. Your specialised knowledge is complemented by a broad and contextual understanding as well as critical-thinking skills that can be applied to complex conceptual problems. Other skills you may encounter in the various Linguistics courses are:

• Oral and written communication
• Project management
• Creative thinking
• Problem-solving skills
• Intercultural skill

Career prospects

Because of the extensive curriculum and specialisations, as well as our integration of state-of-the-art tools and technologies (including Machine Translation and LLMs), you will be well-prepared to find a job related to the language industry. Our graduates have landed jobs in various sectors of the job market, such as education, communication and marketing, government and cultural institutions. Examples of the diverse roles of our graduates include:

• Freelance or in-house subtitler
• Project manager at a translation agency or international company
• In-house translator at a financial institution or ministry of the interior
• English teacher at Dutch high schools
• Copywriter or technical writer
• Medical, legal or literary translator
• MT / tools consultant for a company or NGO

Examples of jobs

• Project manager
• Translator

Accreditation

Accredited by NVAO, the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders.