BSc Translation Studies - German

Key facts

4 years full-time with integrated year abroad

UCAS Code: R210

Typical Offers
A-levels: ABB/ABC/BBB from 3 A-levels, including German Grade B. General Studies accepted. Aston DOES NOT accept the double AS qualification in lieu of 2 AS-levels.

IB: 32-34 points in the IB diploma including TOK/Bonus points. Standard level Maths and English 5 required and 6 in Higher Level German.

Access: Pass Access to HE Diploma with Merit in each module. Humanities or Social Sciences Access course preferred, but other courses considered on an individual basis. A-level grade B in German or equivalent.

BTEC: National Extended Diploma DDD – DDM. A-level grade B in German or equivalent. Mix of Diploma/ Subsidiary Diploma/A-levels acceptable.

We accept a wide range of UK, EU and International qualifications: please contact us for further advice.

Specific subject requirements:
GCSE English Language and Maths Grade C.

Applicants receiving offers are invited to an open day.

Tuition fees: £9,000 (£1,000 during placement year) for UK/EU students. (2013). More on fees

Scholarships available for 2013

Key benefits

4th for Languages Graduate Jobs in the Sunday Times 2013
6th for Languages Graduate Level Destinations sixth months after Graduation - Guardian 2013
Translation graduates can now receive accreditation from the Chartered Institute of Linguists.
Contemporary and applied focus, with a high level of teaching delivered in German
Check out our German Blog to find out more about German at Aston.

Subject guide and modules

Our Translation Studies programmes combine the study of German with professional and theoretical aspects of translation. The programmes are designed to prepare you for a successful career either in translation or in allied professions.

By the end of the programme your language skills will have reached near-native proficiency and you will also have developed competence in translation and intercultural communication. The programmes focus on German culture and society. They develop insights into the wider socio-cultural context of translation.

Josh Benjamin, winner of the LSS Student Video Competition, puts students on the spot and asks them to describe the School of Languages & Social Sciences in one word - 'I feel this shows viewers how the students themselves view the department they study in'.

Sample module options

The following module descriptions are indications only - the modules on offer and the content of the modules is subject to change.

Click on the module titles to find out more.

Year 1

Language and communication determine the way we interact with one another, shape our personal relationships and create an image of ourselves. On a larger scale, language and communication are among the main factors which shape societies and distinct forms of culture. This module offers an introduction to the basic concepts of language and communication. Linguistics, the science of studying language, languages and communication, offers a variety of tools and methods to analyse phenomena such as bilingualism, computer-mediated communication, language and globalization etc.

Assessment: two hour examination.

This module introduces students to translation as a professional activity. They will be familiarised with key theoretical concepts of translation and their application in practice, so as to develop skills in translating. They will learn to produce translations into English that are appropriate for their specified purpose and readers, and learn to explain their own translation decisions.

Assessment is by group work, coursework and examination.

This module follows on from the Introduction to Translation, putting into practice many of the ideas students encountered there. The module is based on practical sessions that examine a range of language mediation tasks including summary translation, song translation, subtitling, liaison interpreting and translation editing. The class uses various language combinations and involves intensive small-group preparation.

Method of assessment: group presentation and individual translation project.

This is the core language skills module for first-year students which provides a solid linguistic basis for the coming years of study. The module consists of three parts: a) grammar lecture, revising the major topics of German grammar; b) communication skills seminars, practising written and oral language skills with group work, whole-class work and individual study; and c) an e-learning component comprising listening skills, vocabulary and general knowledge of the German-speaking areas.

Methods of assessment: grammar tests, reader’s diary, written exam, oral exam and portfolio of self-study assignments.

The module provides students with knowledge of nineteenth- and twentieth-century history and area studies as an essential intellectual basis for the modules in Levels Two and Three. Landeskunde lectures give students a basic knowledge of the German speaking countries, including geography, political systems, education systems, and aspects of the economy. In the second Teaching Period students are introduced to major events in German history from the late nineteenth century to the end of National Socialism, and their lasting effects on modern Germany are examined.

Assessment: 1-hour written examination at the end of Teaching Period I (25%). 10-minute oral presentation (25%), 1500-word essay (50%), research skills portfolio (pass/fail) in Teaching Period II.

In this module, students are introduced to film studies as an academic discipline. In seminars they learn about the grammar of film (i.e. the use of picture, sound, camera movements) and cover basic principles of interaction between audiences and the film industry. Focussing on a varying common theme (e.g. “coming of age”, “outsiders and social misfits”), students watch and analyse a range of contemporary German films and comment on them in class-discussions as well as in writing.

Assessment: 2-hour written, video based examination at the end of the Teaching Period (50%), 5 written tasks to be completed during teaching time, in weeks without seminars (10% each).

The topical content areas are determined by respective current events reported in the German news media. These serve as a platform to discuss wider issues in German politics, society, economy and culture. Examples can include elections, public debates, or major events. Students will also be made familiar with the nature and political affiliations of different newspapers and other media.

Assessment: speech; group discussion; two letters to the editor.

This seminar-based module introduces the German language today and its historical context. It covers topics including the German-speaking areas; spoken and written language; the development of a German standard language; language versus dialect: the examples of Low German and Frisian; language policy and language planning; German minority languages and linguistic minorities in Germany; language contact: the example of Yiddish and English borrowings into German.

Method of assessment: oral poster presentation and a two-hour exam in German.

Year 2

This module focuses on traditions of literary translation in Europe. Based on approaches to cultural exchange, students will learn about the history of literary translation in major European countries. Students are introduced to particular historical case studies, in the form of a short formal lecture, a student group presentation, and related discussion exercises, so as to get insight into the wider political, cultural and ethical context of translation.

Method of assessment: one-hour class test and 1500-word essay in English.

This module introduces a selection of electronic tools that assist the professional translator. They will carry out practical translation exercises using translation memory systems, machine translation, terminology databases, subtitle editors and localisation tools. The knowledge gained in this module will be particularly useful for potential work placements with translation companies during the year abroad.

Method of Assessment: portfolio and oral.

This module highlights the significance of intercultural and textual competence. Students will learn to identify and evaluate potential problems in crosscultural communication. By means of a variety of cross-cultural analyses of communicative settings and textual genres they will be familiarised with communicative conventions in English, German, French and Spanish. With special relevance to translation, the module will thus develop an insight into the significance of these conventions for effective (written and oral) communication.

Method of assessment:A 2000-word project in the target language (100%).

In this module, students are introduced to translation from German into English. It consists of two parts: a) textual skills with a focus on differences in grammar and word building in German and English; b) translation practice from German into English focusing on culture-specifics and text conventions.

Method of assessment: grammar and vocabulary exam and translation exam.

This module introduces the major historical and current aspects of Germany’s capital throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Students are familiarised with the methods and approaches of cultural studies and gain further insights into themes discussed in other modules (German History and Society; Post war Germany; German Politics and Society). The seminars cover Berlin as a political and cultural centre during Imperial Germany, the Weimar Republic, the National Socialist period, and post-war divided Germany, using both written sources and film, music and the visual arts.

Method of assessment: oral presentation and essay.

This module consolidates and develops the first-year work on all aspects of German language, using a variety of formats including class discussion, small-group or individual projects, and guided self-study. The module has two components: a) academic writing and communication skills in German; b) a set of independent learning tasks delivered by e-learning.

Methods of assessment: written examination (commentary in German), oral presentation, oral exam, essay and portfolio of self-study materials.

This module follows on from the Level One history course and provides students with solid knowledge and understanding of Germany from 1945 to the present day. The focus is on major events and themes of post-war history along with contemporary German politics, society, economy and culture. Topic areas include nationhood, division and reunification, the German political system and Germany’s place in Europe and the world.

Methods of assessment: Group presentation and written exam.

The module concentrates on specific topic areas in German society, culture, politics, and economy since 1990 (‘Berlin Republic’). These include, for example, reunification problems, elections, and multiculturalism. The topic areas chosen in a given year are related to current affairs. Students are given the opportunity to apply the tools and knowledge-base acquired in Teaching Period 1 (Post war Germany) to critically engage with, and keep informed about, German current affairs.

Methods of assessment: essay, group-discussion.

This module defines and introduces the students to significant developments in contemporary German cinema. The overarching theme is regularly adapted to new trends and has recently focused on the issue of migration in German cinema. Students are introduced to central aspects in cinema studies as well as key theoretical concepts in migration studies such as discussions of nationhood and Heimat, postcolonialism and basic principles of spatial theory. Seminars are complemented by independent watching of selected films.

Assessment: 2-hour written, video based examination at the end of the Teaching Period (50%), 5 written tasks to be completed during teaching time, in weeks without seminars (10% each).

This seminar opens up perspectives on the second German-speaking country, with special reference to the similarities and dissimilarities between Austria and Germany. It thus develops the knowledge acquired in German History and Society (Level One) and Post war Germany (Level Two), and increases students’ awareness of the role of regional differences. Topics covered include Austrian political history, Austrian language and culture, and contemporary Austrian society.

Methods of assessment: 2000-word essay in German, class presentation with handout.

This module has a dual aim: to introduce students to the techniques and applications of discourse analysis as a way of studying language in use, and to improve their understanding of authentic spoken German. In seminar work, the methods of linguistic fieldwork – collecting and transcribing spoken language data – are introduced and students are helped to find ways of analysing and evaluating the results. Each student creates and carries out a fieldwork project consisting of a transcription of authentic data and its analysis.

Method of assessment: 2000-word project in German.

Year 3 - Year Abroad

Final Year

This module will further consolidate students’ understanding of translation as a complex activity within a wider context. They will acquire knowledge of contemporary translation theories and cover topics such as children’s literature in translation, gender and translation, and the translation process. The seminars are based on discussion exercises, presentations, and a variety of practical case studies.

Method of assessment: 3000-word essay in English.

This module develops your skills in consecutive interpreting, especially liaison interpreting. You will learn how to mediate between native speakers of German and English who do not speak the language of their communicative partner. We will practise role-play interpreting on a variety of topics and contexts of situation (e.g. interviews, negotiations, official and semi-official talks). You will be familiarised with memorising and note-taking techniques, mechanisms of language switch, interpersonal skills and interpreting strategies.

Assessment: interpreting a speech (30%) and a role-play dialogue (70%)

This module aims to consolidate awareness of contemporary translation theories and to apply these to practical work, with a focus on features of specialised translation including the role of corpora. After being introduced to basic concepts and techniques of LSP Translation, each student chooses a domain for study and collects a corpus of texts in English and German/French/Spanish (depending on language combination). This corpus will provide the basis researching he text conventions, lexical and grammatical features, content and intercultural issues that must be considered when translating a text from that domain.

Method of assessment: A research report (50%) and a translation (50%)

In this module, students work on aspects of written and spoken German at an advanced level. The module has four components: a) translation from German into English; b) debates; c) genre-specific writing with a focus on accuracy and style; abstracting from German into English with a focus on accurate reading and the skills of linguistic mediation; d) independent learning using a structured set of advanced grammar exercises to improve accuracy in German.

Method of assessment: translation into English, group debate, written report in German, three-hour examination and a portfolio of grammar work.

This module runs through the whole of the final year and draws together the skills students have acquired throughout the programme. It involves choosing a research topic from the areas of German history, politics, economics, language or culture; researching this; and writing it up in an extended essay in academic German. The written project is complemented by an oral defence of the project in German. Students attend weekly seminars on research skills and individual supervision tutorials.

Method of assessment: research project (5,000-6,000 words) and viva.

This module develops students’ ability to analyse film in a socio-historical context. It aims to deepen understanding and appreciation of film as an art form and as a medium to express and reflect discourses on German history as well as current social developments in Germany. Currently, the module focuses on the cinematic portrayal of German division and unification. It touches on questions of memory politics and introduces students to relevant theoretical concepts in that area.

Assessment: 2-hour written, video based examination at the end of the Teaching Period (50%), 5 written tasks to be completed during teaching time, in weeks without seminars (10% each).

This module builds on the level 2 Post war Germany module as well as first-hand experience acquired during the Year Abroad. Students enhance their familiarity with the popular culture of Germany and Austria from a variety of perspectives: art, literature, music, media, society, politics, and philosophy.

Method of assessment: essay.

This module follows on the themes introduced in ‘German Popular Culture’. Topic areas include the culture of the German Democratic Republic, film, the relationship of art and morality, tensions between art and politics, and the history of literature and poetry in the Federal Republic. Students will gain a deep understanding of the role of culture as a mediator between society and politics.

Assessment: essay.

The module addresses the main areas of German-Jewish history, including the emergence of a distinct Jewish-German culture since the late Middle Ages, the Jewish struggle for civil rights in the German-speaking countries during the nineteenth century and developments in the twentieth century. By focusing on biographies of Jewish women and men who helped to shape German and Austrian societies the module will also analyse the way the German-Jewish community saw and sees itself.

Assessment: 3000-word essay in German and an oral presentation.

Year Abroad

Campus accommodation guaranteed for first year and final year students returning from year abroad.

The Third Year of your course is spent abroad in a German speaking country - increasing your fluency, enhancing your cultural awareness and adding value to your degree. The year abroad is an integral and assessed part of language studies at Aston University, fully supported by us, and of direct relevance to your degree.

A distinctive feature of our year abroad is the flexibility that we offer. You will be able to choose between undertaking a paid work-experience placement with a company, working as a teaching assistant in a school or studying at one of our partner universities.

We are extremely proud of the high level of preparation, orientation and support that we provide before and during your year abroad. We have a full-time Placements Team who will give you plenty of individual help and advice, and even come and visit you during your time away.

Find out more about the Year Abroad.

Learning, teaching and assessment

You will take part in interactive seminars, presentations and group work as well as
attending lectures and tutorials. There are also opportunities for individual research and guided study. We teach much of the course in German which means that our students are at a real advantage when it comes to gaining maximum benefit and experience from the year abroad.

You will be allocated a personal tutor who you can provide help and advice.

Assessment is through a combination of written and oral exams, course work, essays, presentations and an extended dissertation during your final year.

For further information, please see the programme specification (PDF).

Career prospects

Languages at Aston is ranked 5th best in the UK for Unemployment proportions in the 2013 Sunday Times.

Our graduates are in demand from a wide range of employers who value their understanding of different cultures and societies, their communication skills and motivation for team work. Destinations for Language and Translation Studies graduates over the past three years include:

British Council Language Assistants
Deutsche Bank - Proxy Event Management
Marriott Hotels and Resorts - Sales and Marketing Coordinator
PricewaterhouseCoopers – Graduate Associate
Ernst & Young – Graduate Associate
Sainsbury’s – Graduate Buyer
Santander - Graduate Trainee
TK Maxx - Graduate Scheme Buyer
Boots - Graduate Trainee Manager
KPMG - Graduate Trainee Accountant
Harrods - Graduate Management Scheme
Acco - Marketing Executive
Teach First - Trainee Teachers
L’Oreal - Development Assistant
Nestle - Trade Marketing Executive
LIDL - PR Graduate Scheme
Wokana and associates - Translator/Proof-reader/Interpreter

Facilities & equipment

The School of Languages and Social Sciences has a dedicated Learning Support Team and excellent facilities including:

70 computers in 4 rooms
Streamed satellite television (French, German, Spanish)
TRADOS and memoQ Translation Software
Free DVD library (French, Spanish, German, English)
Audio and video-editing tools

Teaching staff

Read what the Translation Studies and German staff have to say about their courses:

Dr Stefan Manz - Senior Lecturer and Head of German

'It is pure bliss to work with the open-minded and motivated students we get at Aston. Every year I am looking forward to the new cohort of students joining us. They are all different, and it is our foremost aim as lecturers to develop their personal abilities and strengths to make them fit for the job market. We also see them maturing as individuals, gaining in confidence and eloquence. At the end of their course, graduation day makes us proud of their achievements.''

Professor Christina Schäffner - Professor of Translation Studies

''Our programmes prepare you well for a professional career in translation or interpreting. You are taught by academics who are well known in the international community and by professional translators. One translation company sponsors an annual prize for the best final year translation student. In our modules, you get to sample a variety of translation tasks (e.g. subtitling, editing) and you have the opportunity to get TRADOS certification (a translation memory system) in the 2nd year. Final year students can gain certification from the Chartered Institute of Linguistsfor a high quality translation.''

Contact us

School of Languages and Social Sciences Undergraduate Admissions
Tel: 0121 204 3700
Email: lss_ugadmissions@aston.ac.uk

Student Profile

Georgina Rayner

BSc Translation Studies - French and German

I am currently on 6 month placement in Berlin, working for a translation and interpretation company right in the heart of the city. I work as part of a brilliant team in a very well-established company, whilst having plenty of time to meet with friends and improve my language skills further.

Related courses

BSc German

BSc Geman and English Language

BSc Translation Studies - French and German

Fees & funding

Find out about tuition fees & student loans, and the bursaries and scholariships available.

Accommodation

All our accommodation is based on campus and over 80% of our rooms are ensuite. We offer a guarenteed place scheme for first years.

Student life

Our city centre location gives you the best of both worlds: a welcoming, lively campus community, in the heart of a vibrant city.

Student support - we're with you all the way

We offer a range of support services to ensure your time here is a success in academic, social and personal terms.

Outstanding graduate career prospects

Aston is ranked 5th in the UK, and the best outside London, for the percentage of graduates entering employment who achieve graduate level jobs (Sunday Times University Guide 2012)

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Graduate Profile

Hannah Burgess

2011 Graduate - BSc Translation Studies: German

I aspired to become an in-house translator when I was studying at Aston. During my placement year, I worked as a translation and proof-reader for Wohanka. When I graduated they offered me a job - I now work full time as an in-house translator, prooreader and interpreter for Wohanka & Associates Ltd in Sheffield.

Birmingham - home to 65,000 students!

With fantastic nightlife, great restaurants, beautiful parks, superb shopping and much more, Birmingham is a true student city.

International students

Aston offers a world-class education and is home to students from over 120 countries.

Learn a language alongside your course

Whatever course you are studying, you can choose to study a language whilst you are at Aston. Improving your cultural awareness and career prospects.

BSc Translation Studies - German

Key facts

Key benefits

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Sample module options

Dr Stefan Manz - Senior Lecturer and Head of German

Professor Christina Schäffner - Professor of Translation Studies

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