Translation and Interpreting PhD

University of Surrey

Why choose this programme

The School of Literature and Languages is home to the Centre for Translation Studies, an internationally leading centre for research and teaching in translation and interpreting studies.

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 ranked the School of Literature and Languages 10th in the UK for research impact, with 75% of our case studies rated as having outstanding impacts, in terms of reach and significance (4). Our submission to REF included contributions from the Guildford School of Acting (GSA).

Our research reflects the evolving nature of the discipline, encompassing a critical understanding of technology-enabled language mediation as well as quality, ethical and social dimensions of a fast-evolving language services industry.

Since our formation in 1982, we have been awarded prestigious research funding that has allowed us to contribute to the theoretical advancement of translation and interpreting studies, whilst achieving real-world applicability by studying the responsible integration of human and technology-enhanced approaches, novel modalities of audiovisual translation and innovative practices in interpreting.

What you will study

At a time when increasing automation is reshaping language services into one of the fastest growing industries nationally and globally, the ‘technological turn’ in translation/interpreting has created a wealth of opportunities. However, to understand the dimensions of technology’s impact, to mitigate drawbacks and to derive innovative solutions it requires fresh approaches to research.

We are therefore particularly interested in PhD projects investigating how:

Professional translators/interpreters interact with, and adapt to, emerging technological ecosystems
This is changing professional practice and the products of this practice
Human knowledge combined with natural language processing and machine-learning approaches can help design sustainable technology-enhanced solutions in translation/interpreting.

It normally takes three years of full-time study or six years of part-time study to complete our PhD in Translation and Interpreting. You will take a confirmation viva at 12-15 months (or 24-30 months part-time) and will then be assessed by a thesis and viva examination.