PhD in Translation and Transcultural Studies

Find out more about our Translation and Transcultural Studies PhD degree at Warwick

Page updates

We may have revised the information on this page since publication. See the edits we have made and content history.

P-Q3PG

PhD

3-4 years full-time;
Up to 7 years part-time

October

Modern Languages and Cultures

University of Warwick

Our approach centres on cultures of, and in, translation. We are interested in how translation is theorised and practised in artistic, political, and social contexts and in different media. We also use translation as an analytical and interdisciplinary tool to illuminate processes of migration, displacement, cultural production, transfer, language policy and intellectual histories.

Before you arrive, you will be matched to one or more of our expert supervisors and during the course. You will meet with them frequently for guidance on the conceptualisation, research and writing of your Dissertation. This will include reading and discussion of draft material.

You will also be expected to participate in the research culture of the School, for example by attending research seminars.

This programme comprises two distinct routes: (i) a theoretical/academic route and (ii) a practice route. The theoretical/academic route involves demonstrating a significant and original contribution to knowledge in the field of Translation Studies.

The practice route advances knowledge principally by means of practice – by the submission of a translation – but also by requiring the student to demonstrate a critical awareness, informed by relevant scholarship in Translation and Transcultural Studies, of the issues – stylistic, cultural, sociological and/or ideological, among others – involved in the translation of the work and to display this critical awareness in the form of a translation commentary.

The two elements of the PhD should nonetheless form an organic whole. The practice route is distinct from a standard scholarly PhD in that significant aspects of the claim for the doctoral requirement of an original contribution to a significant field of knowledge are demonstrated through the translation. The accompanying commentary demonstrates doctoral levels of contextual knowledge and powers of analysis and argument, displaying the same intellectual discipline as a traditional PhD.

Teaching and learning

Doctoral students prepare a dissertation of 80,000 words, in accordance with their chosen route (as above). Progress reviews take place at regular intervals, normally in every year of study.

The School of Modern Languages and Cultures is one of the UK's leading sites of research in French, German, Hispanic, Italian and Translation and Transcultural Studies, and our expertise ranges from the Early Modern period to the present. 82% of our research outputs and 100% of our research environment in the REF2021 exercise were judged to be world-leading or internationally excellent. We welcome applications from prospective PGR students wishing to work in the following areas:

• The literary and visual culture of any of our four principal language areas, including post-colonial areas and perspectives
• The history, politics, theory or philosophy of our four principal language areas
• The study and practice of translation between English and any one of French, German, Spanish, Portugese, Italian, Chinese and Arabic
• Translation technologies

Please note that we do not accept proposals from students wishing to work on second language acquisition or language learning.

Full details of our research interestsLink opens in a new window are listed on the School of Modern Languages and Cultures website.

Find your supervisor using the link below and discuss with them the area you'd like to research.

Explore our School of Modern Languages and Cultures Research Directory where you will be able to filter by your chronological, geographical, linguistic and disciplinary interests.

You can also see our general University guidance about finding a supervisor.

An Honours degree (a 2:1 or First) and normally a Merit or Distinction in an MA with specialisation in an appropriate subject, including Modern Languages, Translation Studies, English Literature, Classics, and Creative Writing.

Applicants may also be considered who can demonstrate compelling evidence of advanced translation experience through significant publication and associated professional recognition and an awareness of the critical requirements of translation practice in an academic environment.

• Band B
• IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.