Translation Major - Bachelor of Arts
Translators are essential in our increasingly multicultural world. There is a growing demand for translations of books, websites and new media, creating many opportunities for people who speak and write in two languages.
In the Translation major you become familiar with the ethics of being a translator and learn to write appropriately using a range of styles. Throughout your studies you recognise the purpose of different types of texts, and produce translations that are correct in terms of content, style and intended purpose.
Classes are limited to 30 students, which means you'll have plenty of contact time with the teaching staff, with many resources available online. Some papers are offered online, and these have a virtual classroom.
This is part of the Bachelor of Arts.
Start date: 2018
- Download Language and Culture programme brochure [PDF, 2.8 MB]
Start date: 2019
- Download Language and Culture programme brochure [PDF, 3.5 MB]
Core papers
All students in the Bachelor of Arts complete core papers that cover effective communication, critical thinking and other transferable skills you'll need for your future career. For a list of core papers refer to the Bachelor of Arts overview.
Translation papers
Papers you could take over your three years of study include
ENGL501 Critical Media Studies
TRIN502 Introduction to Translation
TRIN601 Translation Skills: Analysis, Appropriateness and Accuracy
TRIN604 Societal Contexts for Interpreting and Translation
TRIN701 Theories, Principles and Practice of Translation
TRIN703 Advanced Interpretation Legal Translation
TRIN706 Advanced Interpretation Health Translation
Plus one of the following papers
ENGL601 Language and Communication
ENGL603 Language in Society
Workplace experience
Workplace experience (the Work Integrated Learning paper) is the final part of your degree and takes a full semester. This is a supervised work placement related to your major(s), for an organisation of your choice.
Students can take advantage of AUT's connections with industry - past students have worked for Japanese magazines; others have taken internships with an interpreting or translation agency. AUT students have been involved in project work with Internal Affairs and New Settlers' groups.
Translation work for:
- Business, domestically and internationally
- Government departments
- Immigration agencies
- Legal firms
- Translation agencies
- Freelance translation
- Literary translation
- Academic translation
Translators in New Zealand are able to take advantage of time differences to deliver translations to clients in Europe the following morning.
Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.
Other majors in the Bachelor of Arts
- Chinese Studies
- Conflict Resolution
- Creative Writing
- Criminology
- Culinary Arts
- Economics
- Education
- English and New Media Studies
- Event Management
- International Studies
- Interpreting
- Japanese Studies
- Māori Development
- New Zealand Sign Language & Deaf Studies
- New Zealand Sign Language - English Interpreting
- Psychology
- Social Sciences
Postgraduate study
- Growing demand for translators
- Many opportunities to practise your translation skills
- Suitable for people who speak and write in two languages
- Workplace experience in your final semester
- Having an eye for detail
- Fascinated by languages
- Able to express concepts in two languages
- Interested in other cultures
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.