English-language Translation

This study programme is focused on theoretical and practical aspects of translation, primarily English-Czech, and also Czech-English. The emphasis is placed on technical (non-literary) translation. The programme develops and cultivates students' bilingual, extralinguistic, instrumental skills and translation-profession knowledge as well as strategic skills for translation. It provides students with translation theory and a broad view of translation as an important activity essential in society, as a basis for their informed expert and efficient translation decisions. Including also a considerable practice-based component, the programme prepares graduates for a number of translation specializations (including institutional translation, freelancing, subtitling, localization etc.). The programme offers only elements of interpreting, leaving a possible specialization in interpreting up to students' further development.

Practical training

The programme includes no compulsory internship.

Graduates of this degree programme should be able to work independently as translators (and interpreters) and provide comprehensive consulting services in written and oral intercultural English–Czech and Czech–English communication. Graduates will be able to find jobs as professional translators (both in-house translators and freelancers), in translation project management and in publishing houses, in both national and supra-national institutions. Apart from translation of written documents, graduates may find jobs also in subtitling and localization, as well as interpreting. They should also be able to work for a number of public institutions, including local and national government offices, the media, international organizations, and NGOs, and in the private sector, where high-level English-language skills, English-Czech translation skills, and communicative and analytical skills are required.

Deadline for submitting applications: January 1 - April 30

Who the programme is intended for: The programme is offered to graduates of all Bachelor’s degree programmes.

Subject matter of the entrance examination: Prerequisites for admission are very good knowledge of English and Czech, interest in events in English-speaking countries, and the applicant’s relationship towards working with text and information. Applicants will be admitted on the basis of an entrance examination comprised of:

• written part - English, Czech, text orientation, WORK WITH TEXT, general overview;
• oral part - interview with a shortlist of candidates WITH A FOCUS ON MOTIVATION TO STUDY AND OVERALL AWARENESS OF THE TRANSLATOR'S WORK (applicants who pass the written test will proceed to the oral exam).

The written examination for the English-language Translation programme is not identical to any other examination for the follow-up Master’s programmes offered by the Department of English and American Studies, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University. Applicants must participate in it, even if they also apply to one of the other programmes of DEAS FA MU. The result of the written examination in the English-language Translation programme cannot be included in any other follow-up Master’s programme offered by DEAS FA MU.

Only applicants who pass the written examination will be invited to take the oral examination in the English-language Translation programme.

Website Department of English and American Studies.

General information on the course of the admission procedure to the follow-up Master’s degree programmes at FA MU can be found here. Documents for the current admission procedure are kept in Materials for Applicants.

Criteria for evaluation

Pass/fail line of the entrance examination: 60 points (out of 100).

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Minimum score and numbers of accepted applicants in past years

Graduates may continue their studies in a doctoral degree study programme in English linguistics (with or without specialization in translation) or in Literatures in English (with disssertation topics merging literature and translation).