Modern Languages and Translation

Modern languages with translation develops dual competence in linguistic and cultural knowledge and the demanding practical and intellectual craft of moving meaning between languages. To translate well is not simply to replace words: it requires you to understand the nuances of register, tone, and cultural reference in the source language, to make creative and principled decisions about how to convey them in the target language, and to do so in ways that serve the purpose and audience of the translated text. Translation theory examines these processes critically, asking what fidelity means, what is lost in translation, and how different approaches produce different kinds of text.

The University of Leicester's four-year full-time programme in modern languages and translation develops advanced communicative competence in your chosen languages alongside sustained practical experience in translation across a range of text types, from literary and journalistic to legal and technical. You will study grammar, vocabulary, idiomatic usage, and cultural context in both your languages, and engage with translation workshop practice that builds your confidence and analytical judgement over time. The programme also addresses the professional landscape of translation, including the growing role of computer-assisted translation tools and the localisation industry, preparing you for the realities of contemporary language work.

Graduates from modern languages and translation programmes go on to work as translators, interpreters, localisation specialists, language teachers, editors, content writers, and language service managers across a wide range of sectors, from legal and medical services to publishing, international organisations, and technology companies. Many pursue postgraduate qualifications in translation and interpreting to access senior professional roles, and the linguistic precision, cultural knowledge, and attention to detail the degree develops are valued wherever accurate and sensitive cross-linguistic communication is needed.