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The Maurice Thorez Institute of Foreign Languages
Moscow State Linguistic University

45.03.02 BA in LINGUISTICS

Specialisation: Translation Studies

Study Mode: Full time/Part time

Duration:

Full Time: 4 academic years (240 ECTS)

Part Time: 5 academic years (300 ECTS)

Entry Criteria: Russian Certificate of Complete Secondary Education (or equivalent), with school-leaving Unified State Examination results in Foreign Language, History, and Russian

Are you passionate about languages? Would you like to know how languages and cultures interact in the increasingly globalized world? Are you interested to know what can help people of different languages and cultures understand each other? Do you want to be someone who makes this kind of communication possible? Do you want to embark on a career that is very competitive and extremely rewarding? If your answer is ‘yes’, then our Bachelor programme could be the best choice for you.

Programme Overview

Our 4-year Bachelor programme provides high-level training in two foreign languages in their written and spoken form as well as your native language (Russian). The programme will help you to understand the major principles of translation and interpreting, and teach you to analyse the original and make translation-related decisions. We have been doing it most successfully for more than 80 years, and our graduates can be found working in language services throughout the world. At the end of your studies you will take a final exam which will assess both your translation skills (FL1 and FL2 into Russian for the written component of the exam) and interpreting skills – sight translation, consecutive interpreting of a monologue (FL1 and FL2 into Russian) and dialogue (both ways) – for the oral component the exam. You will also give a viva presentation of your graduation research paper (Bachelor’s Thesis).

What You Will Study

The course is taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and practical classes.

Practical classes

• Written translation of media texts (FL1, FL2)

• Written translation of specialist texts (FL1, FL2)

• Consecutive interpreting of specialist texts (FL1, FL2)

• Consecutive interpreting of media texts (FL1, FL2)

Lectures

Course structure

Year 1

The first year is devoted to developing your competence in your FL1, laying the foundation of FL2 (from the second semester) and refining your command of Russian. You are also offered a number of other courses, such as Introduction to Linguistics, History, Philosophy, Classical Languages and Cultures, Stylistics of the Russian Language, etc.

Year 2

In the second year you develop your knowledge in such disciplines as History and Geography of Foreign Countries, Politics, Economics, etc. These subjects are combined with intensive study of your two foreign languages and Russian.

Year 3

During the third year you will have Theory of Translation and Interpreting and start your translation classes (from FL 1 and FL 2 into Russian), where you will be introduced to textual analysis aimed especially at preparation for translating or interpreting. You will also continue to study different aspects of FL 1 and FL2 – Lexicology, Stylistics, History of Literature etc. The Faculty of Translation and Interpreting has links with several European and Asian universities, so you may have the chance to study a few months abroad.

Year 4

You will enhance mastery of the skills and techniques of translating across a number of text types and genres and develop some transferable skills (e.g. revising, abstracting, summarising, proof-reading) which are important for professional translators You will be introduced to the use of computer-aided translation tools and have advanced practice in consecutive interpreting. As part of the degree you'll undertake a three-week work placement where you can learn what it is like to work for government bodies, foreign embassies operating in Moscow, media agencies etc. You will be allowed four weeks to complete your research paper (Bachelor’s Thesis).

Careers

On graduation you can either continue your studies to get a Master’s Degree or go out to work in language services, translation agencies, government organisations, national and international companies, media agencies, etc.