The purpose of this paper is to provide information about distance and online courses for translators around the world.

Translators seem to be ideal candidates for online and distance courses as they are often already working as translators or in another profession when they decide to enroll for a translation course. Also, as continuing education is extremely important in our profession, distance and online courses can be an interesting alternative to traditional education for those who cannot attend a classroom. Furthermore, such courses can prove of interest for people with a degree or experience in another field, such as law, medicine or engineering for example, who have the necessary language skills to work as translators but would like to earn a certificate or degree in translation as well.

Most courses offer a limited number of language combinations, essentially major European and Asian languages. Obviously, minority languages are rarely offered due to lack of demand.

The courses that are offered for translators range from very basic introductory courses to internationally recognized masters degrees and doctorates. Some are suitable for beginners or language learners, others prepare for official exams or a university degree, still others might be considered as refresher or continuing education courses.

The following list also includes some courses for interpreters, subtitlers and terminologists.

 

Argentina

• Colegio de Traductores Públicos de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires

http://www.traductores.org.ar/mostrarcursos.asp?m=3&y=2006&tipo=DIS

At the time of writing, the list of courses was not available yet.

 

Australia

• University of Western Sydney

Master of Arts (Translation and Linguistics)

http://handbook.uws.edu.au/hbook/course.asp?course=0A59E

Duration: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time.

Languages: Arabic - English, Chinese - English, Japanese - English, Spanish - English, Vietnamese - English

French, German, Indonesian, Italian and Korean may be added subject to demand.

Entry requirements: Bachelor's degree, IELTS score of 7.0 or equivalent.

 

Canada

• Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface

Certificat de traduction (Translation certificate)

http://www.ustboniface.mb.ca/cusb/ctra/index.html

Duration: 3 years (flexible)

Languages: French - English

Entry requirements: Entrance exam.

• University of Toronto - School of continuing studies

Certificate in continuing studies in professional translation

http://learn.utoronto.ca/uoft/internationalLanguages/index.jsp

Duration: 50 hours per course - up to 10 months

Languages: Cantonese - English, Mandarin - English, French - English, German - English, Italian - English, Japanese - English, Korean - English, Portuguese - English, Spanish - English

Paper-based home study. French is available online.

Students can start courses at any time.

• Université du Québec à Montréal - Télé -université

Programme court d'initiation à la traduction (Short introductory program to translation)

http://www.teluq.uquebec.ca/

Languages: English - French, Spanish - French

 

Finland

• The English Centre Helsinki

Finnish to English translation course by distance learning

http://www.englishcentre.fi/en/ecen99.htm

Intermediate and advanced level.

 

France

• University of London Institute in Paris

Initiation classes in French and English translation - Contemporary French language and culture through translation

http://www.ulip.lon.ac.uk/courses/ictranslation/index.html

Languages: French - English

Certificate in translation

http://www.ulip.lon.ac.uk/courses/cert_trans/index.html

Languages: French - English

Entry requirements: French language test and translation test.

Includes seminars in Paris on Saturdays a few times a year.

English and translation by distance learning

http://www.ulip.lon.ac.uk/courses/distance/index.html

Languages: French - English

Different levels available from beginner to English teacher.

Entry requirements: English language test.

Includes seminars in Paris on Saturdays.

• Université de Rennes 2

Diplôme d'université en terminologie (University diploma in terminology)

http://www.uhb.fr/langues/cfttr/msie/du/du_term.html

Duration: 1 year

Languages: English - French

Entry requirements: Bachelor's degree or professional experience.

Includes at least one session in Rennes as well as automatic registration for the Autumn University in terminology.

Diplôme d'université de traducteur généraliste à orientations spécialisées (University diploma in general translation with specialization courses)

http://www.uhb.fr/langues/cfttr/msie/du/du_trad.html

Duration: 1 year

Languages: English - French

Entry requirements: 2 years of University studies or equivalent, or professional experience.

Includes at least one session in Rennes as well as the participation in the Summer University in translation.

Includes general, para-technical, economic and legal translation.

 

Germany

• AKAD

Diplom-Wirtschaftsübersetzer FH (Diploma in economic translation)

http://www.akad-fernstudium.de/fs/detail/288

Duration: 4 years, accelerated course: 3 years

Languages: English - German, French - German, Spanish - German

Distance and online course.

Possibility to start at any time.

Staatlich geprüfter Übersetzer (State-examined translator)

http://www.akad-fernstudium.de/fs/detail/254

Languages: English - German, French - German, Spanish - German

• Reinhold Skrabal

Vorbereitung auf die staatliche Übersetzerprüfung Italienisch (Staatl. Prüfungsamt) und den öffentlich-rechtlichen Abschluss „Geprüfte(r) Übersetzer/in (IHK)" im Selbststudium (Preparation for the State exam in Italian translation and the degree of "Examined Translator" by self-study)

http://www.reinoldskrabal.de/studienangebote.htm (scroll down)

Languages: Italian - German

Fachzertifikat „Gerichts- und Behördenterminologie" (in deutscher Sprache) für ÜbersetzerInnen und DolmetscherInnen aller Sprachrichtungen (Certificate in German legal and administrative terminology for translators and interpreters of all language combinations)

http://www.reinoldskrabal.de/studienangebote.htm (scroll down)

 

Greece

• Hellenic American Union

Distance learning program

http://www.hau.gr/hau/en/edu_trans_distance.html

Includes a two-year program in general-specialized translation and the preparatory course for the diploma in translation.

Different levels available.

Languages: English - Greek

• Centre for English Language & Training

Diploma in translation

http://www.celt.edu.gr/diploma_in_translation_eng.htm

Duration: 1-2 years

Languages: English - Greek, Greek - English

Approved by the Institute of Linguistics.

 

Ireland

• Words Language Services

http://www.wls.ie/tranbroc.htm

Certificate in translation

IOL diploma in translation

Languages: French - English, German - English, Italian - English, Spanish - English, Portuguese - English

English - French, English - German, English - Italian, English - Spanish

Other language combinations are being developed.

Italy

• Università degli Studi di Genova

Master a distanza in traduzione specializzata in campo giuridico (Distance master in specialized legal translation)

http://www.perform.unige.it/aree/traduzionegiuridica-scheda.html

Duration: 25 weeks

Languages: French - Italian, German - Italian, English - Italian, Spanish - Italian (the program can be followed in one or two language combinations, Spanish - Italian can only be chosen as a second combination)

Master a distanza in traduzione specializzata in campo economico, della banca e della finanza (Distance master in specialized economic, banking and financial translation)

http://www.perform.unige.it/aree/corsi/trad_spec.html

Duration: 25 weeks

Languages: French - Italian with the possibility to add English - Italian or German - Italian

• Università Ca Foscari Venezia

Corso di perfezionamento annuale a distanza in traduzione automatica e traduzione assistita all'elaboratore (Advanced annual distance course in machine translation and computer assisted translation)

http://157.138.41.87/TATAE/index.html

Duration: 18 weeks

 

Netherlands

• Subtitling Worldwide

Online compact subtitling course

http://www.subtitlingworldwide.com/

Duration: 3 months

Languages: English - Portuguese, English - Dutch, English - any language, any language - any language (in the case of major European languages, students can get feedback on their subtitles, for other languages, mainly on timing)

• LOI Hogeschool

HBO vertaler engels (English translator)

http://www4.loi.nl/Hogeschool/Talen/PRD_000720

Duration: 4 years (it is possible to complete the program faster)

Languages: English - Dutch

NVAO accredited.

 

Spain

• Estudio Sampere, Madrid

http://www.traductores.sampere.es/esp/index.html

Iniciación a la traducción bilingüe (Introduction to bilingual translation)

Languages: English - Spanish

Diploma de traducción bilingüe (Diploma in bilingual translation)

Languages: English - Spanish, French - Spanish, German - Spanish, Italian - Spanish

Traducción bilingüe - nivel profesional (Bilingual translation - professional level)

Languages: English - Spanish

Master en traducción bilingüe (Master in bilingual translation)

Languages: English - Spanish

Diploma en traducción jurídica (Diploma in legal translation)

Languages: English - Spanish, French - Spanish, German - Spanish, Italian - Spanish

Traducción jurídica - nivel profesional (Legal translation - professional level)

Languages: English - Spanish

Master en traducción jurídica (Master in legal translation)

Languages: English - Spanish

Seminario traductor free-lance (Freelance translator seminar)

Traducción especializada (Specialized translation)

- Telecomunicaciones y tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones (Telecommunications and information and communication technologies)
- Unión Europea (European Union)
- Economía y gestión de empresas (Economics and business administration)

Languages: English - Spanish

Como profesionalizar la traducción (How to professionalize translation)

• SIC, Barcelona

http://www.torsimany.com/docsesp/s_index.htm

Técnicas de traducción asistida - Trados (Computer assisted translation techniques - Trados)

Terminología - obtención y gestión (Terminology - acquisition and management)

Traducción y correción de páginas y sitios web (Translation and proofreading of websites)

Fiscalidad para traductores, correctores y autores (Taxes for translators, proofreaders and authors)

Buscar recursos lingüísticos en Internet (Finding linguistic resources on the Internet)

Utilidades avanzadas de Internet: transferencia de archivos (Advanced Internet tools: file transfer)

• Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona

Online postgraduate certificate in technical translation and electronic tools

http://isg.urv.es/publicity/masters/courses/etools.html

Duration: 10 weeks

Online postgraduate certificate in editing and revising technical texts in English

http://isg.urv.es/publicity/masters/courses/editing.html

Duration: 8 weeks

• Universidad de Granada

Programa interuniversitario de doctorado en traducción, sociedad y comunicación (Inter-university doctorate in translation, society and communication)

http://www.ugr.es/~dpto_ti/phd/phd01.html

Students can follow part or all of the program online.

• Teleservicios Editoriales S.L.

Traducción de audiovisuales - Técnicas y herramientas para el subtitulado (Audiovisual translation - Techniques and tools for subtitling)

http://www.tsedi.com/traducciondeaudiovisuales.htm

Duration: 8 weeks, starting every Monday

Languages: English - Spanish

Traducción de libros técnicos (Translation of technical books)

http://www.tsedi.com/traducciondelibro.htm

Duration: 100 hours

The course is organized every time there are at least 10 students interested in taking the course.

• International House Barcelona

Translator training course

http://www.ihes.com/bcn/translation/introdistance.html

Duration: 8 modules - 2 weeks each

Languages: Spanish - English

Institute of Linguists diploma preparation course

http://www.ihes.com/bcn/translation/ioldistance.html

Languages: Spanish - English

Course in translation into English for non-English translators

http://www.ihes.com/bcn/translation/reverse.html

Duration: 6 months

Languages: Spanish - English

Curso de traducción general (General translation course)

http://www.ihes.com/bcn/traduccion/cursogeneral.htm

Duration: 4 parts - 3 months each

Languages: English - Spanish

Curso de traducción comercial (Commercial translation course)

http://www.ihes.com/bcn/traduccion/traduccion_comercial.html

Duration: 3 parts - 3 months each

Languages: English - Spanish

Curso de traducción jurídica (Legal translation course)

http://www.ihes.com/bcn/traduccion/juridica.html

Duration: 12 months

Language: English - Spanish

Curso de traducción técnica (Technical translation course)

http://www.ihes.com/bcn/traduccion/cursotecnica.html

Duration: 3 months

Languages: English - Spanish

Prácticums (Practical translation)

http://www.ihes.com/bcn/traduccion/practicums.htm

Duration: 2 months per module (7 different modules available plus 1 a la carte)

Languages: English - Spanish

Cours de traduction général (General translation course)

http://www.ihes.com/bcn/traduccion/frances.html

Duration: 4 parts - 2 months each

Languages: Spanish - French

• Universitat Pompeu Fabra

http://www.iula.upf.es/iulonluk.htm

Introduction to terminology online postgraduate course

Duration: 6 weeks

Online postgraduate diploma: terminology and professional needs

Duration: 6 weeks

Online master on terminology

Duration: 18-24 months

Online workshops on terminology

Duration: 6 workshop - 3 weeks each

Working language for all courses: Spanish

• Fundación para la Investigación y Desarrollo de la Cultura Española

http://www.fidescu.org/pgCurT.htm

Traducción profesional (Professional translation)

Duration: 3 modules - 3 months each

Preparación para el examen de intérprete jurado (Preparation for the sworn interpreter exam)

Duration: 6 months

Cursos de especialización (jurídico-económica, científico-técnica, literaria-periodística) (Specialization courses: legal-economic, scientific-technical, literary-journalistic)

Duration: 3 months per specialization

Languages: English - Spanish, French - Spanish, Portuguese - Spanish

• Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia

Especialista universitario en traducción inglés - español (Academic specialist in English -Spanish translation) (go to índice alfabético de especialista universitario -> traducción inglés - español)

http://www.uned.es/vep/cursos/especializacion/formalizacion-matricula.htm

Duration: 7 months

• International Centre - Bilbao

Translation

http://www.internationalcentre.net/

Two options: General course and Institute of Linguists' exam

• Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona

Postgrado de traducción audiovisual virtual (Postgraduate course in audiovisual virtual translation)

http://www.fti.uab.es/onptav/

7 modules are available. 4 modules are required to obtain a Diploma, 7 to obtain a Masters degree. Possibility to start at any time.

Languages: English - Spanish

• Escuela de letras Madrid

Taller de traducción literaria (Literary translation workshop)

http://www.escueladeletras.com/cursos_en_linea/traduccion_literaria.php

2 levels available.

Languages: English - Spanish, French - Spanish

• Escuela de escritura Madrid

Traducción teatral (Theatre translation)

http://www.escueladeescritura.com/3_cursos_06.htm

Duration: 12 weeks

Languages: Spanish - English - Spanish

 

UK

• City University, London

Preparatory courses for the Institute of Linguists' Diploma in Translation

http://www.city.ac.uk/languages/dtdl.html

Languages: French - English, German - English, Italian - English, Spanish - English, Portuguese - English, Dutch - English, Arabic - English, Polish - English, Russian - English, Turkish - English, Czech - English

English - French, English - German, English - Italian, English - Spanish, English - Portuguese, English - Dutch, English - Russian

Postgraduate certificate in translation skills

http://www.city.ac.uk/languages/PGCTS.html

Duration: 2 years

Languages: Spanish - English

• University of Birmingham

MA Translation studies open distance learning

http://www.cels.bham.ac.uk/prospectus/ODL/odltransinfo.htm

Duration: minimum 30 months, maximum 5 years part-time

• University of the West of England

Postgraduate diploma in translation / MA in translation

http://info.uwe.ac.uk/courses/viewCourse.asp?URN=11474&stream

Languages: Spanish - English, French - English, German - English

Entry requirements: Degree or professional qualification.

• Cardiff University

High level translation French - English distance learning course

http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/learn/translate/index.php

Duration: 9 months

Entry requirements: Test

The course consists of two modules which can be taken together or independently.

High level translation Spanish - English distance learning course

http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/learn/languages/spanish/online/index.php

Duration: 1 year

The course consists of two modules which can be taken together or independently.

• Susan James Associates

Home study course for the Institute of Linguists' Diploma in translation

http://www.s-james.dircon.co.uk/

Languages: English - French, English - German, English - Greek, English - Italian, English - Japanese, English - Spanish, English - Swedish, English - Russian

French - English, German - English, Greek - English, Italian - English, Japanese - English, Spanish - English, Russian - English

Other language combinations available upon request.

 

• South Tyneside College

Diploma in public service interpreting

http://www.stc.ac.uk/courses/Languages/languages.html

Preparatory course for the Institute of Linguists' exam.

Languages: Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, Croatian, Czech, Dutch, Farsi, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Kurdish, Mandarin, Portuguese, Polish, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Sylheti, Turkish, Urdu.

Two options available: Health and Legal services.

 

US

• New York University

Certificate in translation

http://www.scps.nyu.edu/departments/certificate.jsp?certId=157

Languages: Arabic - English, French - English, German - English, Spanish - English, English - Portuguese, English - Spanish, General translation

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

French professional development online translation courses

http://www.continuinged.uiuc.edu/outreach/frenchProfDev.cfm

Entry requirements: BA in French or equivalent.

• University of Hawaii at Manoa

Chinese - English translation

http://cits.hawaii.edu/ (go to "Courses currently offered" and scroll down to 2006 Spring semester courses)

Duration: 11 weeks

Web-based course, entrance exam required.

Japanese - English translation

http://cits.hawaii.edu/ (go to "Courses currently offered" and scroll down to 2006 Spring semester courses)

Duration: 11 weeks

Web-based course, entrance exam required.

• Babel University Professional School of Translation (Japanese institute established in Hawaii)

Master of science in translation

http://www.babel.edu/english/mst.html

Majors: literary arts and film translation, business & management translation, technical and scientific translation, international paralegal translation

Duration: 2 years

Languages: English - Japanese, Japanese - English

 

Note: This list does not claim be to exhaustive.The information about the programs listed was valid at the time of writing (March 2006), but may change at any moment.

This article was originally published at Translation Journal (http://accurapid.com/journal).

---

Testimonial

---

Hi, Just wanted to say thank you very much for your list of distance and online courses for translators, it’s helped me find just what I need, quickly and easily.

Best wishes

C.J.Davies
Private Sector Development and Management Consultant
CP07, Beira, Mozambique
Tel: +258 84 498 7650
cdavies @ tdm co mz

---

Read more articles - Free!

E-mail this article to your colleague!

Need more translation jobs? Click here!

Translation agencies are welcome to register here - Free!

Freelance translators are welcome to register here - Free!

Subscribe to TranslationDirectory.com newsletter - Free!

Take part in TranslationDirectory.com poll - your voice counts!