Units / APG5875
APG5875 · Introduction to translation studies
2026 Handbook6 credit pointsLevel 5Intercultural Studies
Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTCOverview
Introductory core unit of the Master in Interpreting and Translation Studies (MITS). The unit will cover the key theoretical approaches which inform the interdisciplinary field of Translation Studies. Focus is on the development of translation studies as an academic discipline, including the various ‘turns’ of the 20 th century. It covers linguistic, technological, cultural, social and broader contextual factors involved in translation work, the changing role of the translator, as well as the relevance and application of translation theory to both translation practice and research.
Areas of study: Interpreting and translation Translation
Offerings
| Campus | Teaching period | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Clayton | First semester | Teaching is online and in a block period (ONLINE-BLK) |
| Clayton | First semester | Teaching activities are on-campus and in a block period (ON-BLK) |
| Suzhou (SEU) | First semester | Teaching activities are on-campus and in a block period (ON-BLK) |
Assessment
The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exercise/s | Exercise | 15% | — |
| 2 | Career development task | Artefact | 10% | — |
| 3 | Presentation | Presentation | 35% | — |
| 4 | Reflection | Written | 40% | — |
Within semester assessment: 100%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.
Learning outcomes
- Discuss in depth all key turns in translation studies, including their historical embeddedness and their socio-cultural contexts;
- Explain key theoretical approaches in terms of both translation practice and research, and in relation to the role of the translator;
- Articulate different approaches and paradigms in translation studies using a metalanguage;
- Reflect on the interdisciplinary nature of translation studies;
- Conceptualise the various dimensions and uses of both theoretical and applied branches of translation studies.
Workload
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 12 hours |
| Tutorials | 12 hours |
Ask about APG5875
Answered from the Handbook fields above — no AI, no guessing. Every answer links back to the source.
Community discussions about APG5875
CommunityStudent experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.