Language and Translation Studies, Bachelor's Programme, specialisation Italian, 180 ECTS

Translation Studies

Do you want to become an interpreter or a translator? Then sign up for a course or a programme in Translation Studies (which comprises interpreting as well as translation) at the Institute for Interpreting and Translation Studies/Tolk- och översättarinstitutet (TÖI). What is the difference between an interpreter and a translator? Interpreters work with oral communication and there are different kinds of interpreters: conference interpreters often work in the EU or the UN, public service interpreters help people communicate with the authorities, and sign language interpreters mediate spoken Swedish and Swedish sign language in various contexts. Working as an interpreter is varied and stimulating, but it can also be taxing and calls for good general knowledge, good language skills, speed, flexibility and a very high ability to concentrate. At the undergraduate level, you can take freestanding courses up to the Bachelor level. TÖI also offers a Bachelor Programme in Sign Language and Interpreting in collaboration with the Department of Linguistics, and TÖI offers a Master’s Programme in Interpreting as well. Translators, on the other hand, work with written communication. Technical or specialised translators translate texts in the areas of engineering, IT, law, economics, medicine and advertising among others. Audiovisual translators work with texts for the cinema or television. Literary translators mediate literary texts. To become a good translator, you need broad general knowledge, good language skills and a very high ability to express yourself in writing, and you also need to be conscientious. At the undergraduate level, you can take freestanding courses in translation up to the Bachelor level. TÖI also offers a Bachelor Programme in Language and Translation in collaboration with various language departments, and TÖI offers a Master’s Programme in Translation as well. Since 2013, there is also a Doctoral Programme in Translation Studies at TÖI.

Careers

Many conference interpreters, public service interpreters and translators work as freelancers. Sign language interpreters are often employed by interpreter centres at county councils. Technical or specialised translators are engaged by public authorities as well as private companies. Literary translators are engaged by publishers and audiovisual translators are mainly engaged by various media companies.

Degrees

You can get a Bachelor’s Degree in Translation Studies by taking freestanding courses amounting to at least 90 credits, combined with 90 credits in other subjects, including at least 60 credits in one language. You can also enrol in a programme:

• Bachelor’s Programme in Sign Language and Interpreting, 180 credits • Bachelor’s Programme in Language and Translation, 180 credits • Master’s Programme in Interpreting, 120 credits • Master’s Programme in Translation, 120 credits

Please note that the courses and programmes at TÖI require well-documented high proficiency in Swedish.

Nearly 60 million people in Italy speak Italian. In addition, people in many other countries speak it as their mother tongue or home language and many others learn it as a foreign language. Derived from Latin, it is one of Europe’s major cultural languages. It was already used as a literary language by Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio, and later became an important language in classical music, theatre and opera. The Italian city-states of the 14th century had a decisive importance in the areas of banking, art, architecture and literature. During subsequent centuries influences from the Italian peninsula continued to spread to the world beyond. Today interest in Italy and Italian is greater than ever. A knowledge of Italian is of great advantage to anyone considering a career in such areas as education, tourism, fashion and design. Commerce between Sweden and Italy is also steadily increasing, which means that a good knowledge of Italian is also in demand on the labour market. Italian is naturally essential if you want to acquire a deeper insight into Italian film and literature and is an important tool for students of art, music or fashion. At the University of Stockholm, successful and internationally recognised research is carried out in the sphere of Italian language and literature, such as language acquisition, lexicology and lexicography, comparative literature studies, children’s literature, 20th century prose and the contemporary novel. Teaching and research are closely related in the department. We offer instruction in Italian from the elementary to doctoral level. During the first semesters you improve your oral and writing skills while broadening your linguistic knowledge as well as your understanding of Italian literature, history, social life and culture. Already after the second semester you may choose to specialise in either literature or linguistic studies.