The module content and practical tasks will introduce you to research methods in translation studies, so that you have the necessary skills and knowledge to write a dissertation, and are prepared to progress on to a PhD or an EdD after the Masters. This option will suit those students wishing to engage more closely with translation theory. If you are more interested in translation practice or translation pedagogy, you can produce an independent research study on a topic related to professional practice, for instance investigating an aspect of translation technologies, or terminology management. For those who are more interested in translation practice and want to hone their skills in translating a substantial piece of work, under the supervision of your tutor you can select a text of your choice to translate and comment on. Whatever option you choose, the work you submit will be between 12,000 and 15,000 words.
In all cases, you will design and submit an initial proposal to your personal tutor, who will have to approve it, and who will then support you together with a second tutor during the completion of your extended translation or dissertation project.
By the end of the module, you will have developed as a reflective practitioner, and be able to undertake a substantial, independent piece of work.
This is the final module in the MA in Translation (F79) which provides an academic qualification for those intending to become, or who already are, professional translators.
You will have a personal tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. Your tutor will also advise you on the proposal for your independent study and, together with a second tutor, provide individual support and feedback to you as you undertake your extended annotated translation or your dissertation project. You and your tutor will primarily communicate with each other online. There will also be forums for all the students on the module, and these will be facilitated by a number of tutors.
Contact us if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Course work includes:
All study materials are provided on the module website. This includes the module study guide and activities, audio/video material and a range of tools to support your study, including real-time conferencing and online forums.
We would like to thank Phrase for granting The Open University access to the Phrase Localization Platform. The Academic Plan is a dedicated academic program designed to enhance translation and localisation education and support universities in training the next generation of language professionals.
You can study this module on its own or use the credits you gain towards an Open University qualification.
L803 is a compulsory module in our:
Extended translation project/dissertation starts once a year – in June. This page describes the module that will start in June 2026.
Please note: May 2026 is the final opportunity to register online for this module.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
1If you don't have an honours degree, talk to an advisor.
2If your first language is English and you've passed an OU level 3 module in your second language, your language proficiency should be suitable, as the exit level of our OU level 3 language courses is CEFR C1.
3You must have passed L801 in order to register for L803 and if you haven't completed L802 you will need to have a discussion with the module team before registering for L803.
Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader (and where applicable: musical notation and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way). Other alternative formats of the module materials may be available in the future.
As part of your independent project you might want to make use of some of the third-party translation software that is freely available on the web and that you will have been introduced to in L802. The module team has chosen software which is as accessible as possible, but may not be fully accessible, particularly if you use assistive technology. Further information will be available via the Student Support Team to help you make a decision on your ability to study the module before registering.
| Start | End | Register by | England fee |
|---|
| 06 Jun 2026 | 31 Jan 2027 | 14 May 2026 | £2,910 |
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If your income is not more than £25,000 or you receive a qualifying benefit, you might be eligible for help with some of these costs after your module has started.
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study costs. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in England.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to help with your tuition fees. To find out more, see Postgraduate tuition fee loans in Northern Ireland.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to help with your tuition fees. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in Scotland.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study costs. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in Wales.
The Open University Student Budget Accounts Ltd (OUSBA) offers a convenient 'pay as you go' option to pay your OU fees, which is a secure, quick and easy way to pay. Please note that The Open University works exclusively with OUSBA and is not able to offer you credit facilities from any other provider. All credit is subject to status and proof that you can afford the repayments.
You pay the OU through OUSBA in one of the following ways:
Joint loan applications
If you feel you would be unable to obtain an OUSBA loan on your own due to credit history or affordability issues, OUSBA offers the option to apply for a joint loan application with a third party. For example, your husband, wife, partner, parent, sibling or friend. In such cases, OUSBA will be required to carry out additional affordability checks separately and/or collectively for both joint applicants who will be jointly and severally liable for loan repayments.
As additional affordability checks are required when processing joint loan applications, unfortunately, an instant decision cannot be given. On average, the processing time for a joint loan application is five working days from receipt of the required documentation.
Read more about Open University Student Budget Accounts (OUSBA).
Studying with The Open University can boost your employability. OU courses are recognised and respected by employers for their excellence and the commitment they take to complete. They also value the skills that students learn and can apply in the workplace.
Over 30,000 employers have used the OU to develop staff so far. If the module you’ve chosen is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could approach your employer to see if they will sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees.
You can pay part or all of your tuition fees upfront with a debit or credit card when you register for each module.
We accept American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Visa Electron.
We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may wish to pay part of your tuition fee with a debit card and pay the remainder in instalments through an Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA).
We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may get support from your employer to pay part of your tuition fee and pay the remainder by credit or debit card.
For more information about combining payment options, contact an adviser.
Please note: your permanent address/domicile will affect your fee status and, therefore, the fees you are charged and any financial support available to you. The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2026. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules.
