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Faculty of Modern LanguagesTranslation Studies – Bachelor 100%

Students of translation studies study the theory and practice of the written transmission of general and specialist texts into another language. In addition, they learn about the topics and strategies of multi-lingual culture mediation. 

Facts & Formalities

DegreeBachelor of Arts
Type of programmeUndergraduate
Start of programmeWinter semester only
Standard period of study6 semesters
Language(s) of instructionDeutsch und die gewählten Fremdsprachen
Fees and contributions151.05 € / Semester
Application procedureSubjects with no admission restrictions
Application deadlinesInformation about deadlines can be obtained after you have put together a degree program.
Part-time optionYes
International degree programYes

Course Content

In the Bachelor’s degree programme in translation studies, students acquire advanced scientific knowledge and skills in the respective specialist areas of the chosen languages. Graduates: 

  • have mastered their B and C languages at the C1 level according to the Common European Framework,  
  • have solid scientific intercultural and multilingual competencies, 
  • have understood the scientific foundations of linguistics and translation studies as well as of specialised translation, 
  • have high textual and discourse-analytical competencies. This enables them to professionally communicate in a variety of areas and situations. 
  • have acquired first scientific competencies and can apply a research-oriented approach to a number of questions,  
  • have theoretical and technical skills in working with multilingual terminology and can conduct research for translation and documentation purposes, 
  • have comprehensive media competencies. They are able to independently and appropriately work with numerous applications and tools for computer-assisted translation, corpus analysis, terminology management and localisation. 
  • can work independently and in a team, e.g. in group projects to foster acquisition of interdisciplinary and professional skills.

The Bachelor’s programme focusses on two foreign languages (B- and C-languages) in relation to the primary language German (A-language). 

Students translate texts from their B- and C-languages into their A-language and from their A-language into their B-language. Students whose native language isn’t German can nonetheless enrol in the programme with German as their primary language.

Course Structure

The Bachelor’s degree programme in translation studies is a modular programme. 

Teaching and learning content is presented in various teaching formats: lectures, preparatory seminars, main seminars and practice classes. 

Thanks to a min. six-week internship in a foreign country, students improve their translation competence and develop their skills as mediators in multilingual and multicultural situations. First point of contact for placement in mandatory internships or for voluntary internships is the department’s internship centre, which has numerous ties to industry, institutions and universities abroad and places students in optimally supervised and high-quality internships.   

Periods abroad in Europe or beyond Europe are imperative for future translators, language mediators and interpreters. The department has contacts with more than 20 countries, which fosters student mobility. Important points of contact in the department are the programme coordinators and the ERASMUS coordinators.

International course option

The Institute of Translation and Interpreting also offers the international, four-year BA Plus Translation Studies Spanish to all students with Spanish as their B-language or C-language. A two-semester study or professional period abroad in Spain complements the six-semester Bachelor’s programme which results in a considerable development of linguistic, professional and cultural competencies. Graduates of the BA Plus develop special skills as language and culture mediators. This four-year international option with an integrated year in Spain has proven to be an extremely future-oriented programme within the BA structure.