Modern languages and translation

Why study with us

Pursue your interests in languages and culture in an exciting, interdisciplinary environment with an international reputation for excellence in research and teaching.

Gain crucial experience

Become a student mentor with our Modern Foreign Language Student Mentoring Scheme or a language ambassador via Routes into Languages Cymru.

Research excellence

Placed 9th for research impact and 11th for research environment (Modern Languages and Linguistics, REF 2021).

Diverse community

We attract a wide range of international and UK students each year who thrive in our diverse postgraduate environment.

Global Cultures (MA)

Full time

Develop your knowledge and understanding of the creative and cultural industries in both national and international contexts

Global Heritage (MA)

Full time

Explore the power of heritage in a global context and consider its relationship to major debates around sustainability, decolonisation, conflict, and human rights.

Translation Studies (MA)

Full time, Part time

Gain core training in the theory and practice of translation and work in a language that suits you.

Languages and Translation Studies (PhD, MPhil)

Full-time, part-time

We have a strong, intellectually stimulating and vibrant research culture into which postgraduates are inducted and embedded.

Our talks

Welcome to Translation Studies at Cardiff University

Our translation open day talk, with Dr Cristina Marinetti, gives a flavour of our postgraduate translation course, how we teach and the additional opportunities available as part of your degree.

Welcome to Global Cultures at Cardiff University

This global cultures open day talk, with Professor David Clarke, gives an overview of the programme, explains how you will be assessed, introduces the language and culture specialists that will be teaching you and discusses where this degree can take your career.

A student's perspective

"I come from Belgium, so I only really knew about the cultural sector there. When I arrived at Cardiff University I realised how different the cultural sector is in Wales.

"I was blown away by the diversity and inclusivity. On the programme, we looked at case studies within the cultural industries, which included a visit to the Welsh National Opera and a talk with the organiser of the Iris Prize Festival.

"We were given opportunities to meet many people in Cardiff which helped me find out how vibrant and enriching the cultural sector is here."

Florence Gygax

Find out more about MA Global Cultures

A world of possibilities

Learn with us before you join us

From health to the justice system, from the voluntary sector to sport and the arts, we all increasingly live and work in contexts where people speak more than one language. We offer the free online course, Working with Translation, in conjunction with Future Learn. The course, which was set up in 2016, stresses the importance of translation and has to date, taught over 50,000 people.

Where languages can take you

Many of our graduates are living exciting multilingual lives in countries around the world. They work in diplomacy, IT, international sport, manufacturing, the armed services, accountancy, law, financial analysis, management consultancy and international business. The list is endless!

Our research opportunities

Our multidisciplinary research environment attracts a variety of research grants and investments and has a renowned reputation for quality. We offer full and part-time PhD and MPhil opportunities under the banner of Languages and Translation Studies. Our research is organised around the themes: Transnational Cultural and Visual Studies; History and Heritage; and Global Language-Based Area Studies.

Study in Cardiff's vibrant city centre

You will be based at the School of Modern Languages on Park Place, which is at the centre of our campus and in the heart of Wales’ capital city. We are situated next to Cathays train station, the Students' Union and five minutes' walk from the city centre.