Independent Project - LAN00122M

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Module summary

This module allows you to design and carry out a project that explores in depth a programme-related topic within the scope of translation and interpreting. The project could take a number of different forms, for example: an extended translation project, an interpretation and commentary project, and an academic research project.

Module will run

Occurrence	Teaching period
A	Summer Semester 2025-26

Module aims

The aim of this module is to allow you to develop a detailed programme of study on a topic, which, while falling within the areas where teaching staff have expertise, is beyond what is available in the teaching programme on offer to them. Examples of projects that you could take on include:

• an extended translation project, including a commentary which relates your practice to relevant theory,
• an interpreting project, including a commentary which relates your practice to relevant theory,
• a research project in the field of Translation and Interpreting Studies.

You can choose to focus on any programme-related topic, subject to supervisor approval.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, you should be able to:

• design and independently conduct a project in a chosen area of translation and interpreting, whether practice-based or research oriented
• identify a topic and formulate appropriate research questions relevant to the chosen area in the creation of a project,
• demonstrate a systematic knowledge of existing scholarship in their chosen field,
• apply knowledge of current issues in translation, interpreting and applied technologies, as relevant to the project,
• identify, access and use appropriate methods and materials relevant to the project,
• demonstrate awareness of ethical issues relating to the project, as appropriate,
• demonstrate the ability to work autonomously, and identify their own development needs,
• work autonomously in planning, executing, analysing and writing up a piece of substantive academic writing over an extended period,
• engage confidently in communication about the project.

Module content

This module takes place in the summer semester, but prior to this, preparation work for the module is built into three Semester 2 modules: Advanced Simultaneous Interpreting, Advanced Consecutive Interpreting, and Professional Translation Practice. Three lectures shared across these three modules prepare you for formulating a project proposal. The proposal is submitted in Semester 2, Week 9 as formative work for the Independent Project.

Based on the project proposal submitted in Semester 2, students will be assigned an individual project supervisor at the start of the summer semester. The supervisor will offer five supervision meetings over the summer semester in order to advise on the project. You will conduct your project and write it up during the course of the summer semester.

Indicative assessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100
Essay/coursework	0

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

This module is re-assessed at the module level. However, as per University policy for independent study modules:

• if you fail a Masters ISM with a mark below 40, then no reassessment is permitted.
• if you are given a ‘marginal fail’ mark of between 40 and 49, then you will have the chance to make amendments (minor corrections) which will enable a minimum threshold to be reached, with the mark after resubmission capped at 50. Details of the sort of revisions that would be expected are given in the Guide to Assessment, Standards Marking and Feedback, but you would not expect to need access to the University’s physical facilities, to collect further data or to need any further supervision, and it should be possible to complete the work with no more than the equivalent of two weeks’ full-time effort.

Indicative reassessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100

Module feedback

Feedback on formative work:

Oral feedback on the project proposal will be provided at a meeting to be scheduled within three weeks of submission.

Written feedback will also be given on a draft submission prior to final submission of your dissertation.

Summative assessment and feedback:

Written feedback and a mark on the university marking scale will be given within 20 working
days.

Indicative reading

Angelelli, C. and Baer, J. (Eds.). (2015). Researching translation and interpreting. Routledge.

Hale, S. & Napier, J. (2013). Research methods in interpreting: A practical resource. Bloomsbury.

Holmes, J., & Hazen, K. (Eds.). (2013). Research methods in sociolinguistics: A practical guide. John Wiley & Sons.

Hua, Z. (Ed.). (2015). Research methods in intercultural communication: A practical guide. John Wiley & Sons.

Lury, C., Fensham, R., Heller-Nicholas, A., Lammes, S., Last, A., Michael, M., & Uprichard, E. (Eds.). (2018). Routledge handbook of interdisciplinary research methods. Routledge.

Meister, L. (2018). On methodology: How mixed methods research can contribute to translation studies. Translation Studies, 11(1), 66-83.

Mellinger, C. D., & Baer, B. J. (2020). Research ethics in translation and interpreting studies. In The Routledge handbook of translation and ethics (pp. 365-380). Routledge.

Mligo, E. S. (2016). Introduction to research methods and report writing: A practical guide for students and researchers in social sciences and the humanities. Wipf and Stock Publishers.

Neilson, T., & Rheams, D. (Eds.). (2018). Research methods for the digital humanities. Springer.

Pole, C. & Hillyard, S. (2016). Doing Fieldwork. London: Sage.

Saldanha, G., & O'Brien, S. (2013). Research Methodologies in Translation Studies (1st ed.). Routledge

More specific to each project: to be determined by the student in consultation with their supervisor.