PhD Translation Studies

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Research opportunities

The PhD in Translation Studies programme allows you to position yourself and your research in a dynamic, engaging, and fundamentally interdisciplinary field that spans theoretical, methodological, applied, and creative interest in translation across its diverse modes, practices, and impacts.

Translation is embedded in and shapes myriad human interactions in personal, cultural, socioeconomic, medical, cognitive, emotional, ideological, audiovisual, technological, memorial, humanitarian, war-time, peace-building, justice-seeking etc. contexts, and many rich seams of translation and translator behaviour remain to be explored.

We're particularly interested in proposals that will drive translation studies forward by rethinking the boundaries of translation, opening up new enquiry into its reaches and implications, and/or by forging or reinforcing outward-facing disciplinary connections. Similarly, proposals that can potentially engage external stakeholders in meaningful ways will also be very welcome.

Your thesis can follow the traditional research format, or you can also opt to carry out a practice-based thesis, comprising a translation of professional-level quality (of any text, written or multimodal) and a critical commentary.  

You will be supported in your research journey by a primary supervisor from Translation Studies, and by a second supervisor from either Translation Studies or the Department of Humanities more widely, in line with the interdisciplinary scope and language pairing(s) of your project.

View our current research opportunities

Saint Andrew's Society Scholarships

For the academic year 2025-2026, the St Andrew's Society for the State of New York is offering two scholarships to Scottish students wishing to study for a postgraduate Masters in the United States. Each studentship will have a maximum value of $45,000 USD.

Preference will be given to candidates who have no previous experience of the United States and for whom a period of study there can be expected to be a life-changing experience. Selection will be based on an all-around assessment, including character, experience academic achievement, and need.

The selection process is conducted by the Scholarship Committee of the Saint Andrew’s Society of the State of New York.

Deadline:

28 February 2025

Funding:

Funded

John Anderson Research Studentship Scheme (JARSS)

John Anderson Research Studentship Scheme (JARSS) doctoral studentships are available annually for excellent students and excellent research projects.

There are two main sources of funding:

  • Central University funding
  • Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council - Doctoral Landscape Award (EPSRC - DLA) funding.

The JARSS 2025/26 competition will open in October 2024 and students successful in this competition will commence studies in October 2025. Faculties will set their own internal deadlines for the competition.

Academics/Supervisors make the applications for this scheme and there are various deadlines across Departments and Faculties, therefore, in the first instance, all interested students should contact the Department where they would like to carry out their research.

Deadline:

Funding:

Funded

THE Awards 2019: UK University of the Year Winner
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Fees & funding

Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.

All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision.

Annual revision of fees

Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that the majority of fees will increase annually. The University will take a range of factors into account, including, but not limited to, UK inflation, changes in delivery costs and changes in Scottish and/or UK Government funding. Changes in fees will be published on the University website in October each year for the following year of study and any annual increase will be capped at a maximum of 10% per year.

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Scotland

£4,786

England, Wales & Northern Ireland

£4,786

Republic of Ireland

If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status. For more information and advice on tuition fee status, you can visit the UKCISA - International student advice and guidance - Scotland: fee status webpage. Find out more about the University of Strathclyde's fee assessments process.

International

£18,050

Additional costs

International students may have associated visa and immigration costs. Please see student visa guidance for more information.

Postgraduate research opportunities

Search for all funded and non-funded postgraduate research opportunities

Funding

Take a look at our funding your postgraduate research web page for funding information.

You can also view our scholarships search for further funding opportunities.

Please note: the fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year.

Postgraduate research at the Strathclyde Doctoral School

The Strathclyde Doctoral School offers a vibrant, student-centred research and training environment, dedicated to supporting both current and future research talent.

Bringing together all four of our faculties, it is committed to enhancing the student experience, increasing research outputs and opportunities, and ensuring that training is delivered at the highest standard.

As a postgraduate researcher, you will automatically become a member of the Strathclyde Doctoral School.

Find out more about the Doctoral School

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Supervisors

NameAreas of expertise
Dr Sharon Deane-Cox

Dr Sharon Deane-Cox has a keen interdisciplinary research interest in how translation mediates memory and trauma on textual, interpersonal, intersemiotic, and ethical levels. Specific focal points include the translation of Holocaust testimony and memorial museum exhibitions, alongside translator/interpreter history at the moment of Liberation. Sharon has published widely in Translation Studies; highlights include a monograph on Retranslation (Bloomsbury, 2014) and the co-edited Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation and Memory (2022), alongside various journal articles on Holocaust translation (2013; 2014; 2016; 2017), and a forthcoming chapter on trauma translation (Bloomsbury, 2024). She is also Associate Editor of the leading journal Translation Studies and sits on the IATIS Regional Workshops Committee.

Dr Tamara Barakat

Dr Tamara Barakat is interested in the connections between translation, cultural memory, and oral history, with a specific focus on the Palestinian context. Her research examines how oral history is reconstructed and remediated across languages, cultures, media, and spatiotemporal spheres. Her publications include a chapter on intersemiotic translation and memory in graphic novels (Routledge, 2023) and a forthcoming chapter on the intersections between translation and memory in the Routledge Handbook of Translation & Sociology (Routledge, 2024). She is currently working on her first monograph. Her other research interests include sociological dimensions of translation, translation in oral history archives, and translation in the arts.

Dr Hui Li 

Dr Hui Li developed a strong interest in translation as a practitioner around 2000 and published her first translated book, Making It in America, around that time. She continued to work as a part-time translator and interpreter in the UK, further enhancing her understanding of the practice from translator's perspective and the significance for professional growth within the freelance translation and interpretation community. Amy has a keen interest in the interrelated fields of Translation Studies, Cultural Studies, and Applied Linguistics. She has explored a diverse range of research topics, including translation and interpreting assessment, vocabulary development and assessment, and issues pertaining to translator and interpreter training.

Since many TS doctoral projects are interdisciplinary, second supervisors are often appointed from across the Department of Humanities, or beyond. This flexibility ensures that you'll benefit from a supervision team that is the best fit in terms of language pairings and areas of expertise. 

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Support & development

The Graduate School

The Graduate School is a friendly and supportive study environment for research students studying subjects within Humanities & Social Sciences.

Our staff will support you through your studies and you'll become part of a community of students who get involved with our workshops, seminars and competitions.

Postgraduate Certificate in Researcher Professional Development (PgCert RPD)

Our PgCert RPD programme aims to ensure you get the most out of your current research activities at Strathclyde and helps you prepare for your future career as a researcher.

We'll help you recognise and develop your transferrable skills that'll have a positive impact on your research, now and in the future.

Careers

The University Careers Service can help you with everything from writing your CV to interview preparation. Take a look at our careers service pages to get more information.

Student support

From financial advice to our IT facilities, we have a wide range of support for all students here at Strathclyde. Get all the information you need at Strathlife.

International students

We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 140 countries across the world. Find out all you need to know about studying in Glasgow at Strathclyde and hear from students about their experiences.

Visit our international students' section

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Entry requirements

PhD applicants should normally hold a first-class or upper second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, as well as a Masters degree in a relevant area.

If you're an international applicant and don’t have a degree from a UK University (or a University where the primary medium of instruction is English), you'll also be required to provide an IELTS certificate (overall minimum band score of 7 with no individual test score below 6.5, the test must be taken within two years of the programme start date).

How can I apply?

The first step is to have a look at the staff profiles and identify a supervisor who would be a good fit for your doctoral project. You can then send your potential supervisor(s) a copy of your research proposal and your CV for consideration. If they're able to supervise your project, they may work with you to revise your proposal further before submitting your full application through our online portal on Pegasus.

You'll be asked to upload:

  • full contact details
  • your research proposal, up to 2000 words in length, detailing the subject area and topic to be investigated
  • scans of degree certificates/transcripts
  • two reference letters, one of which must be academic (if it would be easier for you, you can ask your referees to send their letters direct to hass-pgr-applications@strath.ac.uk placing your name and the word "reference" in the subject line)
  • confirmation of funding
  • proof of English language proficiency if English isn't your first language

Start date: Oct 2024 - Sep 2025

Translation Studies

PhD
full-time
Start date: Oct 2024 - Sep 2025

Start date: Oct 2025 - Sep 2026

Translation Studies

PhD
full-time
Start date: Oct 2025 - Sep 2026

Start date: Oct 2024 - Sep 2025

Translation Studies

PhD
part-time
Start date: Oct 2024 - Sep 2025

Start date: Oct 2025 - Sep 2026

Translation Studies

PhD
part-time
Start date: Oct 2025 - Sep 2026

Start date: Oct 2026 - Sep 2027

Translation Studies

PhD
full-time
Start date: Oct 2026 - Sep 2027

Start date: Oct 2026 - Sep 2027

Translation Studies

PhD
part-time
Start date: Oct 2026 - Sep 2027

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Contact us

Dr Sharon Deane-Cox

Email: sharon.deane-cox@strath.ac.uk