Question about best Master's degree options Thread poster: Michael T
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Michael T 
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:27
Spanish to English
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I'm interested in taking a "conversion" Master's degree in Computer Science, offered by several UK universities. The entry requirements for these courses aren't usually very strict and often a good degree in any discipline is all that is needed, which is good for me as I've more or less only studied pure language and some linguistics since college.
I mainly want to take this course to change careers, but I'm not sure if the course will be sufficiently in-depth to help me make the j... See more I'm interested in taking a "conversion" Master's degree in Computer Science, offered by several UK universities. The entry requirements for these courses aren't usually very strict and often a good degree in any discipline is all that is needed, which is good for me as I've more or less only studied pure language and some linguistics since college.
I mainly want to take this course to change careers, but I'm not sure if the course will be sufficiently in-depth to help me make the jump into a career in programming, development or even a more general role within IT, so my question is, would it at the very least be a useful specialization on the translation market and allow me to charge higher rates, or is this not really an area where there is a lot of demand? From personal experience I've not seen many projects advertised where a particularly broad knowledge of computer science is a requirement, but maybe there is someone out there who does specialize in this area who can inform me a little better.
I'm also currently enrolled in a Masters in Interpreting and Translation, but I'm having some doubts about how useful it would actually be in practical terms, as I'm not that interested in interpreting and I don't think it would teach me much about translation that I haven't already learned myself. However, it might help me secure more clients, charge higher rates and possibly even find an in-house position with an agency, which would then help me acquire experience and maybe gain some sort of specialization.
My only other idea has been taking the MSc in Computer Science with Speech and Language Processing offered by the University of Sheffield. The great thing about it is that it sort of ties in with my previous degree, the not so great thing is that because of the entry requirement I might struggle to get onto it and I also have no idea what I would do with it afterwards. Apparently about 50% end up doing some sort of research degree, but the University also has good links with private companies, so you never know where it could lead...
I definitely want to take some sort of further education because I need a break from translation and I still feel young enough (and have the financial means) to do it right now. But I'm really struggling to decide which direction to take exactly. So I would greatly appreciate any suggestions or advise that anyone can give me.
Thanks in advance. ▲ Collapse
| | | | ATIL KAYHAN
Türkiye
Local time: 08:27
Member (2007)
Turkish to English
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| Graduate Education | Apr 3, 2014 |
First, let me tell you a bit about my education. I have Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from a university in Turkey. Afterwards, I went to the United States for graduate education, and stayed for about four years. I had Master of Science in mechanical engineering, and another Master of Science in industrial engineering, both in the same school. This is my formal education. A lot of hard working years...
I strongly think that your choice of graduate education shoul... See more First, let me tell you a bit about my education. I have Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from a university in Turkey. Afterwards, I went to the United States for graduate education, and stayed for about four years. I had Master of Science in mechanical engineering, and another Master of Science in industrial engineering, both in the same school. This is my formal education. A lot of hard working years...
I strongly think that your choice of graduate education should be based upon what you would enjoy studying. After all, not all people choose to go to graduate school. Your desire, your interest and your priorities in life should play the lead role in making your decision. In that respect, it should be you, not anyone else, who makes that important decision. What you choose to study will affect you and the remainder of your life. Therefore, you should definitely give it some serious thought. Of course, I am not going to tell you you should go in this or that direction. Nor should anyone else, in my opinion.
I wish you the best of luck and success from now on. Whichever direction you decide to go, make it one full of hard work and success. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Phil Hand
China
Local time: 13:27
Chinese to English
| Interpreting great for translating | Apr 4, 2014 |
Michael Talu wrote:
I'm also currently enrolled in a Masters in Interpreting and Translation, but I'm having some doubts about how useful it would actually be in practical terms, as I'm not that interested in interpreting and I don't think it would teach me much about translation that I haven't already learned myself. However, it might help me secure more clients, charge higher rates and possibly even find an in-house position with an agency, which would then help me acquire experience and maybe gain some sort of specialization.
I can't tell you much about IT, but I studied interpreting, and found that it was a great help in my translating. It made me much more aware of issues like audience design, narrative thread, and formal structural features which may not need translating. You're also right that interpreters are a good source of work: organisations that use interpreters have translation needs which interpreters can pass on to you.
I knew some of the people doing the computer linguistics MA at my university, and they've gone on to do a spectacularly diverse array of jobs. It seems like one of those subjects that you can make into anything you want, so it could be a good option.
| | | | Michael T
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:27
Spanish to English
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TOPIC STARTER
Based on what I enjoy studying alone I would take the Master's in Computer Science, but as I say I'm just slightly concerned that this would not be enough to prepare me for the job market and I don't really want to end up with a useless degree. If I could at least use it to develop a specialization in translation then I would be less hesitant about going for it, but as far as I know there isn't really any demand for translators specialising in computer science.
Still, I think you'r... See more Based on what I enjoy studying alone I would take the Master's in Computer Science, but as I say I'm just slightly concerned that this would not be enough to prepare me for the job market and I don't really want to end up with a useless degree. If I could at least use it to develop a specialization in translation then I would be less hesitant about going for it, but as far as I know there isn't really any demand for translators specialising in computer science.
Still, I think you're right in that I should focus on something I'm really interested in, and having worked as a translator for a few years now I don't really think this is it. ▲ Collapse
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