This course is in the process of validation and is recruiting for an October 2008 start.

The course is aimed at students who wish to develop their English technical writing skills as well as their translation skills to a professional level. At the same time, the course provides knowledge and skills in relation to a range of technologies which underpin modern communication.

The expert writer is an individual who is able to produce high-quality documentation to meet the needs and expectations of different audiences. To achieve this aim, writers use a document production process which attaches as much importance to the preliminary stage of research, including audience analysis, as it does to the production and review stages. This approach to writing underpins the writing modules of the course.

These modules are complemented by modules with a technological focus. Course modules embrace the use of file formats, such as PDF, HTML and XML, softwares for electronic publishing and multimedia communication, in which text, graphics and sound are combined, as well as computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools, such as machine translation and translation memory.

The course culminates in a project, undertaken through a placement with a major regional company. The project provides students with useful real-world experience on the one hand, and an opportunity to shape their studies according to their own career aspirations on the other.