Progressing to Postgrad: Haydn

Posted on: 22 January 2025 by Ruby O'Sullivan in Class of 2023

Haydn is a BA Modern Languages graduate who is now studying towards a Master's in Conference Interpreting and Translation Studies at the University of Leeds whilst also working as a Freelance Conference Interpreter and Translator.

How did you hear about your role and decide to apply for it?

I heard about my course after a representative of the course came to the University of Liverpool whilst I was still a student and gave a talk about the programme on offer at Leeds.

I was always passionate about the subject I studied and interested in further study, so hearing about the quality of the course at Leeds, as well as the professional connections it has, pushed me to apply. My decision was made final when I was offered the Leeds Masters Scholarship, making postgraduate study a financially viable option.

How did you get to where you are now?

My motivation to pursue further study was a mixture of continuing study due to my passion for languages, and for the employability skills - both to be able to work as a professional translator and interpreter, but also after hearing all the other career paths graduates from this MA course had embarked on.

The languages department in Liverpool had a key role in my journey by making my experience of language study such an enjoyable one, and one where I was pushed to achieve exceptional results. The application process for my MA involved completing translation tests, and then an interpreting test over zoom, before being offered a place. I was then offered a postgraduate scholarship, which cemented my decision to go straight into the MA course.

Your favourite experience so far?

My favourite experience was visiting the European institutions in Brussels as part of a study visit. I got to sit in a booth at a real-life European Parliament meeting and try my hand at live simultaneous interpretation, as well as getting an in-depth understanding of how the language services operate within the European Union.

The most challenging part of your graduate journey?

Simply learning the interpreting skills required during my MA, such as reformulation and simultaneous listening and speaking. The course has been extremely challenging and a real step-up from any previous experience I had of interpreting during undergraduate study. This gave me a real sense of pride when achieving a merit overall.

Top 3 Tips for current students and graduates:

1. Engage with the academic opportunities available to you, such as the language lounge for language students.
   
   
2. Start planning what you want to do when you graduate at the start of your final year.
   
   
3. Be passionate about what you study - if you do or don't end up completely changing career path, if you're passionate about your subject area, you'll never regret it.

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