Graduate Profile

I studied Fine & Applied Arts with French at CCCU, and worked at a hotel in Lille between my second and final year as part of the summer work placement option. This intense, self-reflective experience radically improved my fluency in French, pushed the boundaries of my comfort zone, and also heightened my awareness of the complexities in language and culture.

In my final year, I reflected on which aspects of the course I felt most passionate about, and this guided me towards my future career: translation. The translation modules exposed me to a wide range of French literature; this sparked a fascination with dissecting, analysing, and transforming language.

With full support and encouragement from my tutors, I completed a MA in Translation Studies at UCL. During this time, I spent a year translating legal and financial texts alongside an established freelancer. I then moved into audiovisual translation, working as a subtitle project coordinator for high-profile theatrical projects. After this, I worked as a temporary paralegal at a top London law firm, translating email evidence used in court.

My eagerness to specialise in translating for specific industries has led me to my current job as a UK translator at OVH, a French internet services provider. I now translate everything from marketing campaigns to user guides for the UK, Ireland, Australia, and Singapore. To gain a better understanding of the industry I'm working in, I’ll also be starting a programming course soon, where I'll learn a very different set of languages: JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.

For me, studying French at CCCU was a fantastic starting point for my career. It provided me with a supportive, enriching environment that pushed me to develop professionally and personally. In addition to this, it gave me the drive to pursue my academic goals, as well as the career I love.