Meet our graduates: Mark Bradshaw

Having worked as a teacher before undertaking an MSc in Translation Studies, accessibility and engagement with source materials have always been important to Mark Bradshaw.

When he came to the University of Edinburgh in 2017, he had been out of higher education for seven years, firstly teaching English in France and Spain, then working in communications in Vancouver, where he grew up.

Graduating in 2018, he remained in Edinburgh to work at Screen Language, a local boutique firm specialising in subtitling, translation and audio description.

The company is recognised as one of the leading experts in disability access to screen materials and audio-visual translation in Scotland. Besides project managing, Mark also provides English subtitles and subtitles for the D/deaf and hard of hearing.

From study to practice

Mark's first degree was a BA in Linguistics and English Language Teaching completed at Simon Fraser University, Canada.

For his masters in Translation Studies at Edinburgh, he worked with French and Spanish as his language pair, with a focus on audio-visual translation.

Describing his MSc experience as making him “well-prepared for my current role” [at Screen Language], Mark says “The most useful thing I learned was the general theory behind subtitling and translation, which has helped to inform and guide my own practice – the actual practical work of subtitling I was able to learn on the job."

“In terms of the project management side of things, I feel much more comfortable taking on projects and interacting with our many freelancers and linguists having that strong, shared foundation in translation."

A strong community

Reflecting further on his time at Edinburgh, Mark says “I really enjoyed my coursework and the professors – I found them extremely knowledgeable and very approachable."

“Having been away from university for a while, coming back as one of the oldest in my cohort, it didn’t take long for me to feel comfortable in the programme, thanks to their dedication to our intellectual wellbeing.”

“Having a strong community of students and the support of the professors, I absolutely relished the opportunity to devote myself to learning once more.”

“My biggest achievement would have to be successfully “translating” my own dissertation on comic translation into a role translating social media content for the Spanish influencer / graphic novelist Moderna de Pueblo, which included completing a full-length translation of her latest book “CoñoDramas” last summer.”

Screen Language is currently supporting Dr Charlotte Bosseaux in Translation Studies on a research project exploring the ethical demands of translating gender-based violence.

Are you interested in studying Translation Studies?

The University of Edinburgh is an official Higher Education (HE) Language Partner of the Chartered Institute of Linguists and  a member of the RWS Campus - Trados Academic Partner Program. With a wide range of languages offered, our one-year taught Masters programme will enhance your practical skills in, and theoretical understanding of, translation as an activity. We also offer one of the most flexible PhD programmes in Translation Studies in the UK. 

Find out more about Translation Studies at Edinburgh

Related links

Find out more about Screen Language [external website]

Read our interview with Charlotte Bosseaux about translating gender-based violence