Postgraduate Certificate in Computer-Assisted Language Mediation

The Postgraduate Certificate in Computer-Assisted Language Mediation, or CALM for short, thoroughly lives up to its slogan: "Technology for Language Professionals". 

The CALM postgraduate course focuses on the technological skills and tools that are required in today’s information society. It complements language and communication degrees such as Masters in Translation, Interpreting, Multilingual Communication, Languages and Literature, Journalism Studies, Communication Studies, etc.

The course will prepare you as a language professional for the increasingly digitalized employment market, readying you for a career in the language and translation technology or communication sectors. Many of our graduates got job offers from leading companies in the language and communication industry, such as Yamagata Europe, Flow Technical Communication, CrossLang, and Hello Customer.

Enroll via the studyguide

Why CALM?

Future oriented

We don't need to tell you about the extraordinary pace of digitalization in the employment market. CALM will introduce you not only to the latest technological advances in the language, translation and communication sectors, you will also learn about the capabilities and the limitations of technology, as well as the ethical aspects of the ever-advancing digitalization. Our teaching staff are language experts with a robust technological background, who will help you acquire the new skills and broadened outlook required to meet the demands of the employment market of today, and tomorrow.

CALM is an advanced and high-quality professional postgraduate programme that focuses on the technological skills and tools that are essential in today’s language, translation and communication industry.

Hands-on

The course places a particular emphasis on practical experience. The modules available for inclusion in your curriculum are a combination of hands-on practical sessions with theory and scientifically supported concepts. Each year the course welcomes a number of guest speakers who will share their experience and insights from the professional field, helping to prepare you for your placement.

Personalized curriculum

CALM offers 12 different modules, each counting for 5 study credits. You will select 8 modules from these. Your curriculum will therefore be good for 40 study credits in total, and will be spread over the two semesters (see the timetables). You will devise your own curriculum in accordance with your own specific interests and needs. If you're not sure whether a particular module is suitable for you and will meet your expectations, you should consult the Study Guide or contact the relevant member of teaching staff to request further explanation.

Professional experience

The course concludes with a practically oriented placement at home or abroad (20 study credits). The placement will take place over three months, during the second part of the second semester (March-June). Partners for these placements are leading businesses like Yamagata Europe, Flow Technical Communication, CrossLang, Hello Customer and Iyuno, all prepared to welcome you and to assist you in putting your skills and expertise into practice.

Target group

CALM is designed for master’s degree holders who are interested in a career in the language, translation and communication industry and who wish to develop their technological competences.

Candidates who do not hold a master’s degree but have acquired the necessary competences through training or through relevant experience can also apply. They will have to demonstrate and submit proof of their elsewhere acquired competences or professional experience.

CALM is also intended for language professionals who wish to enhance their technological and digital skills. Please also check the study guide.

Online info sessions

If you are interested, be sure to attend the online info session on May 21.

Presentation

Course structure

• The CALM postgraduate course is a one-year academic programme consisting of 60 credits.
• Depending on their interests, students select 8 modules (of 5 credits each) out of the 12 modules offered.
• The modules are complemented by a 3-month work placement (20 credits) with a company in the language, translation or communication industry.
  Only students who have taken up 40 credits (8 modules) will be considered for the work placement.
• All modules are taught in the first two trimesters of the academic year, followed by the work placement.
• The course is taught in English.

Modules

Read a short description of the 12 modules offered. You can find a more detailed programme summary in the study guide.

Brochure

Everything you want to know (and more) about our postgraduate course in the brochure.

Language requirements

All teaching is carried out in English. Therefore, students must have sufficient fluency in written and spoken English (CEFR level B2) to cope with the course. For the translation-oriented courses (Terminology and Translation Technology, Localisation, Audio-visual language Techniques and Machine Translation and Post-editing) knowledge of Dutch, French or German is also required.

Application Procedure

Please check the applying deadlines

International students:

Follow the Ghent University application procedure and additionally submit :

• a motivation letter (in English);
• a legalised copy of the basic diploma and its transcripts; the diploma and its transcripts must also be translated by a sworn translator into either Dutch, English, French or German, if they were drafted up in any other language.
• two recommendation letters. At least one letter should be from an academic referee (e.g. the university where the applicant has been studying); the second letter can also be provided by a company at which the applicant has been gaining work experience.

The International Admissions Desk will first verify all submitted documents and check whether the application is complete. In a second step, the CALM steering committee will examine all applications on an individual basis. Applicants that meet all requirements will be invited for an online interview.

Students with a degree from a Belgian or Dutch University

Testimonials

A few alumni of the postgraduate programme Computer-Assisted Language Mediation (CALM) are happy to share their testimonials.

Contact

Christophe Wybraeke via calm@ugent.be.