TP Translations
Academic Translation Services
TP Translations provides professional human translation for universities, research organisations, academics and students in the UK and internationally. We translate written documents and recorded research material across a wide range of languages. Projects can range from a research interview to a collection of multilingual documents and recordings.
Translation for Research and Higher Education
Academic translation requires more than substituting words from one language for another. Meaning, context, terminology, tone and the purpose of the document all need to be understood.
We can assist with:
- Journal articles
- Conference papers
- Research interviews
- Focus groups
- Ethics applications
- Participant information sheets
- Consent forms
- Questionnaires
- Funding applications
- Research proposals
- Course materials
- University communications
- Reports and publications
Tell us the intended audience and purpose of the translation so that these can be considered when the work is allocated.
Written Translation
We translate academic and research documents between a wide range of languages.
When requesting a quotation, please provide:
- The source language
- The required target language
- The document
- The subject area
- The intended audience
- The required return date
- Any terminology list or style guide
- Required file format
If a journal, funder or university has specific instructions, include these at the start of the project.
Translation and Transcription of Research Recordings
We can also process interviews and focus groups recorded in languages other than English.
Depending on the research method, you may require:
- A transcript in the original language
- An English translation
- Both the original-language transcript and English translation
- Speaker identification
- Timestamps
- Participant anonymisation
- A client template
- A particular verbatim style
The required output should be agreed before work begins because the process and price can differ substantially.
Human Translation
Our service uses human translators selected according to the language combination and project requirements.
Human translation is particularly important where the material contains:
- Specialist terminology
- Cultural references
- Ambiguous speech
- Sensitive personal experiences
- Regional language
- Qualitative research data
- Material intended for publication
Machine-generated output may fail to preserve nuance or may introduce wording that was not present in the source material.
Confidentiality and Data Security
TP Translations is operated within the TP Transcription Limited group. The company holds UKAS-accredited ISO 27001:2022 certification together with Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus.
Secure file-transfer facilities are available. We can also discuss Data Processing Agreements, confidentiality requirements, retention periods and project-specific security questionnaires.
Quality and Project Instructions
Quality requirements vary according to the project. A participant interview may need a faithful rendering of informal speech, while a journal article may require polished academic language.
Please tell us whether you need:
- Translation only
- Translation plus proofreading
- Original-language transcription
- Bilingual output
- Client terminology
- A publication or institutional style
- Anonymisation
- Particular formatting
We will confirm the proposed service when providing the quotation.
Supporting Research Ethics Applications
Research ethics committees may ask how recordings and documents will be transferred, who will access them and where processing will take place.
We can provide information about our service and security arrangements for inclusion in research documentation. The university or research organisation remains responsible for approving the proposed processing and establishing the lawful basis for the project.
[External link opportunity: ICO guidance on research and data protection]
Frequently Asked Questions
Which languages do you cover?
We work across a wide range of languages and language combinations. Availability and timescales depend on the subject matter, file type and required language pair.
Can you translate an interview directly into English?
Yes. We will first clarify whether you require an English-only transcript or both an original-language transcript and an English translation.
Do you translate research consent forms?
Yes. We can translate consent forms, participant information sheets and related research material. Supply the final approved source document wherever possible.
Can you follow a university template?
Yes. Send the template with your quotation request.
Can you sign a Data Processing Agreement?
A Data Processing Agreement is available for appropriate projects. Send your requirements before placing the order.
Do you offer certified translations?
Requirements for certified or formally accepted translations vary according to the receiving organisation and country. Tell us exactly what the translation will be used for so that we can confirm whether we can provide the required service.
Request a Quote
Upload the files or send us the word count, languages, subject area and required return date. We will review the information and provide a quotation.