The Pamela Mayorcas Prize aims to promote research, background reading, and visits to leading centres of excellence, specialist libraries, or collections of specialised materials to facilitate in-depth, specialised translation work into or out of English.
The prize is open to full-time and second-year part-time students enrolled in the MA Specialised Translation or MA Translation and interpreting degrees. It provides support for research, background reading, visits to centres of excellence, the purchase of specialised literature, access to specialist libraries or collections, and participation in conferences or similar events. These activities are intended to deepen the applicant’s knowledge of their area of expertise and terminology, ultimately supporting their specialised translation work into or out of English.
Research or fieldwork funded must focus on translating specialised texts relevant to a professional context.
The deadline to apply for this year's Pamela Mayorcas Prize is 20 January 2025.
Testimonials from past prize winners
"I applied for the Pamela Mayorcas Prize to access key reference texts and expertise for my MA Translation Project, focused on translating an essay about the history of beekeeping in France. The subject was niche, and resources were hard to find in the UK. The grant allowed me to visit the French Beekeeping Association in Paris, where I accessed materials and spoke with experts. These conversations helped decode cultural references tied to France’s pastoral and Catholic history, enriching my work. As a result, the author of the original essay is now interested in publishing my translation. Currently, I work for REDRESS, overseeing translations and interpreting for partner meetings, and I believe this grant boosted my CV and enthusiasm for translation. I highly recommend the experience!"
"I received the Pamela Mayorcas Prize for Scientific and Technical Translation more than six years ago, but it still features prominently on my CV alongside my other professional qualifications. I am confident that it helps me stand out when I advertise my services to prospective clients, and I still make use of the resources it enabled me to purchase in my translation work. I would definitely recommend applying for the award if you intend to forge a career in the competitive world that is the translation profession, both as a confidence boost and as evidence of your abilities that you can show off to the outside world."
"I applied as I felt the in-depth knowledge that I could learn would really benefit my final translation project. It also inspired me to follow my passion for animal welfare and behaviour and I now work in the veterinary industry alongside my translation work, the majority of which is focused on animal welfare and behaviour. I still benefit now from what I learnt in all aspects of my career thanks to the Pamela Mayorcas Prize."
Examples of previous applications
About Pamela Mayorcas FITI MScInfSc DipModLangs
Pamela studied French, Italian, and European Studies at the University of Westminster (then The Polytechnic) from 1965 to 1968. For her Diploma, she wrote a thesis in French on "L’économie de la Touraine" after a three-month stay in Tours, studying at the Institut de la langue française.
Influenced by her father's work in the iron and steel industry, where multiple languages were spoken, Pamela specialised in translating texts related to iron and steelmaking for both her Diploma and later at the EU, recognising the critical role of translation in sharing knowledge within the industry. After working at the UK Foreign Office, translating secondary legislation ahead of the UK’s EU accession, she moved to Brussels to work as a translator for the Commission of the European Communities. There, she focused on documents related to the nuclear, iron, and steel industries, as well as procedural documents on science and technology.
A founder member of the Institute of Translation & Interpreting (ITI), established in 1986, Pamela served as ITI’s first Executive Secretary and contributed significantly to its development, including appointing the first full-time Education Officer. Her career highlighted the essential role of technical and specialised translation in advancing international knowledge-sharing, particularly in vital industries like iron and steelmaking. At the European Commission, she also recognised the importance of multilingualism in facilitating vital discussions and finalising legislation across the EU.
Contact us
For more information about the Pamela Mayorcas Prize, please email [email protected].