For the English-Chinese Specialization, the course is a practical seminar designed to train students in the formulation of advanced research projects in the area of translation or interpreting. It is intended as a springboard for the development of a dissertation topic. The student will be required to identify relevant research questions and conduct systematic and creative research thereon from a theoretical and practical framework, presenting papers to the class on the development of their projects. For the Portuguese-Chinese and Portuguese-English Specializations, the course aims to familiarize students with essential methodological tools in the area of Humanities and specifically applied to translation studies, which will help students to prepare their dissertations; research reports and papers/articles.

CILO-1: Students in English-Chinese Specialization can demonstrate an understanding of major principles for designing research, and major translation and interpreting research; Students in Portuguese-Chinese and Portuguese-English Specializations can define key steps of methodology and scientific research. CILO-2: Students can select an appropriate research topic and generate specific researchable questions. CILO-3: Students can select appropriate research methods and designs for investigating identified topics and questions. CILO-4: Students can collect and analyze data for the intended research. CILO-5: Students can write and defend an MA Translation Studies research proposal. CILO-6: Students in English-Chinese Specialization can demonstrate an awareness of practical and ethical issues in doing translation and interpreting research; Students in Portuguese-Chinese and Portuguese-English Specializations can acquire tools necessary to develop independent research and to write their Master dissertations and others academic papers.