Alumni/Graduates

Heriot-Watt to offer degree in sign language

The world's first international sign language degree is being offered at Edinburgh's Heriot-Watt University.

Around 90,000 people in the UK use British Sign Language as their primary means of communication.

Sign languages vary from country to country as much as spoken languages, but, until now, there has been no course that allows students to learn and compare different sign languages.

Heriot-Watt University has teamed up with universities in Finland and Germany to deliver the new European masters degree in sign language interpreting to allow students to develop their ability to interpret at international events including United Nations, European Parliament, academic and professional conferences.

Professor Graham Turner, Chair of Interpreting and Translation Studies at Heriot-Watt University, said: "With our hugely experienced Finnish and German partners, we have designed a course to harvest and transmit good practice, leading to greater understanding between deaf and hearing people all over Europe."