BA BSL Interpreting Students conclude final year with BBC Wales Visit

Final year students on the BA (Hons) British Sign Language (Interpreting) programme at the University recently concluded their studies with an educational visit to BBC Wales, gaining valuable insight into professional interpreting within broadcast media.

During the visit, students had the opportunity to shadow working interpreter Tony Evans, who delivered an engaging and informative day exploring how news headlines are produced and interpreted live for broadcast audiences. Students observed professional practice at first hand, asked questions, and discussed the realities of working as a BSL interpreter in this highly specialist environment.

Sandra Pratt, Senior Lecturer in Deaf Studies at the University of Wolverhampton, said:

“This visit to BBC Wales was a fantastic way for our final year students to bring together theory and professional practice at such an important point in their studies. Experiencing BSL interpreting in a live broadcast setting allowed students to see first‑hand the skill, preparation and responsibility involved in this area of work. We are incredibly proud of how our students have developed over the course of their degrees, and opportunities like this help to build confidence, deepen understanding, and support their transition into employment or further study.”

BA (Hons) British Sign Language (Interpreting) student, Kelly Turner reflected on the experience, saying:

“My visit to the BBC studio in Wales was an incredibly valuable experience and felt like a real step towards my dream of working in media. Being able to watch the interpreter prepare behind the scenes gave me a genuine insight into the level of skill, focus, and professionalism required in this environment. Tony was a fantastic host, and his presence made the experience even more engaging and inspiring. It would be an amazing opportunity to work with him one day in the future, and the whole visit has motivated me even more to pursue a career in this field.”

Staff described the visit as ‘the icing on the cake’ at the end of the students’ degree, marking a fitting conclusion to their academic journey and offering a valuable opportunity to connect with professionals currently working in the field.

Alongside this milestone, final year students on the BA (Hons) British Sign Language (Deaf Studies) route are completing their dissertations, while interpreting students are finalising their professional and reflective portfolios. The programme team are proud of all students’ achievements and wish them every success as they progress into employment and/or further study.