We translate Central Administration documents and websites from German into English and from English into German, proofread English texts, and advise staff on language and translation matters. Feel free to contact us with your inquiry.

Are you based at a university in Rhineland-Palatinate other than JGU? Then please feel free to contact the Landeshochschulkoordination für Sprach- und Übersetzungsdienstleistungen Rheinland-Pfalz with your request.
  • Fact sheets and information leaflets
  • Application and HR documents
  • Legal documents (e.g., sample examination regulations, doctoral regulations)
  • Speeches and statements by the Executive University Board
  • Digital platforms & online services
  • Websites

We translate exclusively into English – and, if required, from English into German. Press releases and scientific papers are not included in our services. Translations for faculties can be arranged upon request. This service is available to university staff and academic departments, but not to students.

In our translations, we pay particular attention to the target audience and to terminological and stylistic consistency. We use translation software with integrated translation memories (previous translations) and terminology databases (glossaries) to ensure consistent and accurate results. Our software also interfaces with WordPress, allowing websites to be subject to the same quality control as documents.

The processing time depends not only on current workload, but also on the length of your text and the level of subject-specific complexity required for the translation. For urgent requests, please let us know your desired delivery deadline, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

For large or urgent projects, we can recommend external translation providers.

Please send us unprotected file formats and include the following information when placing your order:

  • Translation or proofreading?
  • By when do you need the texts?
  • British or American English?
  • Is there specific terminology we should be aware of?
  • Can you provide reference documents ?
  • For proofreadings: Who produced the translation? (deepL, student assistant, native-speaking staff)

Please get in touch by email or phone, and we will be happy to discuss the project with you. Please provide the following information:

  • Translation or proofreading?
  • By when do you require the translation or proofreading?
  • What is the scope of the project (number of webpages and approximate word count or URLs)?
  • Do you want to work with WPML?
  • For proofreadings: Who produced the translation? (deepL, student assistant, native-speaking staff)

To ensure a smooth workflow, we kindly ask that no changes be made to the German or English pages during translation or proofreading. If you need a translation, we can provide it either through our professional WordPress-connected translation software or using the WPML editor. We would be happy to advise you on which option best suits your specific needs.

Do you need proofreading in WordPress? The individual steps at a glance:

Not every text is equally suitable for machine translation. Its use should be evaluated individually, taking into account the subject area, target audience, intended purpose, and confidentiality. Please always comply with data protection regulations and handle sensitive data with particular care.

Machine translation without post-editing is suitable, for example, for non-confidential texts for personal use where a basic understanding of the content is sufficient. It is used, for example, in product reviews and descriptions, in user forums, or in manuals, often with a corresponding disclaimer.

Machine translation with post-editing is suitable, for example, for internal communications with short deadlines.

Human translation is recommended for confidential, particularly demanding, or stylistically and emotionally impactful texts.

Our decision matrix shows whether your text is suitable for machine translation or machine translation with post-editing.

JGU provides bundled DeepL licenses and offers them at favorable conditions for JGU employees. If you are interested, please contact the JGU Data Center. If you would like to integrate the JGU glossary into DeepL (requires a DeepL Pro license), please contact us and we will provide the current version prepared for this purpose.

If you would like to use AI chat applications for official purposes, please use JGU’s central service: ki-chat.uni-mainz.de. Various AI language models are available there. The service is hosted and controlled by the Data Center itself – your data therefore remains within JGU, with the exception of web searches.

If you use generative AI for translations (ideally JGU’s KI-Chat), you control the output via a prompt. As a general rule, the more precise the prompt, the better the translation. The following points provide guidance:

Accessible versions on request at translations@uni-mainz.de