As research in higher education continues to provide new perspectives on student learning, the aim of the present article is to take stock of some of the ideas that have been developed and explore how these might contribute to the field of translation didactics. Two pedagogical concepts will be in focus: threshold concepts and ways of thinking and practising (WTP). In an attempt to visualise how these can be related to the discipline of translation studies, four potential threshold concepts are suggested and a WTP model of translation presented. This model is then used to explore knowledge conceptions and epistemological development in the discipline, the issue of academic and vocational approaches in translation programmes and the gap between theory and practice in translation classrooms. The pedagogical framework introduced here suggests a didactic approach that encourages students to develop a deep understanding of the ways of thinking and practising in the subject, but it also provides an analytical frame for teachers to identify barriers to learning and a way to negotiate these difficulties. It is found to constitute an interesting area for future research as it has the potential to empower students as well as teachers.