Qualifications and durations
- Full-time MA 1 year (includes 3 months to submit dissertation)
Languages offered:
- Chinese, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish
Students may follow one of two possible paths:
- Path 1: allows students with English as their ‘A’ language to offer two other languages - from Chinese, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish - working only into English.
- Path 2: allows students to work in both directions between Chinese/English or Russian/English.
This programme is designed to prepare linguists for careers as professional interpreters and/or translators. It has done this most successfully over more than four decades, and graduates are to be found working in language services throughout the world.
All students follow a core programme involving professional translation and simultaneous, consecutive and public and commercial service interpreting or liaison/public service interpreting. A number of options are available in the second semester to allow students to further focus on their translation or interpreting skills.
The MA is awarded for a 15,000-word dissertation/project submitted after successful completion of the taught programme.
Visit the website http://www.bath.ac.uk/study/pg/programmes/ma-in-inte-and-tran/
- Team of highly experienced professional staff
- State of the art digital interpreting suites provide excellent teaching and practice space.
- Small class sizes provide high levels of student and teacher contact.
- Work placements in interpreting and translating are often an option during the programme and provide invaluable practical experience.
- Motivated and multi-national student cohort offers a diverse and stimulating learning environment.
- Students are exposed to realistic training from experienced translation and interpreting trainers which prepares them for work after graduation.
- A number of funding opportunities are available and students with EU languages are eligible to apply for EU bursaries.
European Stream (French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish):
- Consecutive interpreting (all year core unit)
- Simultaneous interpreting (all year core unit)
- Public speaking (Semester 1 option)
- Professional translation I (Semester 1 core unit)
- Professional translation II (Semester 2 core unit)
- Public service interpreting (Semester 2 option)
- Using technology in the T & I Industry (Semester 2 option)
- Dissertation: 15,000 word thesis: annotated translation or a project type
Chinese Stream
- Consecutive interpreting (all year core unit)
- Simultaneous interpreting (all year core unit)
- Liaison/Public service interpreting (all year core unit)
- Public speaking (Semester 1 option)
- Professional translation I (Semester 1 core unit)
- Professional translation II (Semester 2 option)
- Using technology in the T & I Industry (Semester 2 option)
- Dissertation: 15,000 word thesis: annotated translation or a project type
Through our extensive network of contacts, we aim to organise placements for all students with the language services of international organisations, government departments or translation companies.
These placements provide an invaluable insight into the work of professional linguists and are valued highly by employers. They are not however compulsory and are not always guaranteed.
Our students have previously undertaken placements/internships in:
- United Nations (New York, Geneva, and Vienna)
- European Commission and European Parliament
- Council of Europe
Our programmes are modular, consisting of self-contained units, taught and assessed on a semester basis. As you progress through each semester and successfully pass the examinations, you will receive credit for the units, thus providing you with a clear indication of your academic progress.
Teaching takes the form of lectures and intensive translation and interpreting. We also use the software MemoQ for the delivery of the unit, Using Technology in the Translation & Interpreting Industry; this is one of the leading tools in the industry.
The MA Interpreting & Translating is a highly vocational programme with a worldwide reputation for training professional translators and conference interpreters.
Our graduates have excellent employment prospects. While some have found rewarding jobs in smaller companies and institutions, or chosen to remain as a freelancer, many have gone on to pursue stimulating careers as professional translators and interpreters with major international organisations.
Graduates have worked for the following organisations:
- Institutional markets:
United Nations
European Commission
European Parliament
Council of Europe
International Court of Justice
NATO
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
European Bank
BBC World Service
- Private markets:
Microsoft
Talk Finance
Sophos
Prudential
Power Network
Gazprom
Some of our graduates have shared their experiences on our alumni blog.
The Department of Politics, Languages & International Studies (PoLIS) is one of the largest departments in the University.
Many staff are leading scholars in their field and are involved in a wide range of research activities, including collaborative projects at both national and international levels.
International and industrial links:
- Our department has links with 22 Erasmus partner institutions, as well as universities in Russia and Mexico.
- Research students regularly engage in fieldwork abroad, especially in the countries of the European Union, but also in Russia, Latin America and the United States.
- Students on the Euromasters programme study at two or three different sites in either Europe or the USA.
- In the case of the MA Interpreting & Translating and the MA Translation & Professional Language Skills, a number of work placements in Western Europe are made available to students in the language services of international organisations, government departments and commercial enterprises.
Experts from our department are publishing regularly in the most highly ranked international journals.
Our academic expertise and research activities are organised into three broad Research Clusters:
International collaboration:
Many staff are internationally leading scholars in their field. We are involved in a wide range of research activities, including collaborative projects at both national and international levels.
Projects are funded by a variety of bodies such as:
- Economics & Social Research Council (ESRC)
- European Commission Framework Programme
- Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
Our diversity and the disciplinary mix of political science, political theory, policy analysis, social anthropology, political sociology and others make for a very stimulating environment for students to develop their own research projects.
The integration of our research community is further enhanced through the International Relations & European Politics (IREP) postgraduate group.
Find out how to apply here - http://www.bath.ac.uk/hss/graduate-school/taught-programmes/how-to-apply/
Heriot-Watt University is home to the most established Interpreting and Translating Masters degree programme in Scotland and offers teaching in Chinese, French, German and Spanish in state-of-the-art facilities.
We are proud to have the largest suite of Interpreting and Translating labs of any Higher Education Institute in Europe.
Our Interpreting and Translating MSc programme is a uniquely twin-focus degree which will prepare you for an exciting, international career as a professional translator and interpreter in the following languages combined with English:
This globally recognised programme has been tailored to meet the needs of industry and will allow you to develop the ideal balance of theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
Your learning will focus on developing a professional standard of expertise in specific areas of interpreting and translation such as:
Visit our website for more information on fees, scholarships, postgraduate loans and other funding options to study Chinese-English Translation and Language Teaching at Swansea University - 'Welsh University of the Year 2017' (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017).
The MA in Chinese-English Translation and Language Teaching is offered to Chinese students who are interested in pursuing a career in applied language skills, including translating and teaching English or Chinese as a foreign language.
The MA in Chinese-English Translation and Language Teaching is specifically designed for Chinese students who are first language Mandarin speakers and aims to equip them with languages- specific knowledge and skills in both translation studies and applied linguistics. In particular, the Chinese-English Translation and Language Teaching programme attempts to situate the broad area of translation studies in the specifically targeted context, translating between English and Chinese. The MA in Chinese-English Translation and Language Teaching also addresses the issue of non-native speakers as English teachers. The Chinese-English Translation and Language Teaching programme covers applied language studies, translating and teaching English or Chinese as a second language and is attractive not only to prospective students but to Mandarin teachers to develop appropriate knowledge and skills in applied linguistics theory and practice.
The College of Arts and Humanities has a Graduate Centre which fosters and supports individual and collaborative research activity of international excellence and offers a vibrant and supportive environment for students pursuing postgraduate research and taught masters study. The Centre provides postgraduate training to enhance academic and professional development and facilitates participation in seminar programmes, workshops and international conferences and you will benefit from this as a student of the MA in Chinese-English Translation and Language Teaching programme.
The full-time course structure is split across the year with three modules offered in each academic semester (a total of six modules in part one) and then a professional practice portfolio over the summer (part two). Students study two compulsory modules and four optional modules.
Modules on the MA in Chinese-English Translation and Language Teaching typically include:
• Chinese Language Studies
• Advanced Translation (English to Chinese)
• Communicative Language Teaching
• Young Language Learners
• Classroom Teaching Practice
• Interpreting - Law Option (Police & Introduction to Court Interpreting)
• Corpus Linguistics
Career expectations are excellent for MA in Chinese-English Translation and Language Teaching graduates. MA degree holders may enter employment in senior or leadership teaching positions, work in syllabus or materials design test writing or teacher training, publishing, public relations and international organisations where advanced knowledge of English or Chinese teaching and the ability to explain and apply this knowledge are expected.
“I chose to study the MA in Chinese-English Translation and Language Teaching as it would be helpful for my academic career. After writing one of my essays for an MA module, I decided I would like to continue my study and go on to PhD. I found my ability and critical thinking skills changed a lot. I also studied the interpreting and translation practice MA module which gave me experience if I want to be a interpreter or translator in the future.
I like Swansea University. I have lived in the campus for nearly two years. I have to admit that I enjoy watching the sun shining over the campus and Singleton Park. Lecturers and staff are professional and friendly. They are always happy to help student solve different problems. I would like to continue my academic career here as a PhD student."
Zheng Ma, Chinese-English Translation and Language Teaching, MA
This programme aims to address the growing demand for translators with skills in translating technical texts.
The programme will familiarise you with the sociocultural, linguistic and technical dimensions that characterise specialised multilingual material. Through working with dedicated software and high-tech industry standard equipment, you will learn the skills you need to enter the professional market and gain the knowledge to pursue further research in this field.
There is a particular emphasis on learning translation tools (in particular SDL Trados) and on localisation, especially for video games. This programme is not limited to specific language pairs. You can work into and out of English and another language of your choice.
You will be taught by staff who are leaders in the field of translation and whose work has influenced organisations such as OFCOM. They work closely with industry and bring in key professionals in the field to teach and give talks, thus helping you to make vital industry contacts.
Roehampton boasts state-of-the-art language labs with cutting-edge translation software, including SDL Trados, Swift and WinCAPS. The lab also features a training suite and an open access area where you can work independently.
In recent years our graduates have found work with a broad range of organisations including: media companies and broadcasters such as the BBC, France TV, and RTVE; subtitling companies such as IMS, Deluxe, ITFC; and translation and localisation providers including Pole To Win, London Translations and JF Traduções e Interpretações.
As a Specialised Translation student you will become a member of the Centre for Research in Translation and Transcultural Studies, which promotes excellence in research into translation-related areas including language learning, audiovisual translation, accessibility to the media and other areas of translation.
This course covers the theoretical and the practical aspects of specialised translation. In the compulsory module ‘Technical and Scientific Translation’ you will practice your skills in translating highly specialised documents into your chosen language. During the course you will also address the main theoretical issues shaping translation today and understand how these theories relate to the practice of translation.
IT skills are central to a translator's work so the compulsory module ‘Translation Tools’ will familiarise you with some of the translation tools you will be using in your professional life. These include terminology databases, translation memory tools, and other computer-assisted translation systems. You will be taught how to carry out efficient documentation and make appropriate use of research tools in solving technical and scientific translation problems.
You could also study ‘The Localisation of Video Games’ where you will examine the principles and practices of localisation in the area of multimedia interactive entertainment software. Other optional modules currently include ‘Subtitling: Concepts and Practice’, where you will explore the techniques of subtitle synchronisation using specialised software. MA students will also undertake a dissertation, which will provide you with the ideal opportunity to undertake an in-depth investigation of a translation-related topic that is of interest to you.
Compulsory modules
Optional modules
Compulsory module (MA students only)
Compulsory and Required modules
Compulsory and/or required modules may change when we review and update programmes. Above is a list of modules offered this academic year.
Optional modules
Optional modules, when offered as part of a programme, may vary from year to year and are subject to viability.
Specialised translator, subtitler, technical writer, editor, terminologist, project manager or localiser.
