Translation and Interpreting MA

Overview

With English and Chinese as working languages, our Translation and Interpreting MA will allow you to hone the skills you need to excel in your chosen professional domain.

Our lecturers have a wealth of professional experience, both in-house and freelance. They have worked in the fields of translation, localisation, and conference interpreting.

You will gain an understanding of how theory and practice intersect in translation and interpreting. You’ll have access to our state-of-art conference interpreting suite. You’ll also benefit from both our industry experience and established connections.

The Translation and Interpreting Master's has two stages. Each stage lasts one year.

You can study for two years. In your first year, you’ll join the Translation and Interpreting MA. Then in your second year, you’ll continue on the Translation and Interpreting pathway or choose to study:

• Conference Interpreting MA
• Translation and Localisation MA
• Translation Studies MA

You can also study for one year. You'll join the Translation and Interpreting MA directly at Stage 2. This option will depend on your previous qualifications and experience.

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

 

What you'll learn

Stage 1

You'll gain a thorough grounding in both translation and interpreting skills and knowledge. You’ll study modules such as Consecutive Interpreting, Sight Translation, Simultaneous Interpreting, and Localisation: Practice and Theory.

Our translation modules focus on improving your written translation skills to create translations of a professional standard. You'll use computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools to create full translation projects with functions such as translation memories (TM), term bases (TB), and quality assurance (QA) checks.

Stage 2

You’ll develop more advanced translation and interpreting skills and knowledge. This involves working in more specialised areas with more demanding industry requirements (international conferences, multinational institutions and corporates).

You will acquire an expert understanding of conference interpreting, remote interpreting, translation and localisation. You can also gain audio-visual translation skills on our Subtitle and Video Game Translation module.

You’ll receive enhanced training on:

• translating more technically demanding texts (science, commerce, law, art, and technology)
• strategically approaching a range of more complex industry-specific client briefs
• theoretical models of interpreting and understanding your workspace and equipment
• the latest development in remote interpreting (RSI)
• performing different modes of interpreting with appropriate techniques on a range of topics
• leveraging theoretical knowledge to carry out interpreting and translation assignments that meet industry requirements

With our expert guidance and industry opportunities, you’ll succeed in the fields of translation and conference interpreting.

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

Course content changes

Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

 

Translation and Interpreting MA modules

Stage 1

Compulsory modules

Candidates will take the following compulsory modules to a value of 100 credits:

• Fundamentals of Translation (Chinese to English) (20 credits)
• Foundation of English to Chinese Translation (20 credits)
• Simultaneous Interpreting I (10 credits)
• Sight Translation (10 credits)
• Consecutive Interpreting I (20 credits)
• Translation and Interpreting Studies (10 credits)
• Localisation 1 (10 credits)

Optional modules

All candidates will take further optional modules to a value of 20 credits from available modules in the university with agreement of the Degree Programme Director. These may include the following:

• Key Concepts in Corporate and Commercial Law (10 credits)
• International Marketing (10 credits)
• Fundamentals of Legal Translation (10 credits)
• Translating for a Big Institution. The EU – A Case Study (10 credits)

Stage 2

Candidates must select up to three modules, including one Translation and one Interpreting module, from below:

• Consecutive Interpreting II (20 credits)
• Simultaneous Interpreting II (20 credits)
• Translation Practice and Analysis: English to Chinese (10 credits)
• Specialised Translation: Chinese to English (10 credits)

Candidates will take the following modules as compulsory:

• Translation and Interpreting Studies* (10 credits)
• Research Methods in Translating and Interpreting (10 credits)
• The Language Industry: Professions, Processes and Society (20 credits)

*For direct-entry students only

Candidates will take one of the two modules listed below:

• Dissertation (60 credits)
• Translating/Interpreting Project (60 credits)

Optional Modules	Credits
Public Service Interpreting	20
Chinese to/from English Subtitle and Video Game Translation	20
Technology in Interpreting	10
Drama Translation for Interpreters and Translators	10
Key Concepts in Corporate and Commercial Law	10
Translation for Singing	20
International Marketing	10
Fundamentals of Legal Translation	10
Literary Translation	10
Translator Entrepreneur	10
Translating for a Big Institution. The EU - A Case Study	10
Localisation 1	10
Localisation 2	10

How you'll learn

Delivery and teaching methods

Modules will be taught by our expert academic staff over the first and second semesters. We'll use a blend of interactive in-person and online teaching sessions including:

• seminars
• Q&A sessions
• quizzes
• assessment feed forward and feedback sessions

You will also have access to comprehensive lecture materials via CANVAS.

Your induction programme will include an introduction to each module by the respective module leader. This will help to make sure you are fully informed about the content before teaching starts.

Full details about module selection will be included in your Induction Programme.

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Computer assessment
• Dissertation
• Essay
• Professional skills assessments
• Oral examination
• Performance
• Portfolio
• Research proposal
• Written examination
• Written exercise

Additional assessment information

In the final summer, you’ll complete either a dissertation or a project in interpreting or translation.

Student support

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

• module handbooks
• course materials
• groups
• course announcements and notifications
• written feedback

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

• peers
• academics
• personal tutors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

 

Your development

Professional opportunities and development

We have a global reputation for our expertise in translation, audio-visual translation (AVT), and interpreting. A growing number of organisations offer our students opportunities to gain professional experience.

We organise industry talks, study visits and internship work placements.

Past examples include:

• study visits to the United Nations Office in Vienna and Rome
• translating and subtitling (AVT) opportunities with our industry contacts
• study visits to the EU’s Directorate General for Translation and European Commission in Brussels, and to international organisations in The Hague
• interpreting and remote interpreting opportunities with our industry contacts

We'll help you take up translation, AVT, video game translation, and other digital localisation assignments that are offered to our school. You’ll also be able to participate in conferences as a trainee interpreter.

You will keep up to date with the latest developments in localisation. We have full academic membership with the Globalization and Localization Association (GALA).

You can obtain academic membership from established translator and interpreter societies, such as the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIoL).

Your future

What can you do with a Translation and Interpreting MA degree?

Our graduates use their linguistic, IT, and interpersonal skills, and cultural knowledge in a range of sectors.

Conference Interpreting careers

• in-house simultaneous and/or consecutive interpreter for international organisations and corporations
• in-house linguist, providing support on a range of interpreting and translation projects
• freelance self-employed interpreter
• event/conference planner
• conference interpreting trainers and instructors

Audio Visual Translation (AVT) careers

• in-house subtitle translator (translation and dubbing of audio-visual content)
• in-house project manager in a translation agency, working on a range of AVT projects
• freelance subtitle translator, working as a self-employed translator and dubber of audio-visual content

Localisation careers

• in-house localisation in an agency, working on digital and non-digital products (from brochures to apps, websites and video games)
• in-house project manager working for a localisation agency
• freelance localisation - running your own business as a self-employed independent localisation specialist
• cultural liaison - working for developers or companies in one locale liaising with clients and publishers in another locale to promote products

Translation careers

• in-house linguists working for a translation agency
• in-house project manager working for a translation agency
• freelance self-employed translator
• translating documents for EU Institutions and members of the European Parliament

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

Facilities

Language Resource Centre

Our Language Resource Centre is dedicated to the study of languages. It contains a vast collection of books, journals, and audio-visual tools. It also has computing facilities linked to a digital speech bank.

Computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools

You’ll use professional CAT tools like Trados and memoQ, which are installed in the Language Resource Centre for ease of access. You’ll receive free 1-year licenses and have the option of using this software on personal computers.

Other teaching and learning facilities

We have two dedicated interpreting suites, including an UN-standard conference interpreting suite. You will have access to digital platforms for interpreting training and practice. We also have a senior common room where you can relax, eat or study

The Philip Robinson Library has an excellent collection of books and articles on translation and interpreting studies, as well as AVT and localisation. Many materials can also be read online via the library’s digital service.

Learn more about the School of Modern Languages facilities and resources.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

Tuition fee increases

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support. You will be eligible for a scholarship worth 15% off the international fee. 

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination
• graduation

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

Deposit

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

Funding deadlines

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

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How to apply

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

 

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.

Apply Online  

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