Conference Interpreting MA

Overview

Gain industry-relevant skills and knowledge in Simultaneous Interpreting, Consecutive Interpreting, Public Service Interpreting and Remote Interpreting. Our Conference Interpreting MA uses English and Chinese as working languages, preparing you for a professional interpreting career.

Our lecturers have a wealth of professional experience, both in-house and freelance. You’ll learn how theory and practice intersect in interpreting. You will hone the skills you need to excel in your chosen professional domain.

You’ll train at our state-of-art conference interpreting suite. You’ll also benefit from both our industry experience and established connections.

Important information

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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

You'll gain a thorough grounding in translation and interpreting skills and techniques. You will take Consecutive Interpreting, Sight Translation and Simultaneous Interpreting modules with built-in remote-interpreting skills.

You will learn about specialised areas of interpreting with more demanding industry requirements.

You'll acquire high-quality interpreting skills in spoken rather than written transfer. You will have an expert understanding of mainstream interpreting and remote interpreting technologies.

Depending on your interests, you may take further optional modules that cover:

• Subtitle and Video Game Translation
• Literary Translation
• Translating for a Big Institution
• Legal Translation

In the summer, you will complete either a dissertation or an interpreting project. The project consists of an interpreting assignment and an academic commentary.

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.

 

Conference Interpreting MA modules

Compulsory modules

Students will take the following compulsory modules:

• Consecutive Interpreting II (20 credits)
• Simultaneous Interpreting II (20 credits)
• Public Service Interpreting (20 credits)
• The Language Industry: Professions, Processes and Society (20 credits)
• Research Methods in Translating and Interpreting (10 credits)

Students will take one of the following modules:

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

Optional Modules	Credits
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
Translation and Interpreting Studies	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

Assessment methods

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

• Computer assessment
• Dissertation
• Essay
• Oral examination
• Portfolio
• Research proposal
• Written examination
• Written exercise

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

On our Conference Interpreting MA, you will receive enhanced training on:

• theoretical models of interpreting and understanding your workspace and equipment
• the latest development in remote interpreting, or RSI
• performing different modes of interpreting with appropriate techniques on a wide range of topics
• how to leverage a growing base of theoretical knowledge to carry out interpreting assignments that meet industry requirements
• current technicality demanded upon conference interpreters
• ability to adapt and pick up required technical skills for specific jobs

Professional opportunities and development

We organise industry talks, study visits and internship work placements for our students. These will be in the fields of conference interpreting and liaison interpreting.

In the past, we have organised visits to:

• the United Nations Office in Vienna and Rome
• the EU’s Directorate General for Translation
• the European Commission in Brussels
• international organisations in The Hague

We also arrange interpreting and remote interpreting opportunities with our industry contacts. 

We'll also help you:

• take part in conferences as a trainee interpreter
• get academic membership from established interpreter and translator societies (such as the Chartered Institute of Linguists)
• join our Translating and Interpreting alumni networks across five continents
• discover international job opportunities and get career advice

Your future

What can you do with a Conference 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

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

Our facilities include:

• two dedicated interpreting suites (including an UN-standard conference interpreting suite)
• digital platforms for interpreting training and practice
• Language Resource Centre (equipped with audio-visual and computing facilities linked to a digital speech bank)
• a senior common room where you can relax, eat or study

Learn more about the School of Modern Languages facilities.

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.

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

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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

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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.

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