MA Business Translation with Interpreting

Native English speakers: a minimum of a UK 2.2 honours degree, or equivalent, in the relevant language or another relevant subject. Speakers of other languages: an equivalent to a minimum of a UK 2.2 honours degree in English or another relevant subject. In exceptional cases, alternative qualifications and professional experience may be considered. Non-native speakers of English without a first degree in English that has been taught and assessed in English will also normally be required to have IELTS 6.5 or above (or equivalent), with a minimum of 6.0 in all components. A subsequent condition for all applicants meeting these requirements is the successful completion of an interpreting aptitude test.

English language requirements

IELTS minimum overall: 6.5

IELTS minimum by component: 6.0

All fees are subject to increase or review for subsequent academic years. Please note that not all visa routes permit part-time study and overseas students entering the UK on a Tier 4 visa will not be permitted to study on a part-time basis.

Modules (including optional modules)

• Economics/Business Translation
• Applied Interpreting Skills
• Translation Issues
• Interpreting Studies
• Computer-assisted Translation Tools
• Technical Writing
• Public Service Interpreting Trends and Issues

Compulsory Modules

Applied Interpreting Skills (language pair-specific)

This module is concerned with spoken-language interpreting between English and your chosen language in business-related settings. It provides you with the practical knowledge and skills required to perform interpreting tasks professionally and effectively in a wide variety of relevant communicative situations.

Economics/Business Translation (language pair-specific)

This module provides students who have no previous experience of specialist translation in economics/business with the opportunity to reach an acceptable professional level of translation competence. It combines regular translation practice in smaller groups with lectures on the underlying principles of economics and applied economics.

Interpreting Studies

This module provides a systematic framework for understanding the major principles and challenges of interpreting, the role of the interpreter and the nature of comprehension, decision-making and production processes involved in interpreting. It enables you to apply this framework to practical interpreting tasks.

Translation Issues

This module focuses on the major approaches to translation studies. It offers you the opportunity to develop a framework for analysing and discussing translation activity. The issues discussed in class are organised chronologically, examining the most recent trends in translation studies, and thematically, offering a problem-focused strand covering equivalence, register, humour, and so on.

Dissertation

This module allows you to specialise in an aspect of the programme of particular interest by writing a topic-based dissertation, doing a translation with commentary, compiling an electronic termbase with a commentary, or doing a commentary based on an interpreting assignment. Successful completion of the module requires close collaboration with a supervisor and good planning and organisation skills.

Optional Modules

In addition to the compulsory modules, you will be able to select optional modules according to your specific interests. You may, for example, add to your language portfolio through intensive study of a new language for translation purposes, extend your specialist translation expertise (subject to language proficiency and demand), or complement your translation skills with expertise in technical writing and computer-assisted translation tools (subject to availability).

The Postgraduate Certificate, which is offered on a part-time basis, focuses on applied interpreting and specialist translation.

Students may join the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) or the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIoL) as student members.