MSc — 2027 entry Global Communication Management and AI
AI is transforming how businesses and public-sector organisations communicate across languages, cultures and borders. Our innovative MSc Global Communication Management and AI degree equips you with the communication, leadership and AI skills needed to develop and implement effective strategies for multilingual communication across a range of organisational contexts.
7,023+ people have created a bespoke digital prospectus
Why choose
this course?
- A strategic focus on AI-enabled communication management – Students examine how AI supports, shapes, and governs communication workflows, as well as learning applied AI tools.
- Distinct from other applied AI degrees – You will become a proficient AI user in the field of language and multilingual communication, rather than a technical AI developer. Your focus will be on leadership, governance, regulation, ethics, strategy and technology, plus human/AI collaboration.
- Lead the future of multilingual communication – Organisations need graduates who can combine human communication expertise with the capabilities of language AI to manage multilingual communication strategically in local and global communication environments. This MSc prepares you to meet that demand, and is suitable for recent languages or business graduates, or those looking to return to study to specialise, after time in industry already.
- A unique combination of communication, strategic management and AI, distinct from other applied AI degrees – Unlike traditional communication or translation programmes, which often focus primarily on communication and translation theory and practice, this MSc combines expertise in multilingual communication with strategic leadership and AI.
- Learn from internationally recognised experts in people-centred AI research – This new degree builds on our established strengths in multilingual and intercultural communication, translation, localisation, and AI language technologies. You’ll benefit from our close links with the language services industry, relevant professional bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL), the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) and the Association of Translation Companies (ATC), and the University’s Institute for People-Centred AI , with senior Centre for Translation Studies’ academics holding leadership and fellowship roles.
Statistics
94%
Of our literature and languages graduates are in employment or further study within 15 months of graduating (Graduate Outcomes 2026, HESA)
11th in the UK
And top 150 in the world for linguistics in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026
What you will study
The global language industry is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the rapid integration of AI, the proliferation of digital content, and the increasing complexity of multilingual communication across institutional and professional contexts.
You will:
Develop strategic communication, leadership and management skills to address complex multilingual communication challenges, such as coordinating large-scale multilingual campaigns and events, managing translation and localisation of content across multiple markets, adapting global messages to local linguistic and cultural contexts, and designing multilingual communication strategies for public services.
Design and manage effective AI-enabled multilingual workflows that integrate human-led, AI-mediated and hybrid processes. You will learn how to evaluate communication needs, select appropriate approaches and technologies, assure quality, and support teams as roles, skills and practices evolve in response to AI.
Learn how to oversee multilingual communication, localisation and content operations, and determine when AI technologies are appropriate and when human expertise is essential to ensure accuracy, cultural sensitivity and quality. You will also explore how organisations can use AI responsibly in high-stakes contexts such as healthcare and legal communication, balancing technological opportunities with the need for effective, accessible and trusted communication.
Examine communication workflows as a core concept. Learn to understand and manage structured, often automated processes for organisational communication across businesses, governments and not-for-profits, enhanced through AI.
Shape how organisations communicate and operate across languages and cultures in an increasingly interconnected and AI-enabled world.
An international community
Our courses attract students from all over the world, fostering a vibrant, multilingual and multicultural international community. Our masters’ cohorts blend recent graduates and more mature students, with diverse backgrounds and experience.
Industry links
We have forged close links with the main professional bodies in the language industry. For example, we are part of the prestigious Higher Education Partnership of the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) and a corporate member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI). You can join these bodies as a student member during the course and become a full member after you graduate.
We also collaborate with organisations such as the European Language Industry Association (ELIA), and the Globalization and Localization Association (GALA) and the Association of Translation Companies, which enables you to apply for a work placement with various organisations. We have close links with many language service providers, and have an extensive network of visiting professionals, so you will benefit from excellent connections and be taught to industry standards.
Flexible learning
Optional modules enable you to customise your learning according to your own strengths, personal interests and career ambitions. For example, you might want to deepen your understanding of AI-enabled machine translation, explore multilingual content production in the creative industries, or develop specialist knowledge of managing multilingual communication in public-service contexts. You will also have opportunities to gain industry experience through work placements.
In your final year dissertation, you will be able to specialise in an aspect of the programme which is of particular interest to you. You will conduct in-depth research on the aspect you select under the guidance of an appropriate supervisor.
During the course, academic and professional excellence will be rewarded with the following prizes:
- RWS Campus Top Student Award (two Trados Studio licenses)
- Project management training (one free-of-charge place in the Pro PM Training and Certification Programme)
- Professional Engagement Portfolio Prize
- Best Dissertation in Translation and Interpreting Prize.
The MSc Global Communication Management and AI course is studied over one year (full-time) or two years (part-time). The taught part of the programme is divided into six 15-credit modules. A 15-credit module is indicative of 150 hours of learning. The hours of learning comprise of contact hours, guided learning and private study.
The course has four compulsory modules, and you must select another two optional modules, which enable you to tailor the programme to your personal strengths and preferences. You will complete your degree with a 90-credit dissertation, to be submitted at the beginning of September.
If you are a full-time student, you will take all modules and the dissertation in one year. If you choose to study part-time, you will take all modules in Year 1 and proceed to do your dissertation in Year 2.
The structure of our programmes follows clear educational aims that are tailored to each programme. These are all outlined in the programme specifications which include further details such as the learning outcomes:
General course information
Contact hours
Contact hours can vary across our modules. Full details of the contact hours for each module are available from the University of Surrey's module catalogue. See the modules section for more information.
Timetable
New students will receive their personalised timetable during Welcome Week. In later semesters, at least one week before the start of the semester.
Scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week (Monday – Friday), with part-time classes normally scheduled for one or two days. Wednesday afternoons tend to be for sports and cultural activities.
View our code of practice for the scheduling of teaching and assessment (PDF) for more information.
Location
This course is based at Stag Hill campus. Stag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught.
We offer careers information, advice and guidance to all students whilst studying with us, which is extended to our alumni for three years after leaving the University.
Of our literature and languages graduates are in employment or further study within 15 months of graduating (Graduate Outcomes 2026, HESA).
As a graduate of the MSc Global Communication Management and AI you’ll be well placed to pursue career opportunities in businesses, public-sector organisations, NGOs, and international institutions operating in multilingual and multicultural environments.
The language services industry continues to grow despite a challenging international economic climate. Globalisation and technological innovation are creating new opportunities and increasing demand for multilingual communication, localisation, global content management and AI-enabled language services that help organisations exchange knowledge and communicate effectively with clients, partners and communities.
As a result, employers increasingly need professionals who can develop and implement multilingual communication strategies, oversee AI-enabled communication workflows, and ensure quality and ethical practice across languages and cultures.
Careers fair
Our strong links with industry help you prepare for the next step in your career. Each year, we host a careers fair where local and international organisations with an active interest in Surrey graduates come to the Centre for Translation Studies to meet our students.
You’ll have the opportunity to meet industry professionals and learn about current and future job opportunities, providing a chance for you to engage with them directly and kick-start your career in an informal, friendly atmosphere.
Graduate roles
Our masters degree prepares you for roles such as:
- Global content and communication manager
- Localization project/programme manager
- Language solutions architect, language consultant
- Language technology specialist/strategist
- Communication quality manager
- Language policy and language access adviser.
Professional development
Our course equips you with the translation, technological, business, interpersonal and essential soft skills for a successful career in the language services industry.
Simulations of real-world scenarios
You will practise translation and interpreting in your working language combination(s) through simulations of real-world scenarios across a range of specialisms (e.g., business, legal, scientific, technical and medical domains).
With strong expertise in translation and interpreting technologies, our graduates are well prepared to succeed in today’s translation, interpreting and technology markets, adapt to evolving language services, and meet future market needs.
Seminars with guest speakers
Through regular seminars with guest speakers (translators, interpreters, users of language services and researchers), you will gain further insights into the profession and the latest translation research.
Our annual CTS careers fair connects our masters students with local and international language service and technology providers, supporting professional networking, while work placements provide first-hand industry experience.
Professional engagement portfolio
You will receive guidance on developing a professional engagement portfolio to help you build a professional CV as you study.
This includes documenting your collaborations with language services providers (such as work placements and volunteer translation) and other extracurricular activities (such as mastering a new AI or translation tool, joining a professional association or attending a professional development workshop).
Real-life working environments
You will also have invaluable opportunities to further hone your translation and interpreting skills and strategies in real-life working environments. Our students have provided interpreting services for various multilingual events held at the University of Surrey, from workshops to graduation ceremonies.
They have also refined their skills by participating in a remote interpreting summer school and have developed projects with the local community, such as Surrey’s Watts Gallery or the Guildford Walking Tours.
As a student, you will have classes in our dedicated language-software computer lab and state-of-the-art interpreting labs.
You'll have access to:
- Two conference interpreting suites equipped with ISO-approved double interpreting booths, as used by international institutions, to practise simultaneous interpreting
- A portable interpreting system for training in mobile interpreting (used for museum or factory tours)
- A two-way and multipoint video conferencing system to simulate remote or distance interpreting in consecutive/dialogue interpreting mode, with delegates and interpreters interacting over video link
- A cloud-based remote simultaneous interpreting platform.
Software
You will work hands-on with cutting-edge software for computer-assisted translation, subtitling, terminology extraction, speech recognition and corpus linguistic tools, such as:
- ChatGPT and a range of other Large Language Models
- Trados Studio
- Dragon Naturally Speaking
- Matecat
- MultiTerm
- Sketch Engine
- Smartcat
- Subtitle edit.
Ioana Meta
Student - Translation and Interpreting Studies MRes
Zeynep Polat Posoflu
Student - Translation and Interpreting Studies MRes
UK qualifications
A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in a languages, translation, linguistics, communication or media studies, international studies, business or management, or another relevant humanities or social science discipline.
Applicants with relevant professional experience in global communication, language services, localisation, content management, or related fields will also be considered.
English language requirements
IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and speaking and 6.0 in each other element.
Alternatively, if you have successfully been awarded the Certificate of Excellence offered by our partner, KL Communications, and had an IELTS of 6.0 overall with 6.0 in each category before you took the course for the Certificate of Excellence, and the IELTS will still be valid for the start of the MA, then you will not need to take another IELTS.
These are the English language qualifications and levels that we can accept.
If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.
Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
We recognise that many students enter their course with valuable knowledge and skills developed through a range of ways.
If this applies to you, the recognition of prior learning process may mean you can join a course without the formal entry requirements, or at a point appropriate to your previous learning and experience.
There are restrictions on some courses, and fees may be payable for certain claims. Please contact the Admissions team with any queries.
Fees per year
Explore UKCISA’s website for more information if you are unsure whether you are a UK or overseas student. View the list of fees for all postgraduate courses.
Fee options
- UK
- To be confirmed
- Overseas
- To be confirmed
- UK
- To be confirmed
- Overseas
- To be confirmed
- Fees for part-time routes are applicable in each year of the course
- These fees apply to the academic year 2027-28 only. Fees are reviewed annually, and tuition fees may increase for courses running over more than one year.
Read our tuition fees guidance to find out more about payment schedules and how to pay.
Additional costs
Find out more about additional costs that may be incurred during your time at Surrey.
Funding
You may be able to borrow money to help pay your tuition fees and support you with your living costs. Find out more about postgraduate student finance.
Apply online
To apply online first select the course you'd like to apply for then log in.
Select your course
Choose the course option you wish to apply for.
Sign in
Create an account and sign into our application portal.
Apply options
Apply options
UK applications
Applications are not yet open. If you would like us to email you when they open, then please register your interest.
Register your interestOverseas applications
Applications are not yet open. If you would like us to email you when they open, then please register your interest.
Register your interestUK applications
Applications are not yet open. If you would like us to email you when they open, then please register your interest.
Register your interestOverseas applications
Applications are not yet open. If you would like us to email you when they open, then please register your interest.
Register your interestAdmissions information
Once you apply, you can expect to hear back from us within 14 days. This might be with a decision on your application or with a request for further information.
Our code of practice for postgraduate taught admissions explains how the Admissions team considers applications and admits students. Read our postgraduate applicant guidance for more information on applying.
About the University of Surrey
Need more information?
Contact our Admissions team or talk to a current University of Surrey student online.
Terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Surrey, you will be agreeing to follow our policies and procedures, student regulations, and terms and conditions.
We provide these terms and conditions at the offer stage. You will be asked to accept these terms and conditions when you accept the offer made to you. You will be provided with these terms and conditions again at registration by way of reminder.
View our generic registration terms and conditions (PDF) for the 2025/26 academic year, as a guide on what to expect.
Disclaimer
This online prospectus has been published in advance of the academic year to which it relates.
We have used our reasonable efforts to ensure this information is accurate at the time of publishing. However, some changes may occur between publishing and the start of the course.
It is important to check this website for any updates before you apply for a course with us. If you apply to the University and it makes you an offer, we recommend you check it again before you accept.
Subject to validation
This programme is subject to approval. This means that it has received initial agreement from the University and is currently undergoing a detailed final approval exercise, through the University’s quality assurance processes.
These processes are a requirement for all Higher Education Institutions within the UK, to ensure that programmes are of the highest standard. Occasionally, there may be instances where the University may delay or not approve the introduction of the programme.