Translation Studies

Program Overview

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Translation Studies MA

Overview

Train to become a translator on this MA. Specialise in your chosen language and get qualified for your career in this competitive field. Advance your practical language, translation and technology skills whilst developing your understanding of professional practices, and networking with industry experts.

Key Information

• Study mode and duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time, 1 year full-time by distance learning, 2 years part-time by distance learning, 3 years part-time by distance learning
• Start date: September 2025, January 2026

Course Information

Overview

Whether you're a university graduate or a practising translator, you can further your knowledge and career with our flexible and industry ready MA Translation Studies degree course.

Advance your practical language, translation and technology skills whilst developing your understanding of professional practices, and networking with industry experts.

You'll benefit from the rich research experience and industry collaborations of teaching staff, who'll provide you with the most up to date theoretical knowledge and working practices, to best prepare you for your career in translation.

This is a flexible course – you can study around your existing professional and personal commitments by choosing between full-time, part-time, campus-based or distance learning options.

You can also work towards one of the following exit awards, depending on the number of credits and length of your study:

• MA in Translation Studies (180 credits)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Translation Studies (120) credits
• Postgraduate Certificate in Translation Studies (60) credits

When you graduate, you'll be qualified to work as a translator in the UK or abroad, or to pursue further studies, such as a PhD.

Eligibility

This course accepts UK, EU, and international students.

Course Highlights

• Specialise in translation between English and your choice of five languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, German or Spanish
• Gain free access to translation software's MemoQ and Ooona, the most widely used software tools in the profession
• Choose to have your dissertation supervised by an industry professional, who'll act as an advisor and an insight to the industry
• Combine the newest theories with the most current industry practices to prepare you for your career in translation
• Benefit from the rich research experience of teaching staff and their collaborations with major translation stakeholders, including the European Language Industry Association (ELIA) and the Association of Translation Companies (ATC)
• Network with industry professionals as part of your course, and through internship and job opportunities

Entry Requirements

Eligibility

This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.

September 2025 / January 2026

• UK qualifications:
  • A minimum of a second-class honours degree in a relevant subject, or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications.
  • Applicants whose main language is English require advanced knowledge of at least one other language (Arabic, Chinese, French, German or Spanish).
  • Applicants applying for the distance learning course may be subject to assessment if their language competency is not evidenced by their qualifications/application.

Non-UK qualifications

If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, you’ll need to show you meet the UK entry requirements listed above.

To find out if your non-UK degree or other qualification is accepted, please visit our page for your country and view the UK equivalent of your qualification.

English language requirements

• English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 7.0 with no component score below 6.5.

You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:

• you have a UK degree
• you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
• you are a national of a majority English speaking country

Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.

If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Course Costs and Funding

Tuition fees (September 2025 / January 2026 start)

• UK, Channel Islands, and Isle of Man students:
  • Full-time (on campus): £10,900
  • Part-time (on campus): £5,450 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
  • Full-time (distance learning): £10,900
  • Part-time (distance learning – 2 years): £5,450 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
  • Part-time (distance learning – 3 years): £3,630 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
• EU students:
  • Full-time (on campus): £10,900
  • Part-time (on campus): £5,450 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
  • Full-time (distance learning): £10,900
  • Part-time (distance learning – 2 years): £5,450 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
  • Part-time (distance learning – 3 years): £3,630 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
• International students:
  • Full-time (on campus): £17,900
  • Part-time (on campus): £8,950 per year (subject to annual increase)
  • Full-time (distance learning): £10,900
  • Part-time (distance learning – 2 years): £5,450 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
  • Part-time (distance learning – 3 years): £3,630 per year (may be subject to annual increase)

Modules

Full-time (on campus or distance learning)

Year 1

• Core modules:
  • Dissertation/Major Project - 60 credits
  • Critical Approaches to Specialised Translation - 30 credits
• Optional modules:
  • Multimodal Translation - 30 credits
  • Translation Project - 30 credits
  • Translation Technologies - 30 credits
  • Professional Aspects of Translation - 30 credits
  • Professional Portfolio - 30 credits
  • Project Management - 30 credits

Part-time (2 years - on campus)

Year 1 Year 2

• Core modules:
  • Critical Approaches to Specialised Translation - 30 credits
  • Dissertation/Major Project - 60 credits
• Optional modules:
  • Multimodal Translation - 30 credits
  • Translation Project - 30 credits
  • Translation Technologies - 30 credits
  • Professional Aspects of Translation - 30 credits
  • Professional Portfolio - 30 credits
  • Project Management - 30 credits

Part-time (2 years - distance learning)

Year 1 Year 2

• Core modules:
  • Critical Approaches to Specialised Translation - 30 credits
  • Dissertation/Major Project - 60 credits
• Optional modules:
  • Translation Project - 30 credits
  • Professional Portfolio - 30 credits
  • Multimodal Translation - 30 credits
  • Translation Project - 30 credits
  • Translation Technologies - 30 credits
  • Professional Aspects of Translation - 30 credits
  • Professional Portfolio - 30 credits
  • Project Management - 30 credits

Part-time (3 years - distance learning only)

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

• Core modules:
  • Critical Approaches to Specialised Translation - 30 credits
  • Dissertation/Major Project - 60 credits
• Optional modules:
  • Multimodal Translation - 30 credits
  • Translation Project - 30 credits
  • Translation Technologies - 30 credits
  • Professional Aspects of Translation - 30 credits
  • Professional Portfolio - 30 credits
  • Project Management - 30 credits

Facilities

• Global Café: You can meet students from all over the world at the Global Café on Wednesday afternoons. Learn about other's cultures and practise speaking in each other's languages while making new friends and getting to share your own culture.

How You'll Spend Your Time

We recognise that you'll probably be juggling more demands when you do your Master's degree, as you may be working or you may have family responsibilities.

• Course structure: This Master's degree will take: 1 year (full-time study) 2 years (part-time study) 3 years (part-time study)
• Teaching: You can expect up to 3 hours of teaching time every week (lecture, seminar or workshop) for each module you study.
• Independent study: 24–30 hours of independent study each week if you study full-time, or 12–15 hours each week if you study part-time.

Career Development

Careers This Master's Prepares You For

Once you complete your Translation Studies MA you'll have the rich academic knowledge and industry know-how to start or advance your career in translation.

This well networked course benefits from collaborations with field experts, including the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI). These ongoing relationships help shape the content of the course and provide you with the right training for you to graduate with the skills you need to thrive within the industry.

You'll also have the option of progressing to doctoral level in your specialised area of translation. We're on hand to give you help, support and advice, whatever you decide to do next.

Graduates of This Course Have Gone Onto Areas Such As:

• Translation project management
• Translation
• Freelance Translation
• Editing
• Copywriting

Graduates of This Course Have Gone On to Work For Companies Such As:

• Association of Translation Companies (ATC)
• Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI)
• STP
• Wessex Translation

Placements and Industry Connections

Placements are not a compulsory part of the MA Translation Studies degree course, however there are a number of opportunities available for you to gain industry experience and liaise with professionals in translation.

Through collaborations with major stakeholders in the UK and Europe, including the European Language Industry Association (ELIA) and the Association of Translation Companies (ATC), you can attend webinars, seminars and other events. Here you'll network with academics and professionals to bring the realities of the profession to the classroom.

You can even choose to have your dissertation supervised by an industry professional, who will act as an advisor and gatekeeper to the industry. Providing you with access to information, data and translation experts to help you get the most from your dissertation whilst networking and building your industry experience.

Supporting You

Master's study is more focused on independent learning than undergraduate study, but you'll get lots of support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:

• Personal tutor: Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.
• Learning support tutors: You'll have help from a team of faculty learning support tutors. They can help you improve and develop your academic skills and support you in any area of your study.
• Academic skills support: During term time, Faculty Academic Skills Tutors (AST) are available for bookable 1-to-1 sessions, small group sessions and online sessions. These sessions are tailored to your needs.
• Wellbeing and mental health support: Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.
• Disability advice and additional support: If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.
• Library support: Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources.