MA
MA Translation Studies
Gain the skills and knowledge to translate between a range of leading international languages and English, and explore translation as a profession and an academic discipline.
How to apply Apply via UCAS
Course details
Start date
Degree Type
MA
Program Code
R9K107
Course length
1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Typical offer
Tuition Fees
- Home (Full-time): £12,500 per year
- Overseas (Full-time): £25,000 per year
Overview
The MA in Translation Studies is a specialist course that will provide you with the professional skills to translate between a wide range of languages and English and equip you with an understanding of translation as an academic discipline with its own cultural and historical heritage. The course prepares graduates to become professional translators and intercultural communicators or to go on to academic research in the subject. The languages you will be able to choose from include Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish. The course has been developed around modern theories and strategies and is enriched by the input of professional translators and research-active staff. There are modules in language, the use of translation technology, linguistics, professional skills, subtitling, professional ethics, project management, and intercultural awareness. For Chinese there is also interpreting. The course can be taken full-time over one year or part-time over two years and is based in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures in the centre of Durham. In support of your studies, you will have access to a wide range of technical facilities, technical expertise and software, including an interpreting suite for Chinese interpreting, and specialist eye-tracking and key-stroke logging equipment for process research projects. You can gain practical experience from the work placement scheme and will also benefit from the programme of master classes with professional translators and visiting speakers. We are a partner of the Chartered Institute of Linguists which acts as an assessor and moderator for the course’s specialised translation exams, and offers the opportunity to gain a CIoL qualification as part of the course. The focus of the course is effective intercultural communication and we are proud of the vital work our graduates do in fostering international understanding. To find out more about this course and hear from our students, you can view our webpages here.
Course details
Start date
Degree Type
MA
Program Code
R9K107
Course length
1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Typical offer
Tuition Fees
- Home (Full-time): £12,500 per year
- Overseas (Full-time): £25,000 per year
What you'll study
All the MA programmes offered by the Faculty of Arts & Humanities consist of three components: Major Research Project to the value of at least 60 creditsModules to the value of 0-90 credits, depending on the programmeModules, making up the total number of credits to 180; some of these modules will be defined as Recommended Electives for particular programmes. Students studying the MA in Translation Studies can choose from one of three 60-credit Major Research Project options as follows: Studies Dissertation (15,000 words)Translation Project (10,000-word translation, 5,000-word commentary)Standard Translation Projects in different languages or directions (5,000-word translation 2,500-word commentary)
Core modules
-
Specialised Translation
Additionally, you will take either one or two modules (30 credits each), choosing from Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian or Spanish. These, which include different text-types and subject areas, aim to provide you with the necessary grounding and training to translate in both directions between your chosen language(s) and English. They give you the experience, ability and confidence to translate independently between languages.
-
Translation Theory, Research and Practice
will examine various theories and issues of translation such as text type, target audiences and translation strategies, matching theoretical points with practical translation examples to give you a sound understanding and insight into key aspects of modern theories in translation. The module will also improve your understanding of the processes involved in translation and the main assessment criteria for good translation practice. It will also teach the research skills needed to complete the course and for future research at a higher level. You will also be given instruction and hands-on experience with computer assisted translation tools that are essential for a professional translator.
Optional modules
-
60 credits
Depending on the precise combination of core modules chosen above, students may have up to of elective modules available from across the Faculty of Arts & Humanities so that your total number of credits adds up to exactly 180. The Recommended Electives aimed specifically at Translation Studies students include: Interpreting (Chinese<>English)Interpreting and Sight Translation (Chinese<>English)& Advanced CAT ToolsEthics and Intercultural Project ManagementWork PlacementPractica: Processes and Products Additional Language Option: MA students can choose to take, in addition to their main course, a 20 credit language module at MLAC’s Centre For Foreign Language Study. This offers a wide range of European, Middle Eastern and East Asian languages at levels from complete beginner to advanced. Students who choose this option will gain an additional 20 credits, i.e. 200 credits in total. Details can be found here.
Learning
The course is delivered through a mixture of seminars, workshops, lectures, group projects, research seminars and individual tutorials. The balance between these learning sessions will depend on your study programme, which you can direct towards either training in professional translation or an in-depth examination of the practices, theories and global impact of translation. Optional modules for the former will include specialised language or language-oriented subjects while the modules for the latter will take a broader view of translation across a mix of cultures and timespans. There will be a shift from taught hours to more independent study and work experience in the third term, meaning you will complete a research-focused dissertation or a vocational-related translation project. You will also be expected to attend master classes and lectures by visiting speakers, which are seen as an integral part of the course.Assessment
Assessment is rigorous and carried out through translations, essays, reports and a final dissertation or translation project plus commentary; one-to-one supervision is provided for the dissertation / project. Translation modules are assessed by a portfolio of work featuring two 1,000-word texts in terms one and two respectively and a 1,000-word translation commentary, providing a sample of the variety of text-types with which you will have engaged during the module. You will also complete a final timed translation of a general text, following the conventions of professional standards for translators.Entry requirements
Fees & Funding
Choose which fees you want to see:
Home / Island students
£12,500 per year
International / EU Students
£25,000 per year
Home / Island students
Part Time - £6,900 per year
International / EU Students
Part Time - £13,800 per year
The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).
Find out moreDepartment Information
-
Top 10
in The Complete University Guide 2026The School of Modern Languages and Cultures is a world-class centre for teaching and research in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hispanic, Italian, Japanese and Russian Studies. We provide an outstanding environment for research activity, adopting an open and flexible approach to study. Support and guidance are given by the committed subject experts that can be found in our academic team. They are passionate about their specialisms, which cover the relevant languages, literature, cultural history, cinema and visual culture, and translation. This significant reservoir of knowledge is reflected in the diversity of the topics being researched in the School. Key areas of in-depth study activity range from Translation Studies and Film Studies through to Science and the Humanities, and Gender and Sexuality. Our postgraduate community is vibrant and active and is fully involved with events both within the School and within wider University postgraduate groups. Our research postgraduates are involved in organising major conferences and lead research seminars as part of their learning experience. Language provision at Durham consistently ranks within the top five performing Schools in the UK according to university league tables. We feel this reflects our deep commitment to research that nurtures cultural understanding and inspires a love of languages and fosters an understanding of different cultures in an era of increasing globalisation. For more information see our department pages.
Read moreFacilities
The School is located on Elvet Riverside, which is close to the ancient Elvet Bridge and within easy walking distance of the University colleges, the Students’ Union and the historic centre of the city of Durham. Learning facilities include language laboratories, computer classrooms and a large study area. There are also satellite and recording facilities for viewing programmes in all the major taught languages. The University's fully equipped Centre for Foreign Language Study is housed in the same building, and members of the Languages and Culture School have access to its facilities. Similarly, the Translation Zone provides a place to meet translators, learn how we teach translation and attend seminars and master classes.
Find out more -
