MSc Interpreting

In the first semester, students take three core units covering practical translation and interpreting skills; technological and business fluency; and the role of language professionals in international affairs. The expertise of the core teaching team is supplemented by contributions from guest lecturers from across industry and international organisations, allowing students to expand their knowledge in new areas with input from both cutting-edge researchers and professionals.

With a mixture of lectures, seminars, and practical skills workshops, the classroom experience is collaborative and dynamic, and students will develop a professional development plan that tracks progress throughout their studies in subject-specific and transferable skills.

Practical interpretation training covers the whole range of modes, such as consecutive, simultaneous, and liaison interpreting, while also developing enhanced memory and presentation skills. Activities are designed to be engaging and foster peer support. Personal tutoring is a key component, with tutors who are professional interpreters guiding students through their personal development journey.

All students take Simultaneous Interpreting and Augmented Intelligence Technologies in the second semester, accompanied by a choice of two other units specialising in commercial and/or public service interpreting disciplines, with an option to branch out into other related fields such as Film or Games Localisation with optional units drawn from the MA Chinese-English Translation programme.

The final dissertation offers options for traditional research, practice-based projects, or work-study projects involving summer internships.

For native Chinese speakers, you will typically need a strong upper second-class honours degree or international equivalent in any subject.

For non-native Chinese speakers, you will typically need a strong second-class honours degree or international equivalent in Chinese Studies (or similar), or completion of a full undergraduate or postgraduate programme at a prestigious Chinese institution.

Non-native Chinese speakers who have not completed a Chinese/Mandarin bachelor's may be required to demonstrate proficiency through a translation test.

Non-traditional qualifications/routes may also be considered.

For applicants who are currently completing a degree, we understand that their final grade may be higher than the interim grades or module/unit grades they achieve during their studies.

We will consider applicants whose interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements. We may make these applicants an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so the applicant would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of their degree.

We will also consider your application if your final overall achieved grade is slightly lower than the programme's entry requirement. If you have at least one of the following, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing details of your relevant qualifications:

• Evidence of significant, relevant work experience. For native Chinese speakers: the work experience should be relevant to English language used at a professional level (eg international sales, marketing). For non-native Chinese speakers: work experience should be relevant to Chinese language (eg working as a translator or for a company using Chinese). A translation test may be used to determine proficiency.
• A relevant postgraduate qualification.

See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.