Interpreting MA
Gain high-quality interpreting skills through our Interpreting MA. You'll work with Chinese and English languages and receive professional and academic training.
Overview
This master's in Interpreting uses English and Chinese as working languages.
This course has two stages. Each stage lasts one year. You can either:
- join the course at Stage 1 and follow the two-year course
- or join at Stage 2 and follow the one-year course (this depends on your previous qualifications and experience)
Stage 1 is made up of compulsory modules. You'll gain a thorough grounding in translation and interpreting skills and techniques.
By the end of Stage 2 you'll have acquired high-quality interpreting skills, spoken rather than written transfer. The course prepares you for an interpreting career, in fields such as:
- technology
- commerce
- international relations
- journalism
In Stage 2 you could also choose to follow another of our pathways if your interests or aspirations change:
- Translating and Interpreting
- Translating
- Translation Studies
We've given year 2 fees as a guide. They are not yet confirmed and may increase. This is due to annual inflation.
Important information
We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption.
Given the changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the commitments outlined are subject to guidelines that may be in place from time to time.
View our COVID-19 Study page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2022-23.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information
What you'll learn
If you join at Stage 1, you take compulsory modules that typically include:
- translating
- simultaneous interpreting
- consecutive interpreting
- sight translation exercise
- information technology for translators and interpreters
- translation studies.
This is followed by another year of specialised study in Stage 2.
In Stage 2 you take compulsory modules and optional modules. You also complete either a dissertation or a translating/interpreting project. Depending on your interests, you take further optional modules that cover:
- a sight translation exercise
- bi-lateral interpreting
- English-Chinese subtitle translation
- literary translation
Modules
You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.
Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
Optional modules availability
Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
How you'll learn
Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:
- Computer assessment
- Dissertation
- Essay
- Oral examination
- Portfolio
- Research proposal
- Written examination
- Written exercise
Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:
- courses
- groups
- notifications
- messages
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:
- peers
- academics
- our University Student Services Team
You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.
Your development
Work placements and practical opportunities
Subject to Covid-19 restrictions, we'll organise study visits and/or internship work placements for our translating and interpreting students.
Past examples have included:
- study visits to the United Nations Office in Vienna
- study visits to the Directorate General for Interpreting of the European Commission in Brussels
We'll also help you:
- participate in conferences as interpreters
- take up translation assignments
Your future
Our Careers Service
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Quality and ranking
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Facilities
Our facilities include:
- three dedicated interpreting suites
- professional translation software
- the Language Resource Centre, equipped with audio-visual and computing facilities linked to a digital speech bank
- a senior common room
Fees and funding
Tuition fees for 2022 entry (per year)
If your studies last longer than one year, your tuition fee may increase in line with inflation.
Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.
EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.
If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.
Scholarships
We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information.
What you're paying for
Tuition fees include the costs of:
- matriculation
- registration
- tuition (or supervision)
- library access
- examination
- re-examination
- graduation
Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.
Find out more about:
- additional costs
- living costs
- tuition fees, including how to pay them and available discounts
If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.
You can check this in the How to apply section.
If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.
For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.
Search for funding
Find funding available for your course
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2022 entry.
Qualifications from outside the UK
English Language requirements
How to apply
Using the application portal
The applicant portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.
You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.
If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the applicant portal.
Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.
Apply Online
Open days and events
You'll have a number of opportunities to meet us throughout the year including:
- campus tours
- on-campus open days
- virtual open days
- webinars
Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually
Overseas events
We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.
Get in touch
Questions about this course?
If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:
School of Modern Languages
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 5867
Email: modlang.pgadmin@ncl.ac.uk
Online
For more general enquiries you could also complete our online enquiry form.
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