Interpreting MA

Overview

This Interpreting MA course will prepare you for a professional interpreting career.

Our lecturers have a wealth of professional experience, both in-house and freelance. You’ll learn how theory and practice intersect in interpreting. You will hone the skills you need to excel in your chosen professional domain.

You’ll train at our state-of-art conference interpreting suite. You’ll also benefit from both our industry experience and established connections.

This Interpreting MA course has two stages with each stage lasting one year.

You can:

• study for two years - In your first year, you will join the Translating and Interpreting MA. Then in your second year, you will take the Interpreting MA pathway.
• study for one year - You will join the Interpreting MA directly at Stage 2. This option will depend on your prior experience and qualifications.

In Stage 2, you can choose to follow another of our pathways if your interests or aspirations change:

• Translating and Interpreting MA
• Translating MA
• Translation Studies MA

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.

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions

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, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience 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, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

 

What you'll learn

Stage 1

You'll gain a thorough grounding in translation and interpreting skills and techniques. You will take Consecutive Interpreting, Sight Translation and Simultaneous Interpreting modules.

Stage 2

In the second year of the Interpreting MA, you'll develop more advanced skill sets. You will learn about specialised areas of interpreting with more demanding industry requirements.

You'll acquire high-quality interpreting skills in spoken rather than written transfer. You will have an expert understanding of mainstream interpreting and remote interpreting technologies.

Depending on your interests, you may take further optional modules that cover:

• Subtitle and Video Game Translation
• Literary Translation
• Translating for a Big Institution
• Translating for Singing
• Legal Translation

In the summer, you will complete either a dissertation or an interpreting project. The project consists of an interpreting assignment and an academic commentary.

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.

Course content changes

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.

Interpreting MA modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Translating I (Chinese to English)	20
Translating I (English to Chinese)	20
Simultaneous Interpreting 1	10
Sight Translation	10
Consecutive Interpreting I	20
Consecutive Interpreting II	20
Simultaneous Interpreting II	20
Public Service Interpreting	20
Research Methods in Translating and Interpreting	10
Profession, Processes and Society in Translating & Interpreting	20

Optional Modules	Credits
Chinese to/from English Subtitle and Video Game Translation	20
Technology in Interpreting	10
Key Concepts in Corporate and Commercial Law	10
Translation for Singing	20
Translation Studies I	10
Fundamentals of Legal Translation	10
Literary Translation	10
Translating for a Big Institution. The EU - A Case Study	10
Localisation: Practice and Theory	10
Dissertation	60
Translating/Interpreting Project	60

How you'll learn

Assessment methods

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

Student support

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:

• module handbooks
• course materials
• groups
• course announcements and notifications
• written feedback

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

• peers
• academics
• personal tutors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives

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

On our Interpreting MA, you will receive enhanced training on:

• theoretical models of interpreting and understanding your workspace and equipment
• the latest development in remote interpreting, or RSI
• performing different modes of interpreting with appropriate techniques on a wide range of topics
• how to leverage a growing base of theoretical knowledge to carry out interpreting assignments that meet industry requirements
• current technicality demanded upon conference interpreters
• ability to adapt and pick up required technical skills for specific jobs

Professional opportunities and development

We organise industry talks, study visits and internship work placements for our students. These will be in the fields of conference interpreting and liaison interpreting.

In the past, we have organised visits to:

• the United Nations Office in Vienna and Rome
• the EU’s Directorate General for Translation
• the European Commission in Brussels
• international organisations in The Hague

We also arrange interpreting and remote interpreting opportunities with our industry contacts. 

We'll also help you:

• take part in conferences as a trainee interpreter
• get academic membership from established interpreter and translator societies (such as the Chartered Institute of Linguists)
• join our Translating and Interpreting alumni networks across five continents
• discover international job opportunities and get career advice

Your future

What can you do with an Interpreting MA degree?

Our Interpreting graduates use their linguistic, IT, and interpersonal skills, and cultural knowledge in a range of sectors.

Conference Interpreting careers

• in-house simultaneous and/or consecutive interpreter for international organisations and corporations
• in-house linguist, providing support on a range of interpreting and translation projects
• freelance self-employed interpreter
• event/conference planner
• conference interpreting trainers and instructors

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.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

Facilities

Our facilities include:

• two dedicated interpreting suites (including an UN-standard conference interpreting suite)
• digital platforms for interpreting training and practice
• Language Resource Centre (equipped with audio-visual and computing facilities linked to a digital speech bank)
• a senior common room where you can relax, eat or study

Learn more about the School of Modern Languages facilities.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2023 entry (per year)

Tuition fee increases

If your studies last longer than one year, your tuition fee may increase in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

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

Deposit

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.

Funding deadlines

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

Select your country

How to apply

Using the application portal

The application 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 application 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.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events