Interpreting and Translating (European pathway)

Entry requirements

You should have a bachelor’s honours degree or international equivalent, typically a 2:1 or above.

To apply for the European Stream you will need mother tongue competence in English and degree-level competence in two foreign languages (French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian).

To apply for the Russian only pathway you will need mother tongue competence in English or Russian and degree-level competence in the other language.

Candidates will complete aptitude tests for translating and interpreting to assess their suitability for the course.

We may make an offer based on a lower grade if you can provide evidence of your suitability for the degree.

If your first language is not English but within the last 2 years you completed your degree in an English speaking country you may be exempt from our English language requirements.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Acquire the skills needed to become a professional interpreter and translator in a range of European languages on this practical and respected master’s course.

Our MA in Interpreting and Translating will equip you with a joint qualification in both disciplines. This will prepare you to work as a conference interpreter and professional translator.

You’ll learn from highly experienced tutors who work or have previously worked as professional translators and interpreters. Some have interpreted for heads of state and government ministers, and most work for international organisations alongside teaching. You'll benefit from their wealth of experience and contemporary knowledge.

Course pathways

The course offers two pathways.

Path 1 (French, German, Italian, Russian or Spanish)

You’ll either:

• translate and interpret two different languages into English. You must have a perfect command of English and an excellent understanding of the two languages you choose; or
• translate and interpret in both directions between Russian and English. You must have an excellent command of both languages

Path 2 (Chinese/English)

You’ll work in both directions between Chinese (Mandarin) and English. You must have an excellent command of Chinese and English.

A course designed for linguists

Bath has offered this master’s for more than 50 years and has built longstanding links with international organisations like the United Nations and European Union. We make use of these links to keep our course up to date with the professional world and to set up external training opportunities where possible.

You will have access to our professional-grade interpreting labs. These are equipped with interpreter consoles and microphones, interpreter booths, and online conference facilities. Access to these labs is exclusive to students studying interpreting courses.

As well as the labs, you may also use the on-campus TV studio for some units and tasks.

What you’ll learn

You'll develop key skills in professional translation and both conference interpreting (consecutive and simultaneous) and public service interpreting.

To help you achieve these skills, you will:

• have access to our professional-grade interpreting labs for classwork and independent study. This is exclusive to students studying interpreting courses with us
• participate in ‘mini conferences’ to put your skills into practice. You’ll take part in debates about political and societal topics, acting as both delegate and interpreter
• choose from a host of optional and extra-curricular units tailor the course to your own strengths or to explore new areas of study

Gain important career skills and experience

Upon completion of this course, you will have acquired:

• the written and verbal skills to work with varied and challenging texts and speeches to a professional standard
• experience of working to deadlines and using style guides
• contacts with potential employers and colleagues from your external training
• access to our close-knit alumni network of linguists who work in international organisations, private bodies and independent agencies
• translation skills, which you’ll demonstrate during the dissertation/project you complete at the end of the taught part of the course
• a greater level of intercultural awareness, which is important for working in an international role

Training opportunities

Where possible, we use our extensive network of contacts to organise external training opportunities. These are often with the language services of international organisations, government departments or translation companies.

These opportunities can provide you with invaluable insights into the work of professional linguists and are highly valued by employers. However, they are not compulsory or guaranteed. Your language combination and your progress on the course will be considered, along with any other relevant information, when matching you with potential training opportunities.

If you do undertake additional training, you’ll be able to hone your skills as a linguist by carrying out authentic tasks and receiving direct feedback from experts in the field.

Our students have previously undertaken training with many organisations, including:

• the United Nations
• institutions of the European Union
• the Council of Europe

Extracurricular activities

You'll also have the opportunity to attend talks or extracurricular units to enhance your core learning. These will cover a range of topics such as law, economics and current affairs.

In addition to this, we regularly invite speakers and trainers from the course’s professional network to deliver career-focused talks and additional training sessions.

Graduate prospects

Our MA Interpreting and Translating is a vocational course with an excellent international reputation. Many of our graduates have gone on to work in a range of interpreting and translating roles. Others have used the transferable skills gained to pursue further study or careers in teaching, publishing, and design.

Recent graduates have gone on to work for:

• Foreign Office
• UEFA
• GCHQ
• European Parliament
• European Commission
• International Court of Justice
• European Court of Auditors
• International Union of Railways
• Universal Postal Union
• United Nations

Fees and funding

View available funding opportunities.

Select the course you are interested in from the available list.