Translation Studies (Online)
Entry requirements
The language you intend to translate into needs to be your mother tongue language or a language you use regularly.
If you want to translate into a language that you use regularly, but isn't your mother tongue, you may need to provide evidence of your language proficiency.
We usually expect you to be trained at degree level in the language(s) you intend to translate from. If you don't hold a degree in your ‘second’ language, you may need to provide other evidence of proficiency. This needs to be equivalent to a minimum of level C1 on the Common European Framework for Languages.
If you don't hold a languages or humanities-related degree, you may need to provide evidence of relevant work experience.
We can accommodate a range of language pairings. These are:
- Arabic to English and English to Arabic
- French to English and English to French
- German to English and English to German
- Greek to English and English to Greek
- Italian to English and English to Italian
- Mandarin to English and English to Mandarin
- Polish to English and English to Polish
- Portuguese to English and English to Portuguese
- Russian to English and English To Russian
- Spanish to English and English to Spanish
We're also able to offer a pathway through the programme for those working in other languages.
Months of entry
February, April, October
Course content
Prepare for a career as a professional translator. Our industry-focussed course gives you the translation and project management skills to stand out in the sector.
Study from anywhere in the world on our distance learning MA Translation Studies course. You'll learn flexibly from home around other commitments. Join our global community of translators and develop industry-specific skills.
This course is runs over 18 or 30 months part-time and is taught by distance learning. You’ll access materials online at a time that suits you
Enjoy complete flexibility to choose the type of qualification you receive and how you study.
You can study over 18 or 30 months and choose from multiple entry points throughout the year.
- We’re a member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI), the Association of Programmes in Translation and Interpreting Studies, UK and Ireland, and the Association of Translation Companies.
- Develop the employability skills you need for the translation industry, whether you want to take the next step in your translation career or begin a new career altogether.
- Access translation software, including translation memory tools, corpus and text analysis tools and post-editing tools, plus SDL Studio Freelance licences.
- We're one of the top 100 Modern Languages departments in the world (QS World University Rankings 2024).
At Birmingham, research and teaching go hand-in-hand. Lecturers and professors continue to research in their field, offering valuable expertise in Translation Studies.
The course runs over 18 months on the accelerated route or 30 months on the standard route. Both routes are studied part time. You can only begin the accelerated route in October. You can begin the standard route in October, February or April.
Choose a postgraduate qualification that fits around your other commitments: a Postgraduate Certificate (3 modules), Postgraduate Diploma (6 modules) or the full MA (6 modules and a dissertation).
- Taught modules - each module represents a total of 200 hours of study time, including preparatory reading, homework and assignment preparation.
- Seminars – modules are mainly taught by online small group teaching.
- Dissertation - you'll undertake a 15,000-word dissertation in an area that interests you. This can be a traditional written dissertation or an extended translation project, translating a 7,500-word text of your choice, plus a 7,500-word commentary on the text.
Information for international students
If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification. You'll need to have an IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.5 in any band or equivalent.
For this course we require IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.5 in any band, which is equivalent to:
- TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 22 in Reading, 20 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing
- Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 67 with no less than 67 in all four skills
- Cambridge English: C1 Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 176 in any component
- LanguageCert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 'Communicator' with no less than 33 in each skill
Fees and funding
The College of Arts and Law is a vibrant community of students and academics, dedicated to ensuring that excellence is rewarded, and that fears about finance do not constrain current or prospective students. For this reason, in addition to University funding schemes, we offer our own College-specific funding initiatives.
Qualification, course duration and attendance options
- MA
- part time30 months
- Online learningis available for this qualification
- flexible18 months
- Online learningis available for this qualification
Course contact details
- Name
- Postgraduate Enquiries