University of Birmingham
English-Chinese Interpreting with Translation MA
University of Birmingham

Key Course Facts

Course Description

Interpreting is a highly-skilled profession, requiring academic training as well as extensive practice in relevant settings.

Our MA in English-Chinese Interpreting with Translation is ideal for those looking to embark on careers as professional interpreters, combining interpreting theory and practice and with teaching taking place in a state-of-the-art Interpreting Suite. You are also encouraged to use these facilities outside of teaching time to develop your practical skills further.

This MA programme involves intensive in-class practice, delivered in our purpose-built Interpreting Suite, using the professional Televic technology that is employed by international organisations. Students are trained in simultaneous and consecutive interpreting, with the option of taking a course in community interpreting too.

The course will take you through a range of both introductory and advanced modules, allowing you to develop your skills rapidly across two terms of teaching, and culminating in an extended project. Your taught modules will prepare you for interpreting in a range of scenarios drawn from business, legal, medical and other interactional settings, and your project will allow you to focus on your chosen topic(s) in depth.

This programme provides extensive interpreting practice and theory alongside complementary training in translation and in research methods, which provides an ideal foundation for both careers in interpreting or for further research.

We have membership of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) and of the Association of Programmes in Translation and Interpreting Studies, UK and Ireland. We are also part of the SDL University Partner Program, which allows us to allocate SDL Studio Freelance licences to our students for the duration of their studies.

Entry Requirements / Admissions

Requirements for international students / English requirements

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

    • 6.5
    • Graduate Degrees
    • (no subscore less than 6.0)
    • 6.5
    • Undergraduate Degrees

English language requirements You can satisfy our English language requirements in two ways: - by holding an English language qualification to the right level; for this course we ask for IELTS 7.0, with a minimum of 6.5 in speaking and writing, and 6.0 in listening and reading - by taking and successfully completing one of our English courses for international students
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study English-Chinese Interpreting with Translation, MA, if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Students should have native-speaker proficiency in Mandarin Chinese. It will normally be necessary to hold a languages or humanities-related degree, along with the required IELTS results

If your undergraduate studies are in other subjects, you may be asked to provide evidence of relevant work experience as a translator and/or interpreter in addition to satisfactory IELTS results.

However, if you already hold a recent undergraduate degree from a British university, IELTS results are not usually required.

Costs

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

Source: Own research based on surveys and university data

University Rankings

Positions of University of Birmingham in top UK and global rankings.

See all 38 university rankings of University of Birmingham

About University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham is a research university based in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England. The university’s aim is to be at the cutting edge of educational delivery, and to have their curriculum be continually reshaped by new revelations in research. The main campus is situated a reasonable three miles away from Birmingham city centre, which doesn’t take long to get to via bus if the student decides they’d like to spend some of their free time there.

List of 469 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Birmingham - Course Catalogue

Student composition of University of Birmingham

Total number of students enrolled at University of Birmingham by level Academic year 2021/22 - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
undergraduates:
24385
postgraduates:
9185
Total:
33570
Number of students enrolled in courses of subject “Translation Studies”: Academic year - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
Source: Academic year 2021/22 - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
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Where is this programme taught

Edgbaston Campus
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Admission advice for international students