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MA Interpreting, Translation and Applied Technologies

Acquire a unique blend of language and technical skills that will set you apart and fast-track your career in the language industry.

Year of entry: 2025 (September)

Length

1 year full-time

Start date

September 2025 (semester dates)

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Language services represent a rapidly growing and evolving industry which is key in today’s multilingual and interconnected world.

Languages available: English, plus one or two from Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish.

This course combines training in conference interpreting and translation with relevant aspects of computer science and will equip you with the specialist skills you need in order to get a head start in this exciting industry. You'll become a skilled professional linguist who's comfortable working with a range of topics, who understands different workflows and modalities, and who is capable of adapting to remote, hybrid and in-person learning and work environments. You'll work to find solutions to address various challenges, be they linguistic, cultural or technological.

Our technology modules will introduce you to the theory and functional principles behind the latest technologies being used and developed in the language services industry (such as AI). This technology-focused approach is also reflected across our translation and interpreting modules. We incorporate the latest software and hardware and provide opportunities for you to familiarise yourself with diverse settings and text genres. Our unique combination of training will enable you to thrive in an industry that requires versatility, a curious mind and the ability to learn quickly and effectively.

World-class faculty

The Department is part of York's Faculty of Arts and Humanities, ranked 51st in the 2024 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

8th in the UK for Linguistics

Complete University Guide (2024)

Course content

All our modules are taught by experienced academics and practitioners. You'll study six modules in Semesters 1 and 2 (three per semester) and two modules in the Summer Semester. You'll take core modules to develop translation and interpreting skills and to acquire expert knowledge of applied technologies. In addition, you'll develop research skills and will learn the theoretical foundations of translation and interpreting, as well as how they underpin practice.

Translation and interpreting modules combine language-specific practice seminars in which you will work between your working languages and non-language specific sessions. The latter focus on core skills, business aspects, technologies applied to either translation or interpreting workflows and practice in multilingual projects.

You'll specialise in translation and/or interpreting between your working languages. For the academic year 2025/26, we accept applications from candidates with English as your A or B language and one or two languages from Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish, as follows:

  • A language: your main language, the one you master perfectly. You work into this language from your other working language(s). 
  • B language: you master this language at a very high level are able to work from it into your A language and from your A language into this language but not from other languages (C languages) into this language. 
  • C language: this is a language that you understand at a very high level but don't master actively, which means that you work from this language into your A language but not into it. You may have more than one C language.

Translation practice and assessment will be from and/or into English from one or two languages. For interpreting modules, AB, ABC and ACC pathways with the languages specified above are available. In any given combination, English must be your A or your B language. 

For example, a student with German A, English B and French C will interpret both ways between English and German and from French into German (ABC pathway); a student with Spanish A and English B will interpret both ways between Spanish and English and a student with English A and Spanish and Italian C will interpret from Spanish into English and from Italian into English.

You are welcome to join translation and/or interpreting practice sessions for language directions outside your stated combination if this allows you to maintain and improve your languages. Priority for booth access and feedback will be given to students taking that specific combination as part of their chosen pathway.

Modules

In Semester 1, you'll study three core modules: Consecutive and Simultaneous Interpreting, Translation Theory and Practice, and Technologies in the Language Services Industry. 

In Semester 2, you'll study either three option modules or two option modules and an elective module. At least one of your option modules must be a translation or interpreting module at an advanced level. If you want to specialise in interpreting, you should study the two advanced-level interpreting modules.

Core modules:

Option modules

You will also study three option modules:

Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.

Dissertation

In the Summer Semester, a core professional practice module will provide language enhancement to help get you ready for the world of professional translation and interpreting, while you learn key employability skills and start to grow your professional network. You'll also apply your newly acquired knowledge and skills to translation and/or interpreting assignments.

Alongside the core practice module, you'll complete an independent study module that can be either a research-based or a practice-based reflective study. You'll learn the skills required to successfully carry out your independent project throughout the course.

Previous independent project topics:

  • A comparative analysis of interpreter performance with and without Computer-Assisted Interpreting tools
  • Multimodality in machine translation
  • Users' perceptions of quality in consecutive interpreting
  • Approaches to post-editing for neural machine translation (NMT) and statistical-based machine translation (SMT)
  • A corpus-based study of legal language for translation
  • Technology-assisted assignment preparation in interpreting. Does the process matter?
  • Translation and Commentary projects of different genres
  • Interpretation and Commentary projects of different types of interpreting assignments

The York approach

Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

  • Design, develop and manage successful projects related to interpreting and/or translation and inter/transcultural communication needs.
  • Develop a well-founded understanding of interpreting, translation, and related technologies such as machine translation and artificial intelligence.
  • Apply and adapt this knowledge to the changing landscape in the language services industry.
  • Collaborate on linguistic and technological problems arising in the language services industry to develop solutions for interlingual and intercultural communication.
  • Translate and/or interpret confidently, accurately and effectively in a range of professional contexts and situations.
  • Critically reflect upon the role of an interpreter/translator in professional practice and upon continuing skills development.
  • Develop and apply research skills to issues in translation and interpreting studies in academic and/or workplace contexts.
The support from the staff, especially those lecturers who I have had contact with, has been excellent. I have always been welcomed into their offices to talk about both academic and personal aspects. During the masters degree, I constantly asked myself a question: and now? what's next? Staff in the department have given me excellent advice and encouraged me to trust myself.
Eloi, Language and Linguistic Science Student

Read more about what our students say about us.

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees for 2025/26

Study modeUK (home)International and EU
Full-time (1 year) £11,200£25,900

Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.

Fees information

UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.

Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.

Funding information

Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.

We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.

If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.

Funding opportunities

Chevening Scholarships

We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.

Living costs

You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.

Teaching and assessment

You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our innovative approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.

Teaching format

You'll study and learn with experienced academics who are active researchers and/or work in the language services industry themselves and with practitioners with expertise in specific genres and settings. Our staff are experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects.

We are corporate members of organisations such as the Institute of Translation and Interpreting, the Association of Programmes in Translation and Interpreting Studies, UK and Ireland, the Chartered Institute of Linguists and collaborate with different industry partners and institutions. These collaborations allow you to join relevant networks, access bespoke learning and practice opportunities and improve your career prospects.

Facilities

Our dedicated multilingual conference suite is modelled on the latest ISO standard in terms of performance and specification. As a student, you'll have priority access to these facilities, which are easily bookable outside your teaching time, through the University's timetabling system.

The facilities centre around a high-end industry-spec Brähler DIGIMIC conference system. It's fully integrated with the necessary hardware and software to enable highly flexible in-person, hybrid and remote conferencing with simultaneous interpretation. The suite features PTZ cameras and screens to ensure good views for both in-person and remote participants.

Specialist software

We are using Phrase in our translation courses free of charge. Phrase is a complete translation platform that includes translation memory, integrated machine and human translation, terminology management, and both online and desktop CAT tools.

Teaching location

You will be based in the Department of Language and Linguistic Science on Campus West. Most of your contact hours will be in Spring Lane Building and Vanbrugh College, with some additional teaching in other locations on Campus West.

About our campus

Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.

Assessment and feedback

You'll receive extensive individual and group feedback in practice sessions and will develop self and peer assessment skills, which are crucial for professional practice. You'll be assessed through methods including translation assignments, interpreting assignments, translation reports, group projects, presentations, individual projects and essays.

A student having a conversation in a booth.
Two students using the interpreting suite.

Careers and skills

You'll develop professional skills such as project management and intercultural communication, and will develop an understanding of the language services industry. Embedded in our programme are opportunities for networking, development of employability skills, events with practitioners and industry partners and opportunities to practise your skills in real-life settings.

You'll also develop an in-depth understanding of technological foundations applied to translation and interpreting and will learn how to use applied technologies effectively and confidently both in dedicated modules and in the core translation and interpreting courses. This will allow you not only to use technology, but to have a say in its development and evolution as it applies to language services.

Career opportunities

  • conference interpreter
  • freelance translator
  • in-house translator
  • staff interpreter
  • consultant interpreter
  • translator-reviser
  • subtitler
  • project manager
  • localization specialist
  • content strategist
  • language software
  • developer linguistics consultant

Transferable skills

  • time-management
  • project management
  • problem-solving
  • intercultural communication
  • understanding of speech technology and artificial intelligence
  • attention to detail
  • cultural awareness
  • research and writing skills
  • in-depth comprehension

Entry requirements

Typical offer
Undergraduate degree 2:2 or equivalent in Languages, Translation and Interpreting, or another relevant discipline. We accept applications from candidates with varied academic and professional backgrounds
Other international qualifications Equivalent qualifications from your country

Additional requirements

As part of your personal statement please confirm your language combination.

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:

Minimum requirement
IELTS (Academic and Indicator) 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component
Cambridge CEFR B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component
Oxford ELLT 7, minimum of 6 in each component
Duolingo 120, minimum 105 in all other components
LanguageCert SELT B2 with 33/50 in each component
LanguageCert Academic 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component
Kaplan Test of English Language 459-494, with 426-458 in all other components
Skills for English B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component
PTE Academic 61, minimum 55 in each component
TOEFL 87, minimum of 21 in each component
Trinity ISE III Merit in all requirements

For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.

If you haven't met our English language requirements

You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.

The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.

After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.

Applying

We accept applications from candidates with varied academic and professional backgrounds and we will take relevant work and study experience into account when considering applications. Applicants are required to provide evidence of excellent command of both English and one or two other languages from Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish, depending on your pathway:

  • AB Pathway: you work both ways between English and one other language. For example: Spanish into English and English into Spanish.
  • ABC Pathway: you work both ways between English and one other language and from a third language into your A language. English must be either your A or your B language. For example, if German is your A language, English your B language and Italian your C language, you would work from German into English, from English into German and from Italian into German; if English is your A language, Spanish your B language and French your C language, you would work from English into Spanish, Spanish into English and French into English.
  • ACC Pathway: you work from two different languages into English. For example: Chinese into English and French into English.

Valid evidence of mastery (CEFR C1 level or above) of your non-English language(s) includes relevant academic qualifications, certificates of proficiency and evidence of relevant study or work experience in countries where the language(s) are spoken. Please note that we do not accept applicants with a language combination that does not include their A (strongest) language.

Your application should include a 1-page (500-700 words) personal statement describing your background, relevant information about your language background, relevant personal, academic and/or professional experience, and why you want to study this programme. At the top of your statement, you should specify the languages in your language combination with which you intend to study and your chosen pathway.

Interview

Unless you have substantial prior experience and/or your entry qualifications provide solid evidence of your suitability for the programme, the selection process will include an online interview.

The interview is aimed at learning more about you as a candidate and to assess your suitability for the programme. As part of the interview, you will be asked to use your two or three chosen languages of study, including English, to complete a set of tasks. These tasks are aimed at assessing your comprehension, analysis, transfer and production skills in the relevant languages, depending on your language combination:

Task 1 - Sight translation:

  • For A-B Pathway applicants: you will be asked to provide an oral rendition in English of a text written in your other working language.
  • For A-B-C Pathway applicants: you will be asked to provide an oral rendition in your B language of a text written in your A language.
  • For A-C-C Pathway applicants: you will be asked to provide an oral rendition in English of a short text written in one of your C languages.

Task 2 - Listening and summarising:

  • For A-B Pathway applicants: you will watch a short presentation in English and will be asked to provide an oral summary in your other working language.
  • For A-B-C Pathway applicants: you will watch a short presentation in your C language and will be asked to provide an oral summary in your A language.
  • For A-C-C Pathway applicants: you will watch a short presentation in your 'other' C language and will be asked to provide an oral summary in English.

No prior preparation is required, but knowledge of current affairs in the countries where your working languages are spoken is essential.

Interview dates

Once you've submitted your application, we'll review it and may invite you to an online interview. We'll schedule the interview at a time that best suits you.

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