MA Interpreting
Belfast, United Kingdom
MA
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
14 Aug 2026
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 23,000 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* international fee
This MA in Interpreting is designed to provide students with:
- In-depth knowledge and understanding of the contexts and practices of professional interpreting, enabling students to develop the skills upon which professional interpreter competence is predicated
- Advanced expertise in their language pairs
- In-depth knowledge of the language-services marketplace
- Appropriate opportunities in professionally-based practice
Interpreting Highlights
Professional Accreditations
- Students who complete the additional module Principles in Community Interpreting are eligible for the award of an OCN Level 4 Certificate in Principles of Community Interpreting.
Career Development
- Graduates can pursue careers in a range of areas where interpreting and translation skills are required, e.g. academic, creative writing, translation and interpreting industry, public policy, business and commerce and journalism. The programme includes specialist training in translation technologies and offers opportunities for work experience.
Internationally Renowned Experts
- You will be taught by staff with research profiles of international standing, with a wide and diverse range of interests in interpreting and translation studies. Research in Modern Languages at Queen's was ranked 3rd in REF 2014 for Research Intensity and 5th for Grade Point Average, with particular strengths in literary studies, translation and interpreting, linguistics, postcolonial studies, visual cultures, digital humanities and medical humanities. The School hosts several large research projects across all the language areas, funded by the AHRC, the Leverhulme Trust, British Academy, and Horizon 2020.
Student Experience
- There are field visits to our industry partners, including Keywords Studios, (a world-known game localisation provider), KBC banking and insurance group, Visit Brussels (the Brussels-Capital Region’s tourism promotion and communications agency) and the European Union (Directorate-General for Translation and Interpretation). You can also attend the workshops delivered by industry professionals in various fields, e.g., game localisation, audio description, translation and translation technology, post-editing, and actor training and interpreting, and biweekly seminars with renowned visiting speakers.
Careers in interpreting and translation can be both highly intellectual and extremely rewarding in a practical sense. In addition to international organisations, interpreters and translators can work in a range of roles in diverse companies or as freelance translators working for agencies and/or direct clients. Professional interpreting and translation skills are valued in many areas of employment, notably banking and finance, politics, NGOs, publishing, libraries, arts venues, management consultancy, law, and jobs in engineering and manufacturing, due to their international client base. Interpreters and translators are also required in a wide range of other activities and lines of work, including aiding police investigations and other security services, supporting migrant communities, conference proceedings, sports events, and governmental communications.
Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills
In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.
Course Details
The programme introduces students to the contexts and environments in which professional interpreters work and to the research techniques and modes of practice required by these contexts. Delivered through a combination of seminars, workshops, guided private study, a programme of visiting speakers and appropriate professional practice, the structure of the programme enables students to work at the highest professional level. For 2026 entry, Chinese-English and Arabic-English are offered. Please contact the programme convenor Dr. Chen-En Ho (c.ho@qub.ac.uk) if you need further details about language pairs.
Dissertation
The dissertation will either be an extended essay on an aspect of interpreting theory and practice; or a case study documenting an extended interpreting engagement.
Semester 1 Modules
- Consecutive Interpreting (20 CATS)
- Simultaneous Interpreting (20 CATS)
Semester 1 and 2 Module
- Principles and Practices of Interpreting (40 CATS)
Semester 2 Modules
- Commercial Interpreting (20 CATS)
- Public Service Interpreting (20 CATS)
How do I fund my study?
The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study.
A postgraduate loans system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £11,836 for taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas (excluding Initial Teacher Education/PGCE, where undergraduate student finance is available). Criteria, eligibility, repayment and application information are available on the UK government website.