Translation Studies MA

Durham University

The MA in Translation Studies is a forward-looking specialist programme designed to prepare you for the rapidly evolving global language industry. You will develop the professional expertise to translate between one or two of a wide range of languages and English, while gaining a deep understanding of translation as a linguistic, cultural, technological, cognitive and socio-political practice, as well as an academic discipline with a rich intellectual and historical tradition. The programme approaches translation not simply as the transfer of meaning between languages, but as a complex act of intercultural mediation shaped by context, audience, ethics, power relations and digital innovation.In today’s AI-driven translation environment, professional translators must combine linguistic mastery with technological competence and creative adaptability. This course equips you with advanced skills in Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools, terminology management systems, translation and localisation workflows and machine translation post-editing. You will critically engage with neural machine translation and large language models in translation, learning how to collaborate effectively with automated systems while exercising your human judgement, cultural sensitivity, ethical awareness and stylistic creativity, features that remain essential to high-quality translation.Alongside technological competence, the programme cultivates the creative and strategic abilities that define high-level professional translation. You can choose to develop specialised skills in areas such as transcreation, audio description, subtitling, localisation, intercultural consultancy and project management. You will learn to adapt tone, register and style for diverse audiences and media, solve complex linguistic and cultural challenges, manage multilingual and multicultural projects, and make informed, ethical decisions in professional contexts.Languages available include Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish. For Chinese, interpreting is also offered.The curriculum combines modern translation theories and strategies with hands-on professional training delivered by research-active staff and experienced practitioners. Guest lectures and masterclasses delivered by leading industry professionals, researchers and experts from the language and technology sectors provide valuable insights into current developments in translation, localisation and language technologies, ensuring that your learning reflects the realities of today’s global marketplace. You will graduate with both conceptual depth and highly transferable applied skills, well prepared for careers in the contemporary translation and intercultural communication industries.The programme can be taken full-time over one year or part-time over two years and is based in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures in the centre of Durham.You will have access to advanced facilities and industry-standard software, including CAT tools, an interpreting suite for Chinese, and specialist eye-tracking and keystroke logging equipment for translation process research. Through the work placement scheme, you can gain valuable professional experience in the UK or abroad.At its core, the MA focuses on effective intercultural communication in a globalised and technologically driven world. Our graduates pursue careers in translation, localisation, media, international organisations, technology companies and academia, contributing to international understanding and communication across languages, cultures and systems in an increasingly AI-shaped future.