Focusing on translation and interpreting between two of the world’s major languages, Chinese and English, this exciting master programme provides well-balanced practical training in translation and interpreting in different modes across a wide range of topics such as literature, science, business, law and medicine./p>
Introduction
Through this master’s programme, you will gain hands-on skills in practical translation and interpreting, covering different modes (written translation, sight translation, simultaneous, consecutive and public service interpreting) and across subject areas. You will explore major theoretical approaches and core methodologies in translation and interpreting as well as acquire useful transferrable skills (e.g. public speaking, intercultural communication, academic writing, active listening, critical thinking and analytical skills) for a successful career in translation and interpreting and beyond.
This master’s programme is designed for graduates and professionals from a variety of humanities and social sciences backgrounds who speak Chinese as a first or second language, who are seeking to specialise in a subject area where they can develop transferrable skills which are valuable to a wide range of industries in an increasingly global world.
What you'll learn
Theories and approaches to translation
Methodological insights into translation and interpreting
Advanced translation skills between Chinese and English
Insight into the translation practice, profession, market and industry
Advanced practical interpreting skills in sight translation, public service interpreting/dialogue interpreting.
Course content
Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.
If you're able to study part-time, you'll
study the same modules as the full-time master's degree over a longer period, usually 24 months. You
can make studying work for you by arranging your personal schedule
around lectures and seminars which take place during the day. After you
complete all the taught modules, you will complete your final
dissertation or project and will celebrate your achievements
at graduation the following term.
Studying part-time means you can study alongside work or any
other life commitments. You will
study the same modules as the full-time master's degree over a longer period, usually 24 months. You
can make studying work for you by arranging your personal schedule
around lectures and seminars which take place during the day. After you
complete all the taught modules, you will complete your final
dissertation or project and will celebrate your achievements
at graduation the following term.
Semester one
The modules cover significant theoretical elements concerning major trends, themes and methodological approaches in translation and interpreting, as well as essential practical elements that equip you with hands-on translation and interpreting skills.
The practice-oriented modules span across a variety of modes and specialised text genres and topics.
The modules will prepare you for your individual final project, for which you may choose between a dissertation or a translation project (extended translation and commentary/critical analysis).
Compulsory modules
THEORIES AND APPROACHES IN TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETING STUDIES (CHIN501)
Credits: 20 /
Semester: semester 1
This module will introduce students to core theoretical approaches, trends, and methods in the fields of translation and interpreting studies (e.g. domestication and foreignisation, the concept of ‘equivalence’, Skopos theory, issues of power and ideology in translation and interpreting, postcolonialism and translation, corpus linguistics and translation and interpreting research).
These key areas will be introduced through lectures, and students will then further develop their theoretical and methodological insights into translation and interpreting in discussion-based seminars. Students will present analysis of one chosen area of translation or interpreting studies in a conference-style presentation in week 12, and complete a substantial written analysis as coursework.
Students will apply the understanding of theoretical and methodological approaches gained through this module throughout the MA in Chinese-English Translation and Interpreting (e.g. in other practical translation and interpreting modules and in the final project). As such, it represents the theoretical backbone of the MA programme, which aims to provide well-balanced training in both translation and interpreting theory and practice.
ADVANCED TRANSLATION PRACTICE 1 (CHIN502)
Credits: 20 /
Semester: semester 1
In this module, students will gain advanced translation skills between Chinese and English, with a focus on text genres and topics such as business, commerce, advertisement and tourism, as well as political and institutional settings. This practice-oriented module also enables students to conduct translation and discuss and reflect on translation practice, drawing on some of the insights acquired from the theoretical module. Students will also gain useful insight into the translation practice, profession, market and industry (e.g. professional etiquette, terminology preparation and management, background knowledge research and Computer-aided Translation / Machine Translation).
Both intensive training in class and students’ independent study are crucial, given the practice-oriented nature of this module. Regular feedback will be provided to students in a variety of ways (e.g. formative feedback, summative feedback and peer feedback).
This module lays the foundation for a second translation module in semester two (where more specialised and difficult texts will be used), thus representing a key backbone of the MA programme.
ADVANCED INTERPRETING PRACTICE 1 (CHIN503)
Credits: 20 /
Semester: semester 1
In this module, students will gain advanced practical interpreting skills in sight translation, public service interpreting/dialogue interpreting, and consecutive interpreting covering different topics and various settings. Authentic and realistic audio-visual materials will be used in the teaching throughout, which is reflective of actual interpreting in the industry. Throughout the module, students will learn about the etiquette, professionalism and career development relating to the industry and market. Also, students will reflect on their interpreting practice, justify their decisions, and evaluate each other’s performance, drawing on some of the concepts and theories they have learned from the theoretical module. This module features consistent formative feedback from the tutor(s) and peer feedback. This module also provides a foundation for the Advanced Interpreting Practice 2 module in semester 2.
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Semester two
Compulsory modules
ADVANCED TRANSLATION PRACTICE 2 (CHIN504)
Credits: 20 /
Semester: semester 2
In this module, students will gain advanced translation skills between Chinese and English, with a focus on text genres and topics such as scientific, technical and literary texts (beyond the text genres such as business, commerce, advertisement, tourism and various political and institutional topics which the students have already learned in semester one). The texts used will be more difficult and more specialised in nature compared with Advanced Translation 1. This practice-oriented module enables students to conduct translation and discuss and reflect on translation practice, drawing on some of the insights acquired from the theoretical module. Students will also continue to gain useful insight into the translation practice, profession, market and industry (e.g. professional etiquette, terminology preparation and management, background knowledge research and Computer-aided Translation / Machine Translation).
Regular feedback will be provided to students in a variety of ways (e.g. formative feedback, summative feedback and peer feedback). Both intensive training in class and students’ independent study are crucial, given the practice-oriented nature of this module.
ADVANCED INTERPRETING PRACTICE 2 (CHIN505)
Credits: 20 /
Semester: semester 2
Building upon the interpreting skills students will have developed in semester one, in this module, students will receive more in-depth practical interpreting training, with a focus on consecutive interpreting and simultaneous interpreting (on different topics). Throughout the module, students will gain awareness of the interpreting market, industry, and profession. Also, students will reflect on their interpreting practice, justify their decisions, and evaluate each other’s performance, drawing on some of the concepts and theories they have learned from the theoretical module.
Authentic audio-visual materials will be used in the teaching throughout. The module features consistent formative feedback from the tutor(s) and peer feedback. Both intensive in-class training and independent practice after class are key, given the practice-oriented nature of this module.
FEASIBILITY STUDY (CHIN506)
Credits: 20 /
Semester: semester 2
Students complete preliminary work on their dissertations.
FINAL PROJECT (CHIN507)
Credits: 60 /
Semester: summer
This module serves as the final graduation project for students at the end of their MA study, and is completed over the summer. Students have the option of writing a traditional dissertation on a chosen topic or conducting a translation project (which involves a piece of extended translation and an accompanying commentary / critical analysis). The module is supervised on an individual one-to-one basis (5 hours).
The dissertation length is 15,000 – 18,000 words. The translation project consists of a translation of approx. 9,000 words (or equivalent Chinese character count) and a commentary/critical analysis of approx. 7,500-9,000 words. The word count for the translation may be less if the student opts for more difficult and complex genres (e.g. poetry and song) or specialised texts (e.g. chemistry and engineering). Usually, students will translate into their first language.
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Final project
You will complete your final project during the summer.
Compulsory modules
FINAL PROJECT (CHIN507)
Credits: 60 /
Semester: summer
This module serves as the final graduation project for students at the end of their MA study, and is completed over the summer. Students have the option of writing a traditional dissertation on a chosen topic or conducting a translation project (which involves a piece of extended translation and an accompanying commentary / critical analysis). The module is supervised on an individual one-to-one basis (5 hours).
The dissertation length is 15,000 – 18,000 words. The translation project consists of a translation of approx. 9,000 words (or equivalent Chinese character count) and a commentary/critical analysis of approx. 7,500-9,000 words. The word count for the translation may be less if the student opts for more difficult and complex genres (e.g. poetry and song) or specialised texts (e.g. chemistry and engineering). Usually, students will translate into their first language.
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
How you'll learn
Teaching for this course is dependent on two key areas, theory and practice, and will be varied in ways that reflect the skills that graduates following this career path will need to succeed. As well as regular lectures, seminars, workshops, practical language lab sessions and one-to-one supervision of varying class sizes, practical modules employ authentic real-world materials and use of relevant digital technology in line with industry best practice.
There is also supervised elements of the course, including the feasibility study and final project.
In addition, this course will be supported with other specialist library resources and one-off workshops which utilise tools and facilities such as language labs, enabling directed study and independent theory and practical learning.
How you're assessed
Assessment in this course will be varied, and focus on both written and oral assignments. These include essays, written translations, oral interpreting examinations, conference-style presentations, a project proposal and an annotated bibliography.
These varied assessments are designed to assess all areas of this course, from theory and practice, different modes, to knowledge of specialised themes and topics.
Liverpool Hallmarks
We have a distinctive approach to education, the Liverpool Curriculum Framework, which focuses on research-connected teaching, active learning, and authentic assessment to ensure our students graduate as digitally fluent and confident global citizens.
Your experience
The Department of Languages, Cultures and Film is part of the School of Histories, Languages and Cultures, with departments steeped in history and disciplines which have been taught for over a century. You will join a lively community with colleagues from all disciplines collaborating through institutional research groups and forums.
Introducing the Chinese-English Translation and Interpreting MA
Dr Aiquing Wang, Programme Lead and Professor Anna Saunders, Head of Department for Languages, Cultures and Film discuss the opportunities that the MA in Chinese-English Translation and Interpreting offers to students.
Virtual tour
Supporting your learning
From arrival to alumni, we’re with you all the way:
Careers and employability support, including help with career planning, understanding the job market and strengthening your networking skills
A dedicated student services team can help you get assistance with your studies, help with health and wellbeing, and access to financial advice
Support for students with differing needs from the Disability advice and guidance team. They can identify and recommend appropriate support provisions for you.
This course prepares graduates to pursue a successful career as translation and interpreting trainers or language teaching professionals in the education sector. This MA also helps prepare students wishing to conduct postgraduate research (e.g. PhD) in translation and interpreting studies.
After MA level study, students may also choose to sit professional qualification and certification examinations, for example, with the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) and the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (DPSI) and join professional organisations, bodies and networks in translation and interpreting (e.g. ITI, NWTN, IATIS, ETS).
Career support from day one to graduation and beyond
Some common career pathways include translating and interpreting in industries such as publishing, media, film and localisation, in the commercial and business sectors, in the field of public service (e.g. schools, hospitals and police stations), or on a freelance basis.
The transferrable skills students will develop are also valuable for careers in fields such as:
Media
Journalism
Business
Education
Advertisement
Government.
Fees and funding
Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.
Tuition fees
UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland)
Full-time place, per year
£10,000
Part-time place, per year
£5,000
International fees
Full-time place, per year
£21,400
Part-time place, per year
£10,700
Fees stated are for the 2023-24 academic year.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching and assessment, operating facilities such as libraries, IT equipment, and access to academic and personal support.
We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any course-related costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.
BA or BSc degree of 2:1 standard in a subject relevant to the proposed field of research. Applicants with other specialised backgrounds or relevant professional experience may also be considered.
Chinese as a first or second language is also required for this course.
International qualifications
If you hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, but don’t meet the entry requirements for a master’s degree at Liverpool, a pre-master’s, delivered by our partner, University of Liverpool International College, can help you gain a place. Although there’s no direct pre-master’s route to this MA, completing a pre-master’s pathway can guarantee you a place on many other postgraduate courses which may interest you.
Liverpool bursts with diversity and creativity which makes it ideal for you to undertake your postgraduate studies and access various opportunities for you and your family.
To fully immerse yourself in the university experience living in halls will keep you close to campus where you can always meet new people. Find your home away from home.
Discover what expenses are covered by the cost of your tuition fees and other finance-related information you may need regarding your studies at Liverpool.
Contact us
Have a question about this course or studying with us? Our dedicated enquiries team can help.
