Postgraduate Course

MA Conference Interpreting and Translation

(Chinese-English)

How to apply

Overview

The details

Course: Conference Interpreting and Translation (Chinese-English)

Start date: October 2025

Study mode: Full-time

Duration: 1 year

Location: Colchester Campus

Based in: Language and Linguistics

MA Conference Interpreting and Translation (Chinese-English) should interest you if you want to build your language proficiency in Chinese and English and further develop the translation and interpreting techniques that are required by employers. This 1-year programme offers you the opportunity to develop the high-level conference interpreting and translation skills which you will need as a professional in the Language Services Industry. The focus of the programme is to provide students with a comprehensive conference interpreting training during which they will be able to develop specialised consecutive and simultaneous interpreting skills as well as bilateral interpreting, technologies of translation, transcreation skills etc.

Building on our internationally recognised expertise in the teaching of practical foreign language skills, our course offers written translation, oral interpreting and film and video subtitling in a single programme. By the end of your studies, you will have developed the practical language and key skills necessary for employment in professional translation, interpreting and subtitling.

Our course will build on the knowledge and skills you acquired in your previous studies, and is unique in the emphasis it places on hands-on training. With the help of native speakers, you learn how to use your language skills to translate, interpret and subtitle effectively, using the latest industry-standard software, in a culturally sensitive way.

You cover topics and skills including:

Simultaneous interpreting
Advanced simultaneous interpreting
Advanced consecutive interpreting
Specialised translation
Subtitling

Essex has built a good reputation in the market of offering top UK programmes in conference interpreting. Our excellent relationships with professional organisations such as the Institute for Translation and Interpreting (ITI) and internship opportunity in international organizations like DG Interpretation of the European Commission and United Nations, ensure that you have plenty of opportunities to learn and develop as a conference interpreter and translator while at Essex. We also offer internship and placement opportunity to work as intern interpreter and translator in the UK market.

We are 1st in UK for research impact in modern languages and linguistics (Grade Point Average, Research Excellence Framework 2021). We are top 25 in the UK for linguistics in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024.

If you want a global outlook, are interested in human communication, and want to study for a degree with real-world practical value in a world-class department, welcome to Essex.

Why we're great.

We are 1st in UK for research impact in modern languages and linguistics (Grade Point Average, Research Excellence Framework 2021).
Work in our state-of-the-art interpreter training lab and UN-style conference interpreting booths
Weekly multilingual interpreting conferences, field trips and workshops led by internationally renowned experts from the industry

Our expert staff

Our staff are internationally renowned. Their books dominate the reading lists at other universities. All our language teachers are native or bilingual speakers, we maintain excellent student-staff ratios, and we integrate language learning with linguistics wherever there is synergy.

Our lecturers on the MA (Dan Chen, Yujia Wang and Yanxi Wu) are professional interpreters and translators experienced in training students in the necessary skills for professional practice.

Specialist facilities

Our new interpreting suite provides 10 booths to interpret conferences with up to 20 interpreters
Use our lecture theatre equipped with five interpreting booths, and the capacity to interpret lectures of up to 350 people – we are the only university in the UK with such facilities
We regularly use two multimedia language teaching labs equipped with top-of-the-range computers integrating audio-visual projectors and large screens
Use specialist software such as SDL Trados Studio 2019 and MemoQ for technical translation, Avidanet Live and Black Box for Interpreting and WinCaps Qu4ntum for Subtitling
Use our professional recording studios to video record a small audience or for presentations
Attend our exciting programme of research seminars and other events
Our Languages for All programme offers you the opportunity to study an additional language alongside your course at no extra cost

Your future

Our course directly leads to a career in translation, interpreting and subtitling, in the media, business and tourism between the English-speaking world and China. Students are exposed to realistic training from experienced translation and interpreting trainers which prepares them for work after graduation.

We work with the University's Careers Services to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

Within our Department of Language and Linguistics, we also offer supervision for PhD and MPhil. We offer supervision in areas including language acquisition, language learning and language teaching, culture and communication, psycholinguistics, language disorders, sociolinguistics, and theoretical and descriptive linguistics.

“I’ve had the opportunity to use state-of-the-art equipment in the interpreting lab and be involved in some wonderful lectures, both of which have given me an unparalleled study experience. Studying here has reassured me of my aspirations and also helped me realise my potential.”

Yanzhu Chen, MA Chinese-English Translation and Interpreting student

Entry requirements

UK entry requirements

A 2:2 degree, or international equivalent, in any discipline.

You may also be considered with a lower-class degree if you have translation, linguistics or interpreting experience.

Applicants are required to successfully pass a Translation aptitude test.

International & EU entry requirements

We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.

Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here. Please contact our Graduate Admissions team at pgquery@essex.ac.uk to request the entry requirements for this country.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum component score of 6.0

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Additional Notes

The University uses academic selection criteria to determine an applicant’s ability to successfully complete a course at the University of Essex. Where appropriate, we may ask for specific information relating to previous modules studied or work experience.

Structure

Course structure

Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The following modules are based on the current course structure and may change in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We'll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website and in line with your contract with us. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, we'll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

Components and modules explained

Components

Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.

Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.

Status	What this means
Core	You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory	You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Compulsory with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Optional	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.

The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.

Modules

Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.

In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.

Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:

100

The department or school the module will be taught by.

In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History.

The module number.

The UK academic level of the module.

A standard undergraduate course will comprise of level 4, 5 and 6 modules - increasing as you progress through the course.

A standard postgraduate taught course will comprise of level 7 modules.

A postgraduate research degree is a level 8 qualification.

The term the module will be taught in.

AU: Autumn term
SP: Spring term
SU: Summer term
FY: Full year
AP: Autumn and Spring terms
PS: Spring and Summer terms
AS: Autumn and Summer terms

COMPONENT 01: COMPULSORY

Advanced Consecutive Interpreting

(15 CREDITS)

Want to polish your abilities to interpret between Chinese and English? Need further preparation for professional work or exams? Undertake practical activities and tasks so that you produce accurate and concise interpretations. Take part in a mock conference, to improve your interpretation skills and receive feedback on your presentation abilities. As part of this module, you have the opportunity to undertake an interpreting internship. You may incur associated travel costs to London from Colchester.

View Advanced Consecutive Interpreting on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 02: COMPULSORY

Simultaneous Interpreting

(15 CREDITS)

How do you interpret between two individual speakers, conversing in two different languages that you have studied? Develop your ability to swiftly move between your two main languages on a range of topics. Learn to quickly solve interpretation problems while providing accurate and concise spoken interpretations. As part of this module, you have the opportunity to go on a field trip to the Centre of Cell to build your interpreting knowledge of medical subjects. The cost for this is £10 and you will also incur travel costs.

View Simultaneous Interpreting on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 03: COMPULSORY WITH OPTIONS

(15 CREDITS)

COMPONENT 04: COMPULSORY

Simultaneous Interpreting with Text

(15 CREDITS)

Are you proficient in both Chinese and English? Want to further your practical ability to undertake simultaneous interpreting? Learn to track speech so that you can produce accurate and concise spoken interpretations. Develop your note-taking to assist others undertaking simultaneous interpretation. Become confident in monitoring the accuracy of other interpreters.

View Simultaneous Interpreting with Text on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 05: COMPULSORY

Principles of Translation and Interpreting

(15 CREDITS)

What are your responsibilities when translating or interpreting professionally? What are the contexts in which interpreting can take place? And what tools are available to assist you when translating or interpreting? Examine the issues that face professional translators and interpreters alongside the theoretical concepts and considerations.

View Principles of Translation and Interpreting on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 06: COMPULSORY WITH OPTIONS

(45 CREDITS)

COMPONENT 07: CORE

Dissertation

(60 CREDITS)

Want to consolidate your practical language skills by conducting a project investigating translation, interpreting or subtitling? Work with a supervisor to define specific research questions. Search existing studies for information about your topic. Reflect on the processes involved and learn how to write an extended report on your findings.

View Dissertation on our Module Directory

Teaching

Postgraduate students of English Language and Linguistics would typically attend a two-hour teaching event for each module every week. Seminars would usually have about 20 students.

Postgraduate students of translation modules typically involve two hours of classes per week. Interpreting modules typically involve four hours of classes per week. Classes usually contain up to 20 students within each group.

Teaching methods include lectures, demonstrations and learning by teaching others
We run a weekly departmental seminar, attended by both staff and students
Small class sizes provide high levels of student and teacher contact

Assessment

Your eight one-term modules are assessed by coursework and you are also assessed on your dissertation

Dissertation

Your 16,000-word dissertation allows you to focus in-depth on your chosen topic from April onwards
Close supervision by a member of staff within our Department

Fees and funding

Home/UK fee

£10,500

You have the opportunity to take part in seminars delivered by DG Interpretation (DG SCIC) and DG Translation at the European Commission during our optional annual trip to Brussels. The additional cost for this is £250, depending on your mode of travel.

International fee

£22,750

Masters fees and funding information

Research (e.g. PhD) fees and funding information

What's next

We hold Open Days for all our applicants throughout the year. Our Colchester Campus events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex, and give you the chance to:

tour our campus and accommodation
find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
meet our students and staff

If the dates of our organised events aren’t suitable for you, feel free to get in touch by emailing tours@essex.ac.uk and we’ll arrange an individual campus tour for you.

You can apply for this postgraduate course online. Before you apply, please check our information about necessary documents that we'll ask you to provide as part of your application.

We aim to respond to applications within two weeks. If we are able to offer you a place, you will be contacted via email.

For information on our deadline to apply for this course, please see our ‘how to apply' information.

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Set within 200 acres of award-winning parkland - Wivenhoe Park and located two miles from the historic city centre of Colchester – England's oldest recorded development. Our Colchester Campus is also easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.

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If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360 degree virtual tour allows you to explore the Colchester Campus from the comfort of your home. Check out our accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.

At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.

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The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications. The University would inform and engage with you if your course was to be discontinued, and would provide you with options, where appropriate, in line with our Compensation and Refund Policy.

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