MRes — 2024 entry Translation and Interpreting Studies
This unique and innovative course is the first of its kind in the UK. Our emphasis on analytical and research skills opens up an array of career opportunities, enabling you to enter the translation industry as language analyst or market researcher, or in positions focusing on strategic development and on research and development in the translation industry.
Why choose
this course?
- We’re one of the UK’s top translation research centres, with more than four decades of experience in postgraduate education and research training.
- You’ll benefit from in-depth, systematic research training in translation and interpreting, and customised preparation for studying your PhD at Surrey. Alternatively, you can take this course as a stand-alone MRes degree.
- We focus on exciting and fast-evolving areas of the discipline, such as translation and interpreting technologies, machine translation, translation process research, translation as intercultural mediation, corpus-based translation, audiovisual translation and multi-modality studies.
- You'll join a new generation of translation researchers who collaborate and co-design research with language/translation service providers and users, to produce economically and socially relevant outcomes, applicable to real-world problems.
- The Centre for Translation Studies (CTS) has developed an ambitious new research programme which will place you at the very heart of future developments. This programme informs our teaching and provides a strong focus on the responsible integration of human and machine translation and interpreting, as well as the targeted use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in multilingual mediation more generally.
Statistics
Fantastic graduate prospects
97% of our School of Literature and Languages postgraduate students go on to employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2024, HESA)
10th for research impact
The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 ranked the School of Literature and Languages 10th for research impact
4th in the UK
For Languages and Linguistics in the Guardian University Guide 2024
What you will study
By studying an MRes Translation and Interpreting Studies degree at Surrey, you’ll join our internationally recognised Centre for Translation Studies. We combine leading research expertise with professional relevance, providing you with the skills to thrive in either academia or industry.
You’ll explore modules on translation and interpreting research, and challenge assumptions in stimulating debates, especially on the role of the human translator in the era of artificial intelligence and increasing automation in multilingual services. You will also discuss current ideas and research with your peers, our doctoral students and teaching staff.
Our range of optional modules will let you specialise in your own area of interest, while also developing your analytical skills. You’ll take on evidence-based, interdisciplinary research relevant to the world today, giving you a competitive edge as you enter the workplace or pursue further study.
During your studies, you will have an opportunity to demonstrate academic and professional excellence by winning prizes. These include the following:
- RWS Campus Top Student Award (two Trados licenses)
- Project management training (one free-of-charge place in the Pro PM Training and Certification Programme)
- Professional Engagement Portfolio Prize
- Outstanding Translation and Interpreting Studies Dissertation Prize.
An international community
The Translation and Interpreting Studies MRes programme attracts students from all over the world, fostering a vibrant, multilingual and multicultural international community. Our postgraduate cohort consists of a harmonious blend of recent graduates who have completed their undergraduate courses and more mature students with different backgrounds and experience.
Professional development
You will enjoy regular seminars and workshops with professionals and academics and gain advanced knowledge in fast-developing areas, including the integration of machine translation, Natural Language Processing, LLM (large-language models) and hybrid workflows in translation/interpreting. These are also areas you will be able to explore in great depth in the MRes Dissertation in Translation and Interpreting Studies project, which is longer than a typical MA dissertation.
You will gain further insights into the industry from the external guest speakers we invite to our Centre for Translation Studies seminars and workshops, such as:
- Professional translators and interpreters
- Subtitlers and audio describers
- Professionals working in public services, companies and international organisations
- Representatives of professional translator and interpreter associations
- Translation and interpreting researchers.
By placing greater emphasis on analytical and research skills, this programme prepares you to work as language analyst or market researcher, or in positions focusing on strategic development and on research and development in the translation industry.
Industry links
We have forged close links with the main professional bodies in the language industry. For example, we are part of the prestigious Chartered Institute of Linguists’ Higher Education Language Partnership and corporate members of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting. You can join these bodies as a student member during the course and become a full member after you graduate.
We also collaborate with the Translation Automation User Society, the European Language Industry Association, and the Globalization and Localization Association, which gives you the possibility to apply for a work placement with various translation and interpreting partner companies. We have close links with language service providers, and have an extensive network of visiting professionals, so you will benefit from excellent connections and be taught to industry standards.
The taught part of the programme is divided into four 15-credit modules. A 15-credit module is indicative of 150 hours of learning. The hours of learning comprise of contact hours, guided learning and private study.
Our course has two compulsory modules, and you must select another two optional modules. Your module choice depends on the emphasis you wish to place on technological, organisational or creative/community outreach aspects of various types of translation and interpreting.
If you are a full-time student, you will take the compulsory modules Academic Research Methods and Principles and Challenges of Translation and Interpreting in Semester 1. You can then distribute your optional modules either by frontloading Semester 1 with one more option, or by taking your two options in Semester 2.
If you choose to study part-time, you will take the compulsory modules Academic Research Methods and Principles and Challenges of Translation and Interpreting in Semester 1 of your first year. You can distribute the two remaining options across the three remaining semesters.
You will complete your degree with an MRes in Translation and Interpreting Studies Dissertation (120 credits), to be submitted at the beginning of September.
The structure of our programmes follows clear educational aims that are tailored to each programme. These are all outlined in the programme specifications which include further details such as the learning outcomes:
Modules
Modules listed are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Modules are subject to teaching availability, student demand and/or class size caps.
The University operates a credit framework for all taught programmes based on a 15-credit tariff.
Course options
Year 1
Semester 1
Compulsory
This module provides students with a systematic framework for understanding key concepts in Translation and Interpreting Studies and how they relate and apply to the rest of the programme and to everyday professional practice. The module enables students to confront a wide range of translation and interpreting challenges, from the lack of equivalence between languages and cultures to contemporary technological, ethical and societal issues affecting translation and interpreting practice, including the rapidly evolving use of machine translation and artificial intelligence (AI). The module equips students with both a solid grounding in the guiding principles of translation and interpreting, derived from scholarly engagement with the discipline, and the strategies required to engage in best practices in the profession and future career development. Taking a holistic approach to translator and interpreter education, the module consists of lectures and seminars that discuss the main principles and challenges of translation and interpreting, and explore solutions in close alignment with other modules in the programme. Students complement lectures and seminars with practical exercises and independent reading.
View full module detailsIn this module, students will learn about the principal frameworks, methods and data types used in conducting research in translation and interpreting, as well as in interdisciplinary research with related fields.
View full module detailsOptional
This module is an introduction to the practice of translation with the support of the most advanced technologies available, focusing on the demand for translators to possess expert skills to be in command of their performance and in control of the outputs of their work. The module is informed by the evolution of requirements of professional translation, namely under the influence of advanced technologies like machine translation. The focus of the module is on the interaction between translators and the computer tools that they use.
View full module detailsThe purpose of this module is to develop problem-solving skills, enabling students to acquire basic and intermediate concepts of computer science and programming, and to learn how to apply them to problems related to translation-related tasks such as glossary creation, error analysis, automatic substitution. Topics to be covered include computational thinking, basic programming concepts such as fundamental data types, control structures, as well as practical examples how this knowledge can be applied for extracting statistics from corpora, cleaning translation memories and preparing data for experiments and analyse the results. Students will be taught different prompting techniques which allows them to interact with Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT to solve problems. Students will learn how to analyse a problem, design solutions and implement them in a chosen programming language with the help of LMMs. The programming language to be used in this module is Python. Students will learn not only how to implement solutions in Python, but they will also gain the skills to analyse the responses from LLMs existing pieces of code and understand how to adapt them for their needs. Practical sessions will give participants hands-on experience in LLM prompting and writing Python programs individually and in teams. The practical sessions will greatly enhance students’ problem-solving skills and resourcefulness. The module is intended for students who have no programming experience, but students with programming background interested in learning Python and how it can be used in the area of translation technology will also benefit from it.
View full module detailsThis module focuses on the intricate relationship between writing and translation through the practicalities of text production within a broad writing context (i.e. from fiction prose to technical text production), with a view to making translators aware of the basic elements required to create an effective text. It will combine weekly theoretical lectures with workshops to read and discuss students' work as well as rewriting and revising techniques.
View full module detailsSemester 2
Optional
This module introduces students to the professional dimension of the different fields of Public Service Interpreting (PSI). It covers current issues such as the specific ethical requirements, codes of conduct, working conditions and legislation associated with PSI, as well as new trends in a constantly evolving industry and their repercussions on the PSI landscape.
View full module detailsThis module introduces students to the principles and practical implications of using different technologies in the interpreting profession. It addresses the impact of technology on the interpreting process and product, and on the delivery of interpreting services in the 21st century. The module explores the use of technological tools and resources such as electronic corpora and databases for background research and preparation, the role of communication technologies such as videoconferencing to support different modalities of remote interpreting (distance interpreting), the use of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools and techniques such as natural language processing (NLP), automatic speech recognition (ASR) and machine translation (MT) to support interpreters before and during assignments. The module also discusses the implications of machine interpreting (speech-to-speech translation).
View full module detailsIn this module students learn about the distinctive features of multimodal translation, such as subtitling, dubbing, audio description and live subtitling. The module introduces students to the main challenges in each mode of audiovisual translation across a variety of genres, such as film, documentaries and video games. As such, the module will combine tutor-led components and components with a prominent practical element.
View full module detailsStudents taking this module explore the main theoretical and practical aspects of smart technologies for translation, with emphasis on how the latest developments in Natural Language Processing, Large Language Models (e.g. ChatGPT) and Corpus Linguistics can to help translators. The purpose of this module is to enable students to understand the challenges faced when using computers artificial intelligence to process text automatically or when they need to process speech as an input. The focus is on enhancing students’ digital capabilities, especially those linked to the translation industry. The module will provide students with knowledge about the fields of Machine Translation (MT), Natural Language Processing (NLP), Large Language Models (LLMs) and Corpus Linguistics (CL). The module will start with an introduction to NLP and machine translation and will present different paradigms to produce automatic translations. Students will be provided with hands-on experience on how to train translation engines, and how it is possible to evaluate MT, as well as how to use LLMs for translation related tasks. . Other topics such as terminology extraction, speech recognition and translation will also be covered. The students will learn how to harvest relevant corpora from the web, clean them and use them for translation-related tasks.The practical tasks addressed in the module will improve students’ problem-solving skills and contribute to their future career development. Knowledge of programming will not be necessary, but students who have a programming background will be given the opportunity to use this knowledge in the module. Links will be established with other modules such as TRAM500 and TRAM496.
View full module detailsThis module introduces students to the key critical considerations and creative and technical decisions faced by translators of works in the cultural/creative industries, such as the film, theatre, creative or publishing industries. By focusing on the repertoires and creative decisions that such translation entails, the definition of ‘translation’ will be examined rather broadly, namely, both as a form of interlingual transfer and as a creative platform for (re)writing texts. Examples are offered from the areas of advertising, cultural heritage, tourism, performance (drama translation) and entertainment/art (children’s literature, comic books, films). The module is suitable for students with different language backgrounds and it offers a creative practical component as well as insights into how the creative industries work.
View full module detailsSemester 1 & 2
Compulsory
This module allows students to specialise in an aspect of the programme which is of particular interest to them by writing- up a substantial dissertation text of 16000 words (excluding data appendices and bibliography). This project will be based on thorough research on a specific Translation Studies issue. Successful completion of the module requires frequent, close collaboration with a supervisor, as well as excellent planning and organisation skills.
View full module detailsYear 1
Semester 1
Compulsory
This module provides students with a systematic framework for understanding key concepts in Translation and Interpreting Studies and how they relate and apply to the rest of the programme and to everyday professional practice. The module enables students to confront a wide range of translation and interpreting challenges, from the lack of equivalence between languages and cultures to contemporary technological, ethical and societal issues affecting translation and interpreting practice, including the rapidly evolving use of machine translation and artificial intelligence (AI). The module equips students with both a solid grounding in the guiding principles of translation and interpreting, derived from scholarly engagement with the discipline, and the strategies required to engage in best practices in the profession and future career development. Taking a holistic approach to translator and interpreter education, the module consists of lectures and seminars that discuss the main principles and challenges of translation and interpreting, and explore solutions in close alignment with other modules in the programme. Students complement lectures and seminars with practical exercises and independent reading.
View full module detailsIn this module, students will learn about the principal frameworks, methods and data types used in conducting research in translation and interpreting, as well as in interdisciplinary research with related fields.
View full module detailsOptional
This module is an introduction to the practice of translation with the support of the most advanced technologies available, focusing on the demand for translators to possess expert skills to be in command of their performance and in control of the outputs of their work. The module is informed by the evolution of requirements of professional translation, namely under the influence of advanced technologies like machine translation. The focus of the module is on the interaction between translators and the computer tools that they use.
View full module detailsThe purpose of this module is to develop problem-solving skills, enabling students to acquire basic and intermediate concepts of computer science and programming, and to learn how to apply them to problems related to translation-related tasks such as glossary creation, error analysis, automatic substitution. Topics to be covered include computational thinking, basic programming concepts such as fundamental data types, control structures, as well as practical examples how this knowledge can be applied for extracting statistics from corpora, cleaning translation memories and preparing data for experiments and analyse the results. Students will be taught different prompting techniques which allows them to interact with Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT to solve problems. Students will learn how to analyse a problem, design solutions and implement them in a chosen programming language with the help of LMMs. The programming language to be used in this module is Python. Students will learn not only how to implement solutions in Python, but they will also gain the skills to analyse the responses from LLMs existing pieces of code and understand how to adapt them for their needs. Practical sessions will give participants hands-on experience in LLM prompting and writing Python programs individually and in teams. The practical sessions will greatly enhance students’ problem-solving skills and resourcefulness. The module is intended for students who have no programming experience, but students with programming background interested in learning Python and how it can be used in the area of translation technology will also benefit from it.
View full module detailsThis module focuses on the intricate relationship between writing and translation through the practicalities of text production within a broad writing context (i.e. from fiction prose to technical text production), with a view to making translators aware of the basic elements required to create an effective text. It will combine weekly theoretical lectures with workshops to read and discuss students' work as well as rewriting and revising techniques.
View full module detailsSemester 2
Optional
This module introduces students to the professional dimension of the different fields of Public Service Interpreting (PSI). It covers current issues such as the specific ethical requirements, codes of conduct, working conditions and legislation associated with PSI, as well as new trends in a constantly evolving industry and their repercussions on the PSI landscape.
View full module detailsThis module introduces students to the principles and practical implications of using different technologies in the interpreting profession. It addresses the impact of technology on the interpreting process and product, and on the delivery of interpreting services in the 21st century. The module explores the use of technological tools and resources such as electronic corpora and databases for background research and preparation, the role of communication technologies such as videoconferencing to support different modalities of remote interpreting (distance interpreting), the use of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools and techniques such as natural language processing (NLP), automatic speech recognition (ASR) and machine translation (MT) to support interpreters before and during assignments. The module also discusses the implications of machine interpreting (speech-to-speech translation).
View full module detailsIn this module students learn about the distinctive features of multimodal translation, such as subtitling, dubbing, audio description and live subtitling. The module introduces students to the main challenges in each mode of audiovisual translation across a variety of genres, such as film, documentaries and video games. As such, the module will combine tutor-led components and components with a prominent practical element.
View full module detailsStudents taking this module explore the main theoretical and practical aspects of smart technologies for translation, with emphasis on how the latest developments in Natural Language Processing, Large Language Models (e.g. ChatGPT) and Corpus Linguistics can to help translators. The purpose of this module is to enable students to understand the challenges faced when using computers artificial intelligence to process text automatically or when they need to process speech as an input. The focus is on enhancing students’ digital capabilities, especially those linked to the translation industry. The module will provide students with knowledge about the fields of Machine Translation (MT), Natural Language Processing (NLP), Large Language Models (LLMs) and Corpus Linguistics (CL). The module will start with an introduction to NLP and machine translation and will present different paradigms to produce automatic translations. Students will be provided with hands-on experience on how to train translation engines, and how it is possible to evaluate MT, as well as how to use LLMs for translation related tasks. . Other topics such as terminology extraction, speech recognition and translation will also be covered. The students will learn how to harvest relevant corpora from the web, clean them and use them for translation-related tasks.The practical tasks addressed in the module will improve students’ problem-solving skills and contribute to their future career development. Knowledge of programming will not be necessary, but students who have a programming background will be given the opportunity to use this knowledge in the module. Links will be established with other modules such as TRAM500 and TRAM496.
View full module detailsThis module introduces students to the key critical considerations and creative and technical decisions faced by translators of works in the cultural/creative industries, such as the film, theatre, creative or publishing industries. By focusing on the repertoires and creative decisions that such translation entails, the definition of ‘translation’ will be examined rather broadly, namely, both as a form of interlingual transfer and as a creative platform for (re)writing texts. Examples are offered from the areas of advertising, cultural heritage, tourism, performance (drama translation) and entertainment/art (children’s literature, comic books, films). The module is suitable for students with different language backgrounds and it offers a creative practical component as well as insights into how the creative industries work.
View full module detailsYear 2
Semester 1 & 2
Compulsory
This module allows students to specialise in an aspect of the programme which is of particular interest to them by writing- up a substantial dissertation text of 16000 words (excluding data appendices and bibliography). This project will be based on thorough research on a specific Translation Studies issue. Successful completion of the module requires frequent, close collaboration with a supervisor, as well as excellent planning and organisation skills.
View full module detailsTeaching and learning
Our experienced academic staff will help you develop a broad understanding of the current and future challenges in the field. Dedicated seminars with invited speakers specialising in multilingual service provision and communication will keep you informed about workflows, industry standards and market trends.
General course information
Contact hours
Contact hours can vary across our modules. Full details of the contact hours for each module are available from the University of Surrey's module catalogue. See the modules section for more information.
Timetable
Course timetables are normally available one month before the start of the semester.
Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week (Monday – Friday). Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities. The part-time timetable is based on the full-time one, so classes will run on any teaching day.
Translation Studies seminars take place on Wednesday afternoons – attendance is optional, but strongly encouraged.
Please note that as our practice-based classes are normally provided by professional interpreters and we may sometimes have to reschedule classes to accommodate professional commitments.
View our code of practice for the scheduling of teaching and assessment (PDF).
Location
Stag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught.
We offer careers information, advice and guidance to all students whilst studying with us, which is extended to our alumni for three years after leaving the University.
97 per cent of our School of Literature and Languages postgraduate students go on to employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2024, HESA).
Our course is designed to make you internationally competitive if you plan to pursue a PhD or an academic career. It will also equip you with advanced research skills that may stand you in good stead if you wish to follow a career as a researcher or analyst in the language industry. You can take the MRes as a stand-alone course or as a preparation for a three-year PhD in Translation and Interpreting.
The language services industry continues to grow despite a challenging international economic climate. Globalisation has opened new markets and created demand for multilingual translation and interpreting services to exchange knowledge and communicate with clients. This requires new research into translation, interpreting and multilingual communication, in a wide range of novel and emerging contexts. As a graduate of our MRes in Translation and Interpreting Studies course and a qualified language professional, you’ll be able to take advantage of such employment opportunities.
If you have any questions about the MRes in Translation and Interpreting Studies, contact the programme leader.
As a student, you will have classes in dedicated language-software computer lab and state-of-the-art interpreting labs. You will work hands-on with state-of-the-art software for computer-assisted translation, subtitling, terminology extraction and speech recognition, as well as corpus linguistics and AI tools, such as:
You’ll also have access to a cutting-edge two-way and multipoint video-conferencing system that simulates remote or distance interpreting, with delegates and interpreters interacting over video link.
Ioana Meta
Student - Translation and Interpreting Studies MRes
"What I liked most about my course is that it offered the opportunity of connecting with other translators and translation scholars through a wide range of seminars we had to attend weekly."
Zeynep Polat Posoflu
Student - Translation and Interpreting Studies MRes
"I believe this knowledge and my experience at Surrey will be a big step towards my dream career of becoming a professional translator"
Native English speakers: MA in Languages, Translation/Interpreting or a related field with a merit or higher – or equivalent; BA in Languages, Translation/Interpreting or a related field with a minimum of a UK 2:2 class honours degree – or equivalent.
Speakers of other languages: MA in Languages, Translation/Interpreting or a related field with a merit or higher – or equivalent; BA in Languages, Translation/Interpreting or a related field with a minimum of a UK 2:2 class honours degree or higher – or equivalent.
English language requirements
IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with 7.0 in writing and 6.0 in each other element.
These are the English language qualifications and levels that we can accept.
If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.
Selection process
Offers are made subject to a successful aptitude test.
Recognition of prior learning
We recognise that many students enter their course with valuable knowledge and skills developed through a range of ways.
If this applies to you, the recognition of prior learning process may mean you can join a course without the formal entry requirements, or at a point appropriate to your previous learning and experience.
There are restrictions for some courses and fees may be payable for certain claims. Please contact the Admissions team with any queries.
Fees per year
Explore UKCISA’s website for more information if you are unsure whether you are a UK or overseas student. View the list of fees for all postgraduate courses.
September 2024 - Full-time - 1 year
- UK
- £10,400 per year
- Overseas
- £21,500 per year
September 2024 - Part-time - 2 years
- UK
- £5,200 per year
- Overseas
- £10,750 per year
- If you are on the two-year part-time masters programme, the annual fee is payable in Year 1 and Year 2 of the programme
- These fees apply to students commencing study in the academic year 2024-25 only. Fees for new starters are reviewed annually
- Annual fees will increase by 4% for each subsequent year of study, rounded up to the nearest £100, subject to any overriding applicable legislative requirements.
Payment schedule
- Students with Tuition Fee Loan: the Student Loans Company pay fees in line with their schedule (students on an unstructured self-paced part-time course are not eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan).
- Students without a Tuition Fee Loan: pay their fees either in full at the beginning of the programme or in two instalments as follows:
- 50% payable 10 days after the invoice date (expected to be early October of each academic year)
- 50% in January of the same academic year.
- Students on part-time programmes where fees are paid on a modular basis: cannot pay fees by instalment.
- Sponsored students: must provide us with valid sponsorship information that covers the period of study.
The exact date(s) will be on invoices.
Funding
You may be able to borrow money to help pay your tuition fees and support you with your living costs. Find out more about postgraduate student finance.
Scholarships and bursaries
Discover what scholarships and bursaries are available to support your studies.
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Admissions information
Once you apply, you can expect to hear back from us within 14 days. This might be with a decision on your application or with a request for further information.
Our code of practice for postgraduate admissions policy explains how the Admissions team considers applications and admits students. Read our postgraduate applicant guidance for more information on applying.
About the University of Surrey
Need more information?
Contact our Admissions team or talk to a current University of Surrey student online.
Terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Surrey, you are agreeing to follow our policies and procedures, student regulations, and terms and conditions.
We provide these terms and conditions in two stages:
- First when we make an offer.
- Second when students accept their offer and register to study with us (registration terms and conditions will vary depending on your course and academic year).
View our generic registration terms and conditions (PDF) for the 2023/24 academic year, as a guide on what to expect.
Disclaimer
This online prospectus has been published in advance of the academic year to which it applies.
Whilst we have done everything possible to ensure this information is accurate, some changes may happen between publishing and the start of the course.
It is important to check this website for any updates before you apply for a course with us. Read our full disclaimer.