MA — 2024 entry Translation (Chinese Pathway)
This new practice-orientated MA pathway follows the success of our MA Interpreting Chinese Pathway (established in 2011) and builds on the distinguished history of our MA Translation programme, launched in 1986.
You will benefit from a professionally relevant, skills-focused curriculum, offering an attractive combination of translation practice, responsible use of technology and intercultural training.
Why choose
this course?
- This unique course is taught in collaboration with KL Communications Ltd, a UK-based company specialising in translation and interpreting, whose managing director, Dr Kevin Lin OBE, is the Lead Interpreter (Chinese) for the UK government’s Foreign Office, a successful business leader and experienced trainer.
- Focusing on recent global and technological trends, with special emphasis on China’s emergence as a major global power, the pathway will empower you to address the communication needs of this market.
- You will develop problem-solving, analytical thinking, digital and language transfer skills, required in the rapidly evolving landscape of the Language Services Industries, working flexibly in both the English-into-Chinese and the Chinese-into-English direction.
Statistics
Research excellence
The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 ranked the School of Literature and Languages 10th for research impact in the UK, with 75% of our case studies rated as having outstanding impacts
Fantastic graduate prospects
96% of Surrey's postgraduates go on to employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2024, HESA)
What you will study
- In our MA in Translation (Chinese Pathway) you will study and develop professional translation skills under the co-ordinated guidance of a team of professional translators led by Dr Lin and experienced academics.
- You will simulate real-life translation scenarios and cover a variety of specialisms, as you develop a solid grounding in the linguistic, cognitive, technological (including artificial intelligence-related), quality, social and ethical dimensions of the profession.
- Throughout your studies, you will learn to use cutting-edge software to enhance your practice, including computer-assisted translation tools, corpus linguistics software for translation, machine translation, and the responsible use of generative AI tools.
- You will customise your learning through optional modules on the creative, business, technological and research dimensions of translation, according to your own strengths, personal tastes and career ambitions.
- You will gain experience of language services provision through work placements and/or other tasks and collaborations.
Our flexible dissertation options enable you to submit either:
- A dissertation based on researching a specific translation topic
- An extended translation paired with a reflective analytical commentary
- A critical report of a language-industry work placement
- A critical report of a skills-enhancement programme (such as a summer school or similar).
During your studies, academic and professional excellence will be rewarded with the following prizes:
- RWS Campus Top Student Award (2 Trados licenses)
- Project management training (one free-of-charge place in the Pro PM Training and Certification Programme)
- Professional Engagement Portfolio Prize
- Best Performance in Translation Prize.
Research-led teaching
Taught by professional translators and research-active academics working closely together, the pathway offers you a combination of practical experience and research-led teaching.
The practice-based translation modules are taught by Dr Kevin Lin and his team, who bring their translation expertise, workplace experience, high-end translation standards and up-to-date knowledge of the translation market into the classroom.
Professional development
Our MA in Translation (Chinese Pathway) is designed to help you develop the linguistic, translation, technological, business, interpersonal and other soft skills needed for a successful career in the language services industry.
Surrey’s expertise and the training it provides in translation technologies means our graduates are well prepared for the increasing demand for computer-assisted translation, post-editing, remote collaborative assignments, terminology management, interacting with LLMs (large-language models) and new, emerging modes of language services provision.
You will practise translation working from English into Chinese and from Chinese into English in small groups under the guidance of professional translators, who simulate authentic translation scenarios and cover a variety of specialisms with an emphasis on real-world demands for translation. Surrey’s Centre for Translation Studies also hosts regular seminars with guest speakers, providing you with further insights into the profession and what is new in translation research.
You will receive guidance on the development of a professional engagement portfolio to help you build a professional CV as you study. This involves documenting collaborations with language services providers (such as work placements and volunteer translation) and other extra-curricular activities (such as joining a professional association or attending professional development workshops and webinars). You will also be encouraged to use your skills in the local community. For example, past students have collaborated with the University’s International Office, Watts Gallery and Guildford Walking Tours.
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 collaborate 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 MA Translation course is studied over one year (full-time).
The taught part of the programme is divided into eight 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.
The course has five compulsory modules, and you must select another three optional modules. The compulsory modules are:
- Translation Analysis I (English-Chinese)
- Translation Analysis II (Chinese-English)
- Translation Workshop I (English-Chinese)
- Translation Workshop II (Chinese-English)
- Principles and Challenges of Translation and Interpreting
Our varied offer of optional modules will enable you to tailor the programme to your personal strengths and preferences. Your module choice depends on the emphasis you wish to place on technological, organisational or creative/community outreach aspects of various types of translation.
You will complete your degree with a ‘Translation and Interpreting Studies Dissertation’ (60 credits), to be submitted at the beginning of September. You can choose between three types of dissertation:
- A topic-based dissertation
- An extended translation and analytical commentary
- A work placement (minimum 150 hours), to be sourced by the student and approved by the Programme Lead, plus a critical report.
- A skills enhancement programme (minimum 50 hours), with a critical report
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:
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. View our Code of practice for the scheduling of teaching and assessment (PDF).
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 translators or interpreters and we may sometimes have to reschedule classes to accommodate professional commitments.
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.
There is a growing demand for novel modes of translation and multilingual language services that our MA Translation students are specifically prepared for.
The course’s work placement dissertation option enables you to gain professional experience and nurture a close relationship with a prospective employer. We are regularly contacted by stakeholders from the language services industry wishing to recruit Surrey MA Translation students and recent graduates.
Job opportunities include:
- Working as in-house and freelance translators
- Multilingual content writers
- Language-services managers
- Localisation specialists
- Terminology specialists
- Transcreation specialists
- Language and translation tutors.
Recent Surrey graduates have pursued careers at international organisations, government bodies and the private sector, as well as developing successful freelance ventures. A few of our MA students carry on studying for a PhD, which will open doors for them to embrace an academic career.
As a student, you will have classes in our dedicated language-software computer labs. You will work hands-on with state-of-the-art tools such as:
Luna Sun
Student - Interpreting (Chinese Pathway) MA
"The University of Surrey demonstrates a strong commitment to inclusivity and support for minority groups on campus. I was particularly impressed by an inclusive meeting that aimed to gather suggestions and advice regarding our students' needs."
Zhaoyun Wu
Graduate - Interpreting (Chinese Pathway) MA
"I was fortunate to engage in several translation practices, receiving training in professional translation that immersed me in authentic language service scenarios".
Degree (2:2 and above) in an arts, humanities or social science (e.g. economics, management, tourism and hospitality management) subject. Alternative subjects will be considered by the Faculty on a case-by-case basis.
English language requirements
IELTS Academic: You will require a 6.5 overall, with 6.5 in writing and 6.0 in all other elements. Alternatively, if you have successfully been awarded the Certificate of Excellence offered by our partner, KL Communications, and had an IELTS of 6.0 overall with 6.0 in each category before you took this course, and this IELTS will still be valid for the start of the MA, then you will not need to take another IELTS.
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.
International Pre-Masters
Prepare for postgraduate study and boost your career prospects. This is an intensive programme of academic subjects, study skills and English language preparation designed to help you succeed.
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.
February 2025 - Full-time - 1 year
- UK
- £10,400 per year
- Overseas
- £21,500 per year
- 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.
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Whilst we have done everything possible to ensure this information is accurate, some changes may happen between publishing and the start of the course.
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Subject to validation
This programme is subject to approval. This means that it has received initial agreement from the University and is currently undergoing a detailed final approval exercise, through the University’s quality assurance processes.
These processes are a requirement for all Higher Education Institutions within the UK, to ensure that programmes are of the highest standard. Occasionally there may be instances where the University may delay or not approve the introduction of the programme.