Key information
Our MSc Chinese-English Translation and Interpreting programme at Heriot-Watt University is a dual-focus master’s degree that will prepare you for an exciting, international career as a professional translator and interpreter working between Chinese and English languages.
- Level
- Postgraduate Taught
- Delivery type
- Full Time, Part Time
- Degree qualification
- MSc
- Mode of delivery
- On-Campus
- Duration
- 1 year
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Start date
- September
Our specialist programme will allow you to develop the necessary balance of theoretical knowledge and professional language skills, with options to study intercultural communication or international politics and organisations alongside your translation and interpreting courses.
During the master’s programme, you will gain a critical understanding of Translation and Interpreting Studies theories and concepts and their application to the processes of translating and interpreting between Chinese and English. You will develop analytical skills using theoretical concepts applied to practical problems of translating and interpreting between two languages and cultures to professional standards.
Each course will equip you with highly employable expertise and skills. In addition to the core courses in Translation and Conference Interpreting, you can choose one optional course – including International Politics and Organisations, Intercultural Communication in the Workplace, Liaison and Public Service Interpreting, Translation Technologies and Subtitling. This will allow you to customise your learning and develop specific interpreting and translation interests. Your translation and interpretation dissertation will consist of an independent in-depth critical examination of a particular topic that falls within the scope of Translation and Interpreting Studies, which is of interest to you.
You will benefit from the industry relevance of the programme, with lifelong career opportunities after graduation. The master’s programme will provide the transferable skills and qualities necessary to build a successful career in a variety of professional settings where Chinese language and intercultural knowledge is in demand. Our graduates have gone on to have successful careers as interpreters and translators but many have also gone on to be project managers, copywriters, editors, media specialists and educators. Beyond the subject-specific knowledge and skills, you will learn and practice transferrable skills such as presentation, communication, analytical and ICT skills.
Your student experience
We were ranked 2nd in Scotland and 8th in the UK for Modern Languages in the National Student Survey 2020. Around 95% of our students are in employment or further study within six months of graduating.
You will be taught by our team of experienced translation and interpreting practitioners, who possess the most up-to-date knowledge of the profession and maintain strong connections with industry to provide you with a curriculum rooted in current industry practices.
Our teaching team also includes leading researchers in the fields of translation, interpreting, and intercultural communication. Our specialised areas include medical interpreting, police interpreting, subtitling, translation ethics, machine translation, and literature and culture translation.
The professional and research relevance of this postgraduate program ensures that your studies remain cutting-edge and industry-focused, offering practical insights into the careers of successful interpreters and translators.
Go Global
With Go Global, Heriot-Watt's global student programme, you can carry your studies to new places and experience new cultures, expanding your horizons on the way. You'll discover what it means to be a true global citizen and emerge prepared for wherever your career journey will take you.
Inter-Campus Transfer
Course content
September Intake - Edinburgh
Mandatory September
- Skills for Interpreting
- Translation Practice I
- Translation and Interpreting Studies
Optional September
- Liaison and Public Service Interpreting
- International Politics and Organisations
- Business Communication 1: Communication in the Workplace
- Intercultural Communication in the Workplace
- Subtitling
- Translation Technologies
Mandatory January
- Research Methods
- Conference Interpreting
- Translation Practice II
- Introduction to the Translation and Interpreting Professions
Mandatory May
- Dissertation in Chinese-English Translating and Interpreting
Programme Video
Video (UK PG) Languages at Heriot-Watt University
Student testimonials
Mo Fan
International Operations, Chinese Real Estate Company
I really enjoyed the weekly the mini-conference on the degree. In these sessions, we created a real working environment in the interpreting labs so that we know what we are going to face as a professionals. Bringing students together from different language combinations, we learnt from each other's interpreting and gave advice. And, it's not just about practicing the skills, we also discussed topics of interest and exchanged our thoughts.
Fees and funding
| Status | Full Time | Part Time |
|---|---|---|
| UK | £10,528 | £5,264 |
| International | £21,192 | £10,596 |
- Status: Your residency status is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course.
- International: 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK. (This does not include students from the Republic of Ireland - see above).
Scholarships and bursaries
Postgraduate scholarships and bursaries
We aim to encourage well-qualified, ambitious students to study with us and we offer a wide variety of scholarships and bursaries to achieve this. Over £6 million worth of opportunities are available in fee and stipend scholarships, and more than 400 students benefit from this support.
Postgraduate European Union Scholarship
Open to any student coming from an EU country, this scholarship is an automatically applied £5,000 fee reduction for a full-time postgraduate taught programme at Heriot-Watt University.
Entry requirements
We have standard entry requirements for all of our courses that you will have to meet.
Our minimum entry requirements satisfy both:
- Native/near-native command of English plus native/near-native command of Chinese.
- An honours degree at 2:2 or non-UK equivalent in a relevant subject that demonstrates clear languages proficiency, preferably in the chosen study language. We can also consider other language experience such as translating or work experience with other languages.
Aptitude test
Suitable applicants will be invited to undertake an interview, which includes a discussion of the applicant's background and motivation, a short presentation of a current affairs topic in Chinese, and a verbal rendering in English of a short text written in Chinese.
We welcome applications from international students and accept qualifications from around the world. Please refer to the entry requirements for your country for more details.
Why Heriot-Watt
We're the top university in Scotland for graduate outcomes which means that more of our graduates are employed or in postgraduate education than any other institution in the country and we ranked 5th in the UK.
We're also rated number one in the UK for CEO or MD roles, meaning more of our graduates go on to become CEOs or MDs than any other university in the whole of the UK. On top of that, we have beautiful campuses, across the globe, so you'll get a truly international education. Our Edinburgh Campus is home to Oriam, Scotland's National Sports Performance Centre combined with plenty of wellbeing resources, prioritising fitness and mental health for all students. Our Global Research Institutes look at solving real world issues such as climate change and saving our oceans as well as working on the next medical technological breakthrough and the future of AI and robots.
Student life
Explore facilities, and chat to staff and students
