Heriot-Watt University

The course

Delivery
Full-time, Part-time, Per course
Course type
Taught
Location
Edinburgh
Entry date
September
Find out how to apply More about this subject area

Contact

Overview

Our new MSc Translating for Business programme is aimed at those looking to develop their language communications skills in a business context.

The programme allows you to develop language, communication and translation skills specific to a business context in English plus your choice of one or two other languages from Chinese, French, German and Spanish.

With a broad range of optional courses in professionally relevant subjects you can tailor your programme to your interests and professional needs.

Language combinations

In the practical translating courses students opt for one of two ‘strands’, corresponding to their chosen languages:

Strand A

Study of English + one other language from Chinese, French, German or Spanish. Students work in both directions between the two languages chosen.

Strand B

Study of English + two foreign languages from Chinese, French, German or Spanish. Students on this strand work from the two chosen languages into English.

Facilities

Students benefit from excellent facilities for translating, including state-of-the-art interpreting and language laboratories, digital resources, and a range of Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) software packages.

Programme duration

  • MSc - 12 months (full-time), 24 months (part-time)
  • PG Diploma - 9 months (full-time), 21 months (part-time)

Professional recognition

Heriot-Watt University is a member of Conférence Internationale permanente d’Instituts Universitaires de Traducteurs et Interprètes (CIUTI) which is an inter­na­tional asso­ci­a­tion of uni­ver­sity insti­tutes with trans­la­tion and interpre­tation pro­grammes. CIUTI is ded­i­cated to excel­lence in the training and research of both trans­la­tion and inter­pre­ta­tion. Mem­ber­ship of CIUTI requires ful­filment of strict qual­ity cri­te­ria and is a dis­tinct seal of quality.

Go Global

Some of our Postgraduate Taught Masters Programmes are eligible for Inter-Campus Transfer. Please contact goglobal@hw.ac.uk for further information

Course content

Detailed course guide

This new programme focuses on developing language communication skills in a business context.

Semester 1 Semester 2
Translation Practice 1

(English plus one or two from French, German, Spanish)

 Translation Practice 2

(English plus one or two from French, German, Spanish)
Business Communication Research in International Business Communication

Two from a range including:

  • Cross-cultural Perspectives on Society
  • Performing Identities: Festivals and Global Heritage
  • Intercultural Communication in the Workplace
  • International Business
  • International Politics
  • Translation Technologies
  • Beginner language courses in French, German, Spanish, Chinese, British Sign Language

Two from a range including:

  • Intercultural Perspectives on Sustainable Development
  • Liaison Interpreting for Business
  • Localisation & Technical Writing
  • Project Management
  • Subtitling
  • Beginner language courses in French, German, Spanish, Chinese, British Sign Language

Students who progress to the MSc will take a Masters dissertation in an area relevant to International Business Communication.

Guest speakers

Talks by guest speakers are an integral part of the programme.

They cover a wide range of subject areas related to translating and interpreting, including academic, research and practical issues such as working as a freelance translator and setting up a translating business.

Translation Practice 1

Semester 1 (mandatory)

The course helps students to develop mastery of the skills and techniques of translating to professional standards through study of a number of text types and genres and practice in translating these text types and genres. Transferable skills (e.g. the ability to work in a team) which are crucial in professional translation contexts are also developed.

Business Communication

Semester 1 (mandatory)

This course is a practical writing course in which students become familiar with different types of business texts and develop the skills necessary for producing such texts on the basis of oral and other written sources. Activities are carefully designed to reflect professional practice.

Translation Practice 2

Semester 2 (mandatory)

The course further enhance mastery of the skills and techniques of translating to professional standards through study of a number of text types and genres and practice in translating these text types and genres. The course also helps learners develop a number of key transferable skills (e.g. revising, abstracting, editing, summarising, proof-reading) which are important in professional translation contexts and non-translation-related situations.

Research in International Business Communication

Semester 2 (mandatory)

This course familiarises students with research in international business communication and prepares them for the MSc dissertation by affording them the opportunity to undertake their own independent research project.

Entry requirements

Strand A

  1. Native / near-native command of English plus native / near-native command of Chinese, French, German or Spanish
  2. Good degree or equivalent in a relevant subject.

Strand B

  1. Native / near-native command of English plus an excellent command of two from Chinese, French, German or Spanish.
  2. Good degree or equivalent in a relevant subject.

Entrance tests

Suitable applicants will normally be invited for interview and to undertake a short test.

English language requirements

Non-native speakers of English must provide evidence of their English language ability. This must be IELTS 7.0, or equivalent, with at least 6.5 in all components. A score of 6.0 in writing may be accepted if the applicant performs well at interview and test.

Fees

Tuition fees for entry
Status Full-time Part-time Per course
UK £7552 £3776 £944
Overseas £16728 £8364 £2091

Footnotes

  1. 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. Find out more about tuition fees.
  2. Fee per course (module). Refer to the Course Content to see how many courses comprise the full programme.
  3. Overseas includes applications from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in the UK. Read more about the application process for EU nationals.

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.

View our full range of postgraduate scholarships.