Key information
Our MSc Translating programme is designed for those who want to work as professional translators or in the field of translating.
- 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
During the master’s programme, you’ll master the skills and techniques of translating to a professional standard. You’ll be able to understand and use a range of computer-assisted translation tools.
You’ll develop relevant transferable communication skills, including the skills of summarising, revising and editing. You’ll be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with other professionals in the field, including colleagues and clients. You’ll master IT skills that are relevant to the work of a professional translator, including the ability to use specialised software packages.
Each course will equip you with highly employable expertise and skills in translation. You’ll have the opportunity to choose one optional course – including liaison interpreting for business, business communication 2: communicating with external audiences, project management and global englishes and the international workplace. This will allow you to customise your learning and develop specific translating interests. Your translation dissertation will allow you to engage in 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’ll benefit from the industry relevance of the programme, which will set you up for life after graduation. Upon completion, you’ll be equipped with the transferable skills and qualities necessary to become a professional translator in a variety of professional contexts.
Your student experience
Our MSc Translating degree is taught by experienced, leading academics who, in many cases, have published the research which shapes their disciplines and written the books which will guide your learning. Many academics balance teaching time with continued professional practice as translators, interpreters, practitioner psychologists, tax and finance specialists and management consultants. They bring real-world experience to the classroom.
Our academic and professional expertise helps our programme maintain its position at the forefront of industry practice and means that you’ll gain practical insights into the careers of successful interpreters daily.
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
- Translation Practice I
- Translation Technologies
- Translation and Interpreting Studies
Mandatory January
- Translation Practice II
- Research Methods
- Introduction to the Translation and Interpreting Professions
Optional January
- Liaison Interpreting for Business
- Global Englishes and the International Workplace
- Business Communication 2: Communicating with External Audiences
- Project Management
Mandatory May
- MSc Dissertation
Optional September
- Subtitling
- Liaison and Public Service Interpreting
Programme Video
Languages at Heriot-Watt
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.
Strand A (one language)
Our minimum entry requirements satisfy both:
- Native / near-native command of English plus native / near-native command of Chinese, French, German, or Spanish.
- 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.
Strand B (two languages)
Our minimum entry requirements satisfy both:
- Native / near-native command of English plus an excellent command of two from French, German, Spanish or 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 languages. We can also consider other language experience such as translating or work experience with other languages.
Entrance tests
Suitable applicants will be invited for interview and to undertake a short test.
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
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