Course summary
Our MA in Chinese-English Translation will equip you for a career in professional language services and further academic research. You will explore how practical translation is informed by theory, develop your verbal and written communication skills, and build your mastery of digital tools to help you produce translation of the highest quality. Students graduate from the programme equipped with specialist skills in translation and localisation, as well as transferable skills such as analytical thinking, research and collaboration, which are essential in today's global market. Students coming to the UK from overseas not only learn advanced translation skills from and into Chinese, but also develop their English language competency and their knowledge of UK and international culture. The programme is also open to students for whom English is a native language with a high level of Chinese, typically undergraduate level or higher. Postgraduates are full members of the academic community, with the opportunity to participate in the many research seminars and conferences taking place within the Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences. The School of Modern Languages has an established record in translator training and excellent industry links. Our translation and interpreting staff include practising professionals and translation researchers. We are a corporate member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting and an institutional member of the American Translators' Association (ATA). We are on the ATA's list of approved providers of translator training. Students have an opportunity to obtain SDL Trados translation software certification.
Assessment method
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/media/postgraduate/admissions-statements/2025/ma-chinese-english-translation.pdf
How to apply
International applicants
The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students and accepts a wide range of qualifications for postgraduate study. If you study or have studied at a university outside the UK, please select the relevant page for further information on qualifications, scholarships and education representatives in your country/region: bristol.ac.uk/international/countries
Entry requirements
For native Chinese speakers, you will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or an international equivalent in any subject. For non-native Chinese speakers: an upper second-class honours degree (or international equivalent) in Chinese Studies (or similar); or completion of a full undergraduate or postgraduate programme at a prestigious Chinese institution. Non-native Chinese speakers who have not completed a Chinese/Mandarin bachelor's may be required to demonstrate proficiency through a translation test. Non-traditional qualifications/routes may also be considered. If you are currently completing a degree, we understand that your final grade may be higher than the interim grades or module/unit grades you have achieved during your studies to date. We will consider your application if your interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements and may make you an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so you would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of your degree. Specific module requirements would still apply. We will also consider your application if your final overall achieved grade is slightly lower than the programme's entry requirement. If you have at least one of the following, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing details of your relevant qualifications: - evidence of significant, relevant work experience: minimum one year, paid. For native Chinese speakers, acceptable sectors include: work experience relevant to English language, eg teaching English or working for a company using English. For non-native Chinese speakers: acceptable sectors include: work experience relevant to the Chinese language, eg working as a translator or working for a company using Chinese. A translation test may be used to determine proficiency. - a relevant postgraduate qualification If this is the case, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing details of your relevant qualifications. See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Channel Islands | £6600 | Year 1 |
| England | £6600 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £6600 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £6600 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £6600 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.
For more information, please view the programme page on our website.
Sponsorship information
Funding and studentship opportunities are listed on the Faculty of Arts funding pages: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/study/postgraduate/funding/
Provider information
University of Bristol
Beacon House
Queen’s Road
Bristol
BS8 1QU