Course summary

Overview The 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. 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. 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. Expertise 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. Your learning environment Our MSc Chinese-English Translation and Interpreting programme uses state-of-the-art language labs and interpreting booths which will provide you with the ideal setting to develop your translating and interpretation skills to professional standards. Our suite of interpreting booths has been refurbished and modelled on those used by the United Nations, the European Union and the Scottish Parliament. The programme is taught through a combination of seminars, lectures, masterclasses, workshops and virtual classes allowing you to get to know and build relationships with your peers, the teaching staff and academics. To create an authentic learning environment that replicates the professional world, you’ll attend mock conferences to practice and develop skills in simultaneous interpreting, relay, event chairing and public speaking for a live audience of lecturers and peers. You’ll also have the opportunity to practice these skills in a public multi-lingual debate in semester 2.