Master the future of language. Explore leading translation techniques and technology for a digital world.
Year of entry: 2025 (September)
1 year full-time,
2 years part-time
September 2025 (semester dates)
Get a taste of what studying a Masters at York is like on 12 March 2025.
Find out moreLanguage services represent a key industry in today’s multilingual and interconnected world.
This course will equip you with the specialist career skills to enter the language services industry. We'll teach you to become a skilled translator who is comfortable working with a range of topics and in diverse settings. You'll be able to use industry technologies effectively and confidently. You'll also develop professional skills such as project management, problem-solving and intercultural communication, as well as an in-depth understanding of the technological foundations of applied technologies and artificial intelligence.
The Department is part of York's Faculty of Arts and Humanities, ranked 54th in the 2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
for linguistics (QS World Rankings 2024)
On this course, you'll study five core modules and an independent project, as well as two option or elective modules. Our core modules are designed to develop your understanding of translation theory and practice, regardless of your prior background. You'll be introduced to relevant skills, including aspects of academic integrity, research and writing skills.
As part of the Professional Translation Practice module, you'll work on a terminology project with the World Intellectual Property Organisation. This will then be assessed by their team of terminologists.
You'll be assigned a personal supervisor to support you with your studies, both before you start and throughout the course. In the summer semester, our Professional Practice in the Language Services Industry will enhance your employability and consolidate the transferrable skills you will have gained throughout the course.
You'll study five core modules and an independent project, as well as two option or elective modules.
You can choose two option and/or elective modules. You'll study one in semester one and one in semester two.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
In the summer semester, a core professional practice module will provide language enhancement to help get you ready for the world of professional translation and interpreting, while you learn key employability skills and start to grow your professional network. You'll also apply your newly acquired knowledge and skills to translation and/or interpreting assignments.
Alongside the core practice module, you'll complete an independent study module that can be either a research-based or a practice-based reflective study. You'll learn the skills required to successfully carry out your independent project throughout the course.
Previous independent project topics:
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
This course helped me acquire specific skills and methods in my translation tasks, while developing my English proficiency. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to develop their translation skills, general and cultural knowledge, and combines languages and technologies in work.
Victoria, MA Interpreting, Translation and Applied Technologies student.
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £11,200 | £25,900 |
| Part-time (2 years) | £5,600 | £12,950 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
You'll take a hands-on approach to translations studies throughout your degree. You'll work with experience practitioners to put theory into practice and gain knowledge on how to apply what you learn to real scenarios.
We're corporate members of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting. We're also members of the Association of Programmes in Translation and Interpreting Studies. Our discipline leader, Dr Eloísa Monteoliva García, is also currently the president of this association. You'll be able to collaborate with these, as well as other industry links. This will allow you to join relevant networks and access bespoke learning and practice opportunities to improve your career prospects.
You'll have exclusive access to dedicated PC labs with specialist translation software. You'll use throughout your course and will be accessible for you to work from any location and device. Our dedicated multilingual conference will also be available to use.
We are using Phrase in our translation courses free of charge. Phrase is a complete translation platform that includes translation memory, integrated machine and human translation, terminology management, and both online and desktop CAT tools.
You will be based in the Department of Language and Linguistic Science on Campus West. Most of your contact hours will be in Spring Lane Building and Vanbrugh College, with some additional teaching in other locations on Campus West.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
You'll receive extensive individual and group feedback in practice sessions and will develop self and peer assessment skills, which are crucial for professional practice. You'll be assessed through methods including translation assignments, translation reports, group projects, presentations, individual projects and essays.
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You'll develop professional skills such as project management and intercultural communication. You'll also develop an understanding of the language services industry. Embedded in our programme are opportunities for networking, development of employability skills, events with practitioners and industry partners and opportunities to practise your skills in real-life settings.
You'll also gain an in-depth understanding of technological foundations applied to translation. You'll learn how to use applied technologies effectively and confidently. This will allow you not only to use technology, but to have a say in its development and evolution as it applies to language services.
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, minimum 126 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478-509, with 444-477 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87, minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
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