General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a related subject, e.g. a single or combined Honours Undergraduate degree in Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, or Translation Studies, or another Humanities subject.

You will need to provide proof of high-level competence in spoken and written English and in at least one of the following languages: Chinese, French, German, Italian or Spanish.

Knowledge of a third language amongst the ones mentioned above is valued, but not required.

Language competence

You will need to indicate your level of competence in the language(s) other than English (UG degree level or equivalent to C1 in the CEFR); if formal evidence cannot be provided, you will be assessed individually by the School.

If your first language is not English, or if you have not been taught entirely in English (equivalent to a UK qualification), you will need to provide formal evidence of the following English language requirements.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

• Band B
• IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.

Additional requirements

In all cases, we require one academic reference confirming your Undergraduate performance and your suitability for this course.

Deadline

The deadline for applications for our taught postgraduate courses is the 15 July immediately preceding commencement of study. However, we advise you to make contact much earlier in the year preceding your year of study, ideally by January, in particular if you wish to access any scholarship opportunities.

Deposit

Please also note that offer holders for the MA in Translation and Cultures may be asked to pay a fees depositLink opens in a new window to secure their place.

Core modules

Translation across Cultures: Concepts and Theories

The module seeks to familiarise students with key theoretical concepts in contemporary Translation and Transcultural Studies, explored through case studies across a range of text types in translation; it also provides an overview of the development of Translation Studies as a discipline. Students will be given the opportunity to explore how translation theory relates to translation practice and to the study of translation across a range of text types, as well as reflecting on their own positionality as researchers and practitioners in Translation Studies. 

Critical Skills for the Translation Profession

This module introduces students to current professional practices in the language industry from a critical perspective. As well as becoming familiar with language industry demands, emerging job profiles, translation competence models, the role of technology, market requirements and the need to specialise, students will develop a reflexive stance towards translators’ position within the current job market. Crucially, students will acquire the necessary analytical skills to assess ethical dilemmas and the challenges and opportunities of translation as a sustainable profession.

Additionally, students will be offered the opportunity to complete an optional company visit to a national translation service provider.

Translation Portfolio

This module introduces the principles of translation, with a particular focus on the challenges that translators encounter in their practice. It offers you the opportunity to translate texts in different genres, and to analyse your own translation strategies.

In the general lectures, you will explore the theoretical challenges that different literary and media genres (such as poetry, short stories, children's literature, news, audiovisual and advertising) typically pose to the practice of translation. Crucially, in the language-specific seminars and through independent study, you will engage in the practice of translation and write a commentary analysing your own approach and translation strategies.

Research Skills in Modern Languages

This module helps you develop key research skills that will assist you in your work on your other MA modules, including the use of electronic resources, writing a literature review, creating a bibliography, choosing and writing a dissertation and giving an oral presentation.

These research techniques and the ability to apply a chosen stylesheet consistently and accurately in order to present a piece of work to high standards are also transferable professionalising skills that are valued in a variety of jobs. These skills will also stand you in good stead if you wish to continue to doctoral research after your MA.

Specialised Translation Skills

This module supports students in the development of practical specialised translation skills that are essential for language professionals. Departing from functionalist and text-based methods applied to translation, the module fosters a reflective and critical approach to the analysis of source texts and translation situations that will allow an approach to the analysis of source texts and translation situations that will allow students to design, develop and evaluate specialised translation decisions.

Within a multilingual setting with English as a common language and the framework of the translation profession, the students will become familiar with text and genre conventions, features of specialised language, documentation and terminology, as well as translation challenges, strategies and solutions. The multilingual translation workshops will focus on specific specialised translation genres that will provide students with hands-on translation experience as well as critical awareness, analytical writing proficiency, and key transferable skills.

Dissertation

Through a combination of independent research and targeted support and feedback sessions, the final dissertation (15,000 words) will help you produce a coherent and logically argued piece of writing that demonstrates knowledge of and critical ability in a chosen area, commensurate with the accomplishment of an MA degree. You will choose one of three models: (a) extended translation with commentary, (b) comparative analysis of existing translations, or (c) research dissertation on a chosen topic related to your own interests.

Optional modules

Optional modules can vary from year to year. You will have to do 30 credits of optional modules. Example optional modules may include:

• Audiovisual Translation: Subtitling and Global Media
• Translation, Technology and Automation
• Trans/national Cultures
• Multilingualism and Global Cultures
• Translation and Transcultural Encounters between China and the West
• The Practice of Literary Translation (Offered by SCAPVC)

Read more about the optional modules offered on the School of Modern Languages website.Link opens in a new window

You can also choose other optional modules offered in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures and even in the Faculty of Arts and wider University, subject to availability.

Teaching

The course includes a series of seminars, workshops and lectures, supported by a range of guided independent activities, organised extracurricular activities and additional learning opportunities. This is a taught MA with a significant research component in the form of a compulsory Dissertation. A Supervisor who is an expert in the field will support you in writing the Dissertation.

The core Translation Portfolio includes provision for group tutorials and peer-to-peer feedback alongside scheduled teaching in a mixed workshop/seminar format.

Class sizes

From 1 to 30 for seminar teaching; individual supervision for the dissertation component.

Typical contact hours

The course will involve, on average, 35 hours of work per week, typically comprising 4 hours of seminar teaching, 1 hour of lectures, up to 1 hour of tutoring and 29 hours of independent study over Terms One and Two.

All our PG students can do an additional language for free at the Language Centre, subject to availability.

In Term Three, which is focused on the Dissertation, you will work closely with your supervisor through one-to-one supervision meetings.

A complete suite of extracurricular activitiesLink opens in a new window including research seminars, masterclasses and industry-relevant workshops with guest professionals are also organised throughout the academic year. See our 2023/24 schedule as an example of the activities that take place.

Assessment

Modules are assessed by written assignments, consisting of essays, translations and/or analytical commentaries on translations, translation projects, comparative analysis, professional development plans as well as by portfolio in the case of some core and option modules. Students will also submit an approximately 15,000-word final Dissertation.

Since 2020, the School offers the Susan Bassnett Prize for the Best Dissertation in Translation Studies.

Reading Lists

If you would like to view reading lists for current or previous cohorts of students, most departments have reading lists available through Warwick Library on the Talis Aspire platform.

You can search for reading lists by module title, code or convenor. Please see the modules tab of this page or the module catalogue.

Please note that some reading lists may have restricted access or be unavailable at certain times of year due to not yet being published. If you cannot access the reading list for a particular module, please check again later or contact the module’s host department.

Your timetable

Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules, compulsory and optional, and you have been allocated to your lectures, seminars and other small group classes. Your compulsory modules will be registered for you and you will be able to choose your optional modules when you join us.

Your career

Graduates from these courses have pursued roles such as: translators (both freelance and in-house), intercultural communicators, subtitlers, writers, content designers, civil servants, corporate industry professionals, project managers in translation agencies, language teachers, editors in the publishing industry, official in international organisations and marketing associate professionals.

Find out more about the skills you will learn from this degree and what our Translation and Cultures Alumni have done since their time at Warwick.

We are a founding member of the Association of Programmes in Translation and Interpreting Studies of the UK and Ireland. We are also a corporate member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting in the UK and the Globalization and Localization Association, GALA, so you will have access to professional advice and support, including events, workshops, journals and career bulletins. We are official language partners of the Chartered Institute of Linguistics.

Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:

• Careers in the Public Sector
• Warwick careers fairs throughout the year
• Completing effective CVs and Application Forms for students from the School of Modern Languages
• Languages Alumni Evening

Modern Languages and Cultures at Warwick

The School of Modern Languages and Cultures is a close-knit community with an excellent reputation for innovative teaching and world-leading research. The School comprises five major sections – French, German, Italian, Hispanic Studies (all broadly conceived) and Translation and Transcultural Studies – and a Language Centre offering linguistic training in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

Get to know us a bit better by exploring our department websiteLink opens in a new window

Our Postgraduate Taught courses

• Modern Languages and Cultures (MA)
• Translation and Cultures (MA)

Our Postgraduate Research courses

• MPhil/PhD in French Studies
• MPhil/PhD in German Studies
• MPhil/PhD in Hispanic Studies
• MPhil/PhD in Italian
• MPhil/PhD Translation and Transcultural Studies
• MA by Research in French and Francophone Studies
• MA by Research in German Studies
• MA by Research in Hispanic Studies
• MA by Research in Italian

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your taught course fees  

Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2022/23 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

• Core text books
• Printer credits
• Dissertation binding
• Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and bursaries

How to apply

The application process for courses that start in September and October 2025 opens on 2 October 2024.

Applications will close on 2 August 2025 for students who require a visa to study in the UK, to allow time to receive a CAS and complete the visa application process.

How to apply for a postgraduate taught course