Translation: Research MA

London, Bloomsbury

Equip yourself with the skills needed to pursue a career in translation while focusing on your specific interests in translation and intercultural studies. The Translation: Research MA enables you to choose from a variety of translation modules, including theoretical and technological topics, and advanced modules in a range of languages. Taught at UCL, you’ll also benefit from access to interdisciplinary experts and language specialists.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£16,000
£8,000
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£33,000
£16,500
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 27 Jun 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Entry requirements

A minimum of a first or high upper second-class Bachelor's degree (average 65%) in a relevant discipline from a UK university, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Students should only translate out of a language in which they have an advanced level minimum and should only translate into a language in which they have native-level proficiency (language combinations subject to availability).

The English language level for this programme is: Level 4

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

The Translation: Research MA allows you to choose from a range of translation options covering theoretical and technological topics and language modules. The dissertation project provides a bespoke opportunity to develop independent critical and analytical thought in researching and presenting a sustained piece of writing on a topic of your choice.

Optional advanced translation modules are available to students in the following languages: Dutch, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Scandinavian languages, and Spanish. We also offer optional modules with language-specific strands (subject to availability). The individual modules listed below outline the available languages and usually include a wide range of European languages as well as Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Russian. We are also able to offer Ukrainian (subject to availability - please contact the MA director), further details can be found on our Postgraduate Modules page. 

Who this course is for

The programme is particularly suitable for graduates in a language and culture subject who are ultimately aiming to undertake a PhD and wish to conduct an in-depth study of a specific topic in translation and intercultural studies. A sound knowledge of at least one language other than English is essential.

What this course will give you

Located in the heart of multicultural London, UCL provides a uniquely rich environment for studying and researching translation in all its facets, taught by specialist translation staff with a diverse range of research interests including literary translation and theatre translation.

The MA is truly interdisciplinary with access to experts in an unrivalled variety of languages and disciplines from across Europe and further afield. This allows students to customise the programme in relation to their language competencies and other academic and professional interests.

UCL translation students are highly valued by the translation industry, with workshops and networking events organised during the year.

The foundation of your career

The Translation (Research) MA is designed to equip students for further research in the field through modules in translation theory and research methods. In addition, practical modules will provide graduates with a range of vocational skills that enable them to pursue careers in the fields of translation.

Former Translation MA students have gone on to complete further postrgaduate study or work as authors writers and translators for companies such as Rosetta Translation, Morning Side Translation and Translate Plus. Graduates also acquire transferable skills that lead them into careers within journalism, accountancy and financial services, PR, IT, Technology, marketing, health and social care or other educational activities; examples include our graduates who are now working for Oxford University Press, RWS Group, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Codex Global Ltd.*

*Graduate Outcomes Survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of UK and EU graduates in the 2017 - 2022 cohorts.

Employability

Transferable skills include intercultural understanding; translation and communication skills; and analytical rigour. We aim to prepare students for highly-trained commercial, literary and other types of translator roles in the private and public sectors and in international organisations in the UK and abroad. 

CenTraS graduates may look to enter both the translation industry and the academic sector, whether in the UK, China, or elsewhere. Other suitable career paths include media, publishing, education, the cultural and heritage sectors, consulting, and civil and diplomatic services.

Networking

Our location offers students access to special collections at UCL and other world-class libraries nearby such as the Senate House Library and the British Library. 

These resources, besides their collections of books, articles, videos, sound recordings and non-public online resources, offer a wide range of seminars, lecture series and other opportunities to exchange ideas. Other libraries and research centres within walking distance of campus include the British Museum, Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies, Institute of Historical Research and The Warburg Institute.

UCL Careers also offers a range of services, providing access to skills development, recruitment and networking events.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, practical translation exercises, case studies, tutorials and private study, depending on the options chosen. The Third Term is devoted to revision sessions and the dissertation project. 

Students are assessed by a variety of methods, core modules are assessed by essays, presentations and coursework. Optional modules are assessed through unseen and written examinations, coursework, translation projects and essays. Teaching sessions are interactive, with a limited amount of lecturer presentation and an emphasis on student participation and critical discussion.

For a full-time postgraduate course, we recommend around 20-25 hours of independent study per week. The majority of our courses have around 10-12 hours' teaching time spent in lectures and seminars.

For a part-time postgraduate course, your contact hours would usually be 5-6 hours per week across 2-3 days and we recommend around 10-12 hours of independent study per week.

Those undertaking language modules may have additional contact hours. There is minimal teaching during the Third Term, which focuses on the dissertation and assessment.

15 credit modules involve 150 learning hours and for 30 credit modules, 300 hours. This includes contact time, private study and the undertaking of coursework assignments. Approximately one-third of the hours are allocated for the assessment exercise. The remainder is divided between class time and self-directed study. Hours expected to be dedicated to private reading far exceed the hours of class attendance.

Modules

You will undertake modules to the value of 180 credits, including two core modules and the dissertation module. Optional modules are chosen from a wide offering in consultation with the programme director to ensure your workload is balanced between terms.

During the academic year, you will take compulsory modules which are designed to work as a postgraduate-level foundation and provide you with the specific skills to research, write essays and to support the dissertation. You will also choose from a wide range of optional modules (see Optional modules). In addition to your taught modules, you will start formulating your dissertation proposal. This work will continue into the Third Term and across the remainder of the academic year. You will develop your dissertation outline and structure with support from your supervisor.

You will undertake modules to the value of 180 credits, including two core modules and the dissertation module. Optional modules are chosen from a wide offering in consultation with the programme director to ensure your workload is balanced across the two years if studying part-time.

In the First Year, you will take compulsory modules, designed to work as a postgraduate-level foundation module and to provide you with the specific skills to research, write essays and to support the dissertation. These modules set the foundation for the whole MA, preparing you for further learning and for your dissertation.

In the Second Year, you will take optional modules to develop a broader understanding of theoretical, technological and language topics, as well as developing key concepts learnt in the First Year. You will also formulate and develop your dissertation outline and structure with support from your supervisor. You will then spend the summer of the Second Year researching and writing your dissertation on a topic to be determined in discussion with your supervisor.

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MA in Translation: Research.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £16,000 £8,000
Tuition fees (2025/26) £33,000 £16,500

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

Additional costs may include expenses such as books, stationery, printing or photocopying, or conference registration fees and associated travel costs.

The department strives to keep additional costs low. Books and journal articles are usually available via the UCL library as hard copies or via e-journal subscriptions.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Translation: Research at graduate level
  • why you want to study Translation: Research at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your personal, academic and professional background meets the demands of this programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2025-2026

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.