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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 (2026/27)
£16,800
£8,400
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
£35,400
£17,700
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2026
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 26 Jun 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

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 course 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 is based in UCL's Centre for Translation Studies (CenTraS), an interdisciplinary research centre that is home to postgraduate courses in Translation and Technology (MSc) and Translation Studies (MA). 

You will take two core modules, a dissertation and choose from a range of translation optional modules, covering theoretical and technological topics as well as language specific 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. 

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 course in relation to their language competencies and other academic and professional interests.

Who this course is for

The course 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.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

Located in the heart of multicultural London, UCL provides a 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. UCL translation students are highly valued by the translation industry, with workshops and networking events organised during the year.

Students benefit from an excellent research environment and a broad range of cross-disciplinary expertise offered by UCL’s Centre for Multidisciplinary and Intercultural Inquiry (CMII) within the School of European Languages, Culture and Society (SELCS). With 83% of SELCS-CMII research activity was graded 4* ‘world leading’ and 3* ‘internationally excellent’ in the REF 2021.

Our location offers students access to special collections in modern languages and culture at UCL and nearby world-class libraries such as the Senate House Library and the British Library. Other libraries and research centres within walking distance of campus include the British Museum, the Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies, the Institute of Historical Research and the Warburg Institute. 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.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

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 (all pathways) have gone on to complete further postgraduate 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 publishing, journalism and translation (37%); accountancy and financial services (3.7%); PR, advertising and marketing (7.4%); IT and Technology (11.1%); health and social care (1.9%) 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

The course aims to provide graduates with a range of vocational skills to enable them to pursue careers in the fields of translation and interpreting. Our graduates are highly valued by employers for their interdisciplinary skills and linguistic and cultural knowledge. Transferable skills include intercultural understanding; translation and communication skills; and analytical rigour.

CenTraS graduates may look to enter both the translation industry and the academic sector, and 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. 

Students graduating from this course will have demonstrated intellectual flexibility in engaging successfully with a diverse range of subject areas and disciplinary approaches to Translation studies. They will be able to develop and sustain convincing arguments and will have experience in producing coherent research and analysis.

Networking

Students spend a year amongst a thriving, cross-disciplinary community of translators and research students. The multidisciplinary research culture at UCL ensures that there is a wide range of seminars, lecture series and other opportunities to exchange ideas. The number of libraries and institutes in Bloomsbury means that wider cultural opportunities are always readily available.

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

Teaching and learning

The course is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, practical translation exercises, case studies, tutorials and private study, depending on the options chosen. Term 3 is devoted to revision sessions and the dissertation project. 

Students are assessed by a variety of methods, core modules are assessed by essays, presentations, coursework and viva (oral presentation). 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, typical contact hours vary between 10-12 hours per week during term time, depending on module choices, and include lectures, seminars, practice-based activities and e-learning activities.

You will also display a level of independent study (25-30 hours per week), by engaging with key topics and required readings in preparation for the discussions promoted in the course. Hours expected to be dedicated to private reading far exceed the hours of class attendance. You should therefore be careful to ensure that you are setting aside enough time for reading.

For a part-time postgraduate course, 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 Term 3, as students focus on the dissertation and assessments.

Modules

You will undertake modules to the value of 180 credits in total.

During the academic year, you will take two compulsory modules which are designed to work as a postgraduate-level foundation and provide you with the specific skills to research, write essays and the dissertation. You will also choose 90 credits of optional modules (usually six 15-credit modules) which develop your understanding of theoretical, technological and language topics. Optional modules are chosen from a wide offering in consultation with the course director to ensure your workload is balanced between terms.

During Term 2, in addition to your taught modules, you will start formulating your dissertation proposal. You will develop your dissertation outline and structure with support from your supervisor. Planning and research will continue into Term 3 and across the remainder of the academic year. You will then spend the summer researching and writing your dissertation with the support of your supervisor. 

In Year 1, you will take two compulsory modules, which set the foundation for the whole MA, preparing you for further learning and for your dissertation.

Each year, you are required to choose between 30 and 60 credits of optional modules. In total you will select 90 credits of optional modules across the two years (usually six 15-credit modules). Optional modules are chosen from a wide offering in consultation with the course director to ensure your workload is balanced across both years if studying part-time.

In Year 2, you will take further optional modules to develop a broader understanding of theoretical, technological and language topics. As well as developing key concepts learnt in Year 1. You will also formulate and develop your dissertation outline and structure with support from your supervisor. You will then spend the summer researching and writing your dissertation on a topic to be determined in discussion with your supervisor.

In total, you will undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

Compulsory modules





Optional modules

























Translating Performance









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

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Translation Studies

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Are you interested in an MA / MSc course in Translation at The Centre for Translation Studies (CenTraS@UCL)? Please visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/european-languages-culture/translation-studies-ma-msc for more details.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27) £16,800 £8,400
Tuition fees (2026/27) £35,400 £17,700

Postgraduate Taught students benefit from a cohort guarantee, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Where the course 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 with a fee status classification of UK, a fee deposit will be charged at 2.5% of the first year fee.

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, 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.

The department strives to keep additional costs low. Additional costs may include expenses such as books, stationery, printing or photocopying. Students receive a free printing allowance each year and pay for any additional printing (see details), while books and journal articles are usually available via the UCL library as hard copies or via e-journal subscriptions.

For in-person teaching, 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 £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. 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.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Dutch Studies Bursary

Deadline: 1 November 2025
Value: From £1,250 to £2,500 (1 year)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: UK, EU, Overseas

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 course 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 course
  • how your personal, academic and professional background meets the demands of this course
  • 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 course match what the course will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (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: 2026-2027

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Centre for Multidisciplinary and Intercultural Inquiry
Centre for Multidisciplinary and Intercultural Inquiry

selcs-cmii.enquiries@ucl.ac.uk

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