Taught course

Conference Interpreting - MA

Institution
London Metropolitan University · School of Social Sciences
Qualifications
MA

Entry requirements

A successful applicant will normally be required to have:

  • A 2.1 first degree (or a 2.2 with professional experience in interpreting).

Applications from candidates with substantial experience as a professional interpreter but no degree will be considered.

Certificate and Diploma level:

  • English and one other language.

MA level:

  • English and one or two other languages;
  • Near-native proficiency in their first foreign language (language B) and/or a good command of their second foreign language (language C);
  • A very good command of English.

One of the following qualifications is required:

  • All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language.
  • Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS.

For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

Months of entry

January, September

Course content

Course overview
The course offers a wide range of language combinations paired with English: French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin (Chinese), Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian and Spanish. Further language combinations with English, such as Arabic, may also be available, subject to demand, staff expertise and availability of learning resources.
All simultaneous interpreting activities take place in the fully digital Interpreting Suite which also offers the latest multimedia facilities for virtual classes, recording of interpreting performances, as well as original speeches for student practise. Students will also benefit from guest speakers and conference interpreting professionals who visit the course and provide additional opportunities for practice and individual and group feedback to students.
Course structure
Students will take six core modules and a Research Interpreting Project of 9,000 – 10,000 words. The modules are:
  • The Interpreter's Skills and Tools
  • Interpreting Theories and Research for Interpreters
  • Conference Interpreting: module 1
  • The Interpreter's Professional Environment and Work Placement
  • Conference Interpreting (EU/UN context)
  • Conference Interpreting: module 2
Teaching methods
The MA Conference Interpreting is a professional master course aiming at training conference interpreters. The programme includes lectures, seminars, presentations, practical interpreting and simulated events such as mock conferences. All simultaneous interpreting activities take place in the fully digital Interpreting Suite which also offers the latest multimedia facilities for virtual classes, recording of interpreting performances for formative and summative assessment, as well as original speeches for students practise. The course modules are designed to prepare students to work as professional conference interpreters on the private market, for commercial organisations or large international institutions such as the European institutions or the United Nations. The course also includes a strong reflective element present during interpreting performances such as the mock conferences and language specific tutorials. The dissertation offers the possibility to reflect on personal interpreting performance or research the interpreting field.

Assessment

You will be assessed by a variety of essays, presentations, practical interpreting performance, self and peer evaluation, case study, reflective portfolio and research project or dissertation.

Career opportunities
The course modules are designed to prepare students to work as professional conference interpreters on the private market, for commercial organisations or large international organisations such as the European institutions or the United Nations. Work placement is the key element of the course, as well as site visits and dummy booth practice in the European Commission, European Parliament, European Court of Justice and United Nations headquarters. Students who complete the course automatically fulfil the requirement to access the EU/UN interpreting accreditation test to work as conference interpreters. Graduates can continue to come to London Metropolitan University to practise conference interpreting thanks to our short courses and events (CPD).
Graduates are also fully qualified to work as conference interpreters on the private market in the UK and abroad, and to continue onto further study with a PhD.

Information for international students

A very good command of English. One of the following qualifications is required: All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

  • MA
    full time
    12 months
    • Campus-based learningis available for this qualification

Course contact details

Name
Course enquiries
Email
courseenquiries@londonmet.ac.uk
Phone
020 7133 4202