Interpreting (MA)

Overview

This is a vocational course grounded in theory and practice and specifically set up to train professional interpreters. The course offers you an opportunity to acquaint yourself with the theoretical and professional frameworks of interpreting applied to a range of interpreting types: Public Service Interpreting, Conference Interpreting and Remote Interpreting (telephone and video-conferencing). A key part of the course is a work placement during which you will perform live interpreting tasks under supervision and shadow professional interpreters at work. The course offers a wide range of language combinations paired with English: French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish and Portuguese. Further language combinations with English may also be available, subject to demand, staff expertise and availability. In the past we have offered Romanian, Dari and Lithuanian.

Students on the course benefit from excellent interpreting facilities. Our Interpreting Suite is equipped with six AIIC (Association Internationale des Interprètes de Conference) standard soundproof booths, each with audio and video recording facilities. The Interpreting Suite facilities are the same as those used in Brussels for the European Commission and each booth is equipped with broadband and audio-visual recording. Conference Guest Speakers and events are filmed and stored on our virtual platform, so that students can revisit the events.

Students will also benefit from the use of our virtual platform to access teaching materials and documentaries, presentations for conferences and recordings of mock conferences. They will be able to chat and exchange their views in forums on the virtual platform, which is accessible from any computer with an internet connection. They will also be able to present their written assessment via the virtual platform, from a computer with an internet connection.

Faculty of Social and Humanities

www.londonmet.ac.uk/depts/fass/

Applying and entry

PLEASE NOTE There is no official closing date for this course, but you are advised to apply as early as possible as we will only consider your application if there are places available on the course.

Tel: 020 7133 4202
Email: admissions@londonmet.ac.uk

Candidates should normally have:

• A 2.1 first degree (or a 2.2 with professional experience in interpreting). 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:
  - Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): Grade A
  - IELTS 6.5 minimum with a minimum score in all component parts of 6;
  - TOEFL (old exam) 630 minimum;
  - TOEFL (new exam) 267 minimum.

Entrance aptitude test:

Applications forms are processed by the admission tutor. Once the applicant has demonstrated that they match the entry criteria, they are invited to London Metropolitan University (Moorgate) to attend the entrance aptitude test. For international students, the test can be done remotely.

The entrance aptitude test is free and generally runs on Friday morning between 10am and 1pm, twice a month. It includes:

• Translations in and out of English
• Presentations in the various language combinations
• Consecutive interpreting into the A language (mother tongue)
• Essay writing
• Interview with the admission tutor and interpreting lecturers

Course contents

Course structure

The course consists of eight core modules and a Research Interpreting Project of 7,000 words. The modules are:

• The Interpreter's Skills and Tools
• Interpreting Theories and Research for Interpreters
• Conference Interpreting module 1
• Remote Interpreting: telephone interpreting
• The Interpreter's Professional Environment and Work Placement
• Public Service Interpreting (health or legal option)
• Conference Interpreting module 2
• Remote Interpreting: video-conferencing
• MA Research Interpreting Project

Read more about the modules

Assessment

Assessment is by a variety of coursework, interpreting exams, presentations, essays, and independent work and a research project (at MA level).

Careers

Career opportunities

Graduates can work as in-house or freelance interpreters and typically find positions in translation and interpreting agencies; international, European and national organisations and bodies; Local Authorities, Hospitals, The Police, Immigration Services and Refugee and Asylum organisations.

Student profiles