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The Conference Interpreting MA prepares you for work as a professional conference interpreter for international organisations and the private market. Languages offered include Mandarin, French, English, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Russian and Spanish. You'll benefit from work placements, site visits and dummy booth practice at the European Commission, the Court of Justice of the European Union and United Nations (Geneva and Vienna). Our state-of-the-art interpreting suite is equipped with digital facilities for interpreting practice, virtual classes and web streaming.
In the most recent Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey, 100% of all 2017 graduates from this course were in work or further study within six months.
The course offers a wide range of language combinations paired with English: French, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, 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 practice.
You'll be able to practice interpreting in professional situations, including guided walks around London using the mobile interpreting system. Places you'll visit can include the Bank of England, Lloyd's of London, Buckingham Palace and the Barbican Centre. As well as opportunities to practice your translation skills locally, you'll also have the possibility of translating meetings from the United Nations (Geneva), the Court of Justice at the European Commission (Brussels) and more.
The course modules are designed to prepare you to work as professional conference interpreters on the private market, for commercial organisations or large international institutions. 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.
You'll also benefit from guest speakers and conference interpreting professionals who visit the course and provide additional opportunities for practice and individual and group feedback.
You'll be assessed through a variety of essays, presentations, practical interpreting performance, self and peer evaluations, a case study, a reflective portfolio and a research project or dissertation.
You will be required to have:
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.
Entrance aptitude test
Application forms are processed by the admissions tutor. Once you've demonstrated that you match the entry criteria, you're invited to London Metropolitan University (Moorgate campus) 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 Fridays between 10am and 1pm twice a month. It includes:
The modules listed below are for the academic year 2018/19 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.
Year 1 modules include:
This module is aimed at students who wish to interpret for the European institutions and United Nations. This module will equip students with the expertise, skills and practice they need to prepare for the EU institutions and UN accreditation test for freelance interpreters.
This module includes generic sessions where lectures and workshops relating to the European institutions and United Nations will provide students with the expertise they need to understand the role and nature of such international organisations.
Students will also practice long consecutive interpreting and simultaneous interpreting in mock conferences (EU/UN context) and dedicated workshops aimed at preparing students for the EU/UN institutions entry tests for interpreters.
Students will need to gain an understanding of international multilingual and multicultural conference management, apply what they learnt and organise their own mock conferences.
This module familiarises students with the context of Conference Interpreting and offers them an opportunity to put this knowledge into practice, using their language pairs, interpreting in different fields such as diplomacy, politics, law, health, education and the environment.
Conference Interpreting 2 reinforces the skills acquired in Conference interpreting 1. It offers students an opportunity to put their knowledge into practice, using their language pairs, interpreting in different fields such as diplomacy, politics, law, health, education, business and the environment. Source materials will also be more complex at this stage. In addition, students will add a language pair at this stage.
This module introduces students to the main interpreting models and to their impact on shaping practice. Students are also equipped with the skills needed to perform research prior to interpreting, as well as during the interpreting assignment.
The Research Project involves practical performance, theoretical reflection and and the postgraduate element of research. It offers students the opportunity to apply the acquired practical skills, theoretical understanding and knowledge of the profession in a field of specialisation and in relation to a chosen interpreting mode. This module includes two options: the research project based on an interpreting assignment and the dissertation.
This module explores different modes of interpreting, introducing students to the interpreter's professional environment and familiarising them with the legal aspects of the profession, the interpreter's code of conduct and the etiquette adopted with clients. Students will also explore the challenges of working as a self employed interpreter and develop strategies to market their skills, develop CPD opportunities and network with interpreting professional stakeholders.
This module includes a placement element made of two interpreting assignments under supervision and an interpreting assignment where students would have to shadow an interpreter at work.
This module introduces students to the main skills and tools used by interpreters when performing their work and makes them aware of their impact on maximizing interpreting performance. This module focuses on long consecutive interpreting (memory exercises, consecutive interpreting without notes, note taking system, information analysis, speech making and public speaking skills, development of strategies to engage with current affairs in all language combinations use by students).
"All the tutors were really dedicated, very professional and we received very constructive feedback. I feel that I have learned a lot."
Diana, graduate
"For me, this course was really important for professional development. I knew where I wanted to be and this course helped me get there. It was really useful in terms of public speaking, confidence, but also in terms of developing new that you need in the profession."
Tanya, graduate
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.
Please note, in addition to the tuition fee there may be additional costs for things like equipment, materials, printing, textbooks, trips or professional body fees.
Additionally, there may be other activities that are not formally part of your course and not required to complete your course, but which you may find helpful (for example, optional field trips). The costs of these are additional to your tuition fee and the fees set out above and will be notified when the activity is being arranged.
Use the apply button to begin your application.
You are advised to apply as early as possible as applications will only be considered if there are places available on the course.
