Professional Translation
| Award | Attendance | Study | Duration | Start | Domestic fees | International fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MA | On-Campus | Full-time, Part-time | 1 - 3 years | September | £9450 per year | £20650 per year |
About Professional Translation, MA - at Swansea University
The MA in Professional Translation (MAPT) will develop you from an excellent foreign language speaker into a successful professional linguist.
In 2009 the MAPT became one of only five UK-based founding members of the European Master’s in Translation Network, set up by the Directorate-General for Translation (DGT) of the European Commission to raise standards of translator training. We are very proud that MATI was accepted into the EMT in 2019 and that both of our MA programmes were EMT members until January 2021, when UK programmes were excluded from the Network as a consequence of Brexit.
In this degree, you will undertake advanced translation work on general, administrative and technical text, and training in industry-standard Computer-Assisted Translation tools.
The first part of the degree includes opportunities to develop specialised skills in public service interpreting, audiovisual translation, machine translation and software localisation, terminology management, etc.
In the simulated translation bureau module, you simulate translation companies by working with local translation businesses and delivering on real commissions to professional standards.
In the second part of the degree, you are presented with a choice of two extended translations or an academic dissertation, or a 13-week internship at a translation company in the UK or overseas.
Language pairs (subject to demand):
- German > English
- English > German
- French > English
- English > French
- English > Italian
- Spanish > English
- English > Spanish
- English > Welsh
- English > Arabic
- English > Mandarin
Why Professional Translation at Swansea?
As a former member of the European Master’s in Translation Network, Swansea University has an established profile in professional translation. We have industry-standard, state-of-the-art facilities and a robust global network of external organisations to help shape your studies.
The Modern Languages, Translation and Interpreting section is based on our energising Singleton Park campus, in parkland overlooking Swansea Bay.
Designed to promote individual and collaborative research activity of international standard, the Graduate Centre provides a supportive environment for postgraduate research and taught masters study.
It offers postgraduate training to enhance academic and professional development and facilitates seminar programmes, workshops and international conferences.
Your Professional Translation Experience
You will study a set number of compulsory and optional 20-credit modules on advanced translating and interpreting, before undertaking a 60-credit module on two extended translations, or an academic dissertation, or a 13-week internship at a translation company.
Modules cover advanced translating and interpreting of numerous different languages in different contexts and industries. There are specialist modules for interpreting.
In the second part, the extended translations option offers you the chance to develop an area of specialisation. One translation must be technical and performed using a major computer-assisted translation (CAT) tool.
The dissertation option can concentrate on a translation studies topic, such as a comparison of two or more published translations, or terminology research in a specialist area, or an investigation into translation technology.
The internship option can be undertaken either in the UK or abroad. Our extensive list of professional contacts is available to you but you must make your own applications and pass admissions tests.
Professional Translation Employment Opportunities
The vocational MA in Professional Translation will significantly enhance your prospects for a career in translation. Over the course of your studies, or your internship, you may make important connections for your future work.
Graduates from this course enter a range of different translation and interpreting roles. Many also undertake research degrees and pursue a career in academia.
Entry requirements
Contact Swansea University to find course entry requirements.
Why study at Swansea University
There are many reasons to choose Swansea University for your studies; from the stunning beachfront locations of our Singleton Park and Bay campuses, to our global reputation for research and academic excellence, we offer a safe, supportive and fun environment to live and study, and our vast range of courses and subject areas mean you are sure to find the future career for you.
- Top 30 UK research-led university (Research Excellence Framework 2014-2021)
- Ranked within the Top 300 of universities globally (QS World University Rankings 2025)
- Voted 6th safest city in England and Wales (Complete University Guide 2024)
- UK Top 10 of the People and Planet University League (Times Good University Guide 2025)
Whether you join us for your undergraduate degree, postgraduate studies or research, you’ll receive a modern approach to learning, backed by cutting-edge facilities and an excellent research and teaching faculty.
Join Swansea and start your journey, studying in a picturesque, student-friendly city by the sea with so much to offer.