Overview
Gain industry-relevant skills and knowledge in Simultaneous Interpreting, Consecutive Interpreting, Public Service Interpreting and Remote Interpreting. Our Conference Interpreting MA uses English and Chinese as working languages, preparing you for a professional interpreting career.
Our lecturers have a wealth of professional experience, both in-house and freelance. You’ll learn how theory and practice intersect in interpreting. You will hone the skills you need to excel in your chosen professional domain.
You’ll train at our state-of-art conference interpreting suite. You’ll also benefit from both our industry experience and established connections.
Important information
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Your course and study experience – disclaimers and terms and conditions
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
What you’ll learn
You’ll gain a thorough grounding in translation and interpreting skills and techniques. You will take Consecutive Interpreting, Sight Translation and Simultaneous Interpreting modules with built-in remote-interpreting skills.
You will learn about specialised areas of interpreting with more demanding industry requirements.
You’ll acquire high-quality interpreting skills in spoken rather than written transfer. You will have an expert understanding of mainstream interpreting and remote interpreting technologies.
Depending on your interests, you may take further optional modules that cover:
- Subtitle and Video Game Translation
- Literary Translation
- Translating for a Big Institution
- Legal Translation
In the summer, you will complete either a dissertation or an interpreting project. The project consists of an interpreting assignment and an academic commentary.
Modules
You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.
Course content changes
Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
Optional modules availability
Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
Conference Interpreting MA modules
Compulsory modules
Students will take the following compulsory modules:
- Consecutive Interpreting II (20 credits)
- Simultaneous Interpreting II (20 credits)
- Public Service Interpreting (20 credits)
- The Language Industry: Professions, Processes and Society (20 credits)
- Research Methods in Translating and Interpreting (10 credits)
Students will take one of the following modules:
- Dissertation (60 credits)
- Translating/Interpreting Project (60 credits)
How you’ll learn
Depending on your modules, you’ll be assessed through a combination of:
- Computer assessment
- Dissertation
- Essay
- Oral examination
- Portfolio
- Research proposal
- Written examination
- Written exercise
Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You’ll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:
- module handbooks
- course materials
- groups
- course announcements and notifications
- written feedback
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:
- peers
- academics
- personal tutors
- our University Student Services Team
- student representatives
You’ll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.
Your development
On our Conference Interpreting MA, you will receive enhanced training on:
- theoretical models of interpreting and understanding your workspace and equipment
- the latest development in remote interpreting, or RSI
- performing different modes of interpreting with appropriate techniques on a wide range of topics
- how to leverage a growing base of theoretical knowledge to carry out interpreting assignments that meet industry requirements
- current technicality demanded upon conference interpreters
- ability to adapt and pick up required technical skills for specific jobs
Professional opportunities and development
We organise industry talks, study visits and internship work placements for our students. These will be in the fields of conference interpreting and liaison interpreting.
In the past, we have organised visits to:
- the United Nations Office in Vienna and Rome
- the EU’s Directorate General for Translation
- the European Commission in Brussels
- international organisations in The Hague
We also arrange interpreting and remote interpreting opportunities with our industry contacts.
We’ll also help you:
- take part in conferences as a trainee interpreter
- get academic membership from established interpreter and translator societies (such as the Chartered Institute of Linguists)
- join our Translating and Interpreting alumni networks across five continents
- discover international job opportunities and get career advice
Your future
What can you do with a Conference Interpreting MA degree?
Our graduates use their linguistic, IT, and interpersonal skills, and cultural knowledge in a range of sectors.
Conference Interpreting careers
- in-house simultaneous and/or consecutive interpreter for international organisations and corporations
- in-house linguist, providing support on a range of interpreting and translation projects
- freelance self-employed interpreter
- event/conference planner
- conference interpreting trainers and instructors
Our Careers Service
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Quality and ranking
- 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- Global Top 130 University – QS World University Rankings 2025
- Global Top 170 University – Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
- Top 25 in the UK and Top 100 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024
Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Facilities
Our facilities include:
- two dedicated interpreting suites (including an UN-standard conference interpreting suite)
- digital platforms for interpreting training and practice
- Language Resource Centre (equipped with audio-visual and computing facilities linked to a digital speech bank)
- a senior common room where you can relax, eat or study
Learn more about the School of Modern Languages facilities.
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
Academic entry requirements
A 2:1 honours degree or a degree with a minimum average of 80% (or GPA 3.0) on your transcript.
In addition, we require native English-speaking applicants to have good degree-level knowledge of Chinese. When applying, please enclose any evidence you may have to support your second language proficiency qualification. We will also consider applicants on an individual basis with lower or non-standard qualifications who have at least two years of full-time experience as a translator or an interpreter.
