Overview
Join us as a Translation and Interpreting MPhil or PhD student and form an integral part of our research community.
In today’s globalised world, translation and interpreting has an ever-growing role. Our main research purpose is to find out more about how it works – from professional, language and cultural perspectives.
We offer supervision for projects involving English plus:
- Catalan
- Chinese
- French
- German
- Spanish
Our research specialisms are:
- Interpreting (Dr Chen, Dr Du, Dr Jin, Dr Wu)
- Psycholinguistics of interpreting and translating (Dr Jin, Dr Lin)
- Sociolinguistics, discourse analysis in translation and interpreting (Dr Du, Dr Hall)
- Linguistic diversity and social justice (Dr Du)
- Translation and gender studies (Dr Henry-Tierney)
- Translating literature (Dr Arnold, Dr Henry-Tierney, Dr Lin)
- Translation and culture (Dr Arnold, Dr Chen, Dr El Maizi, Dr Lin, Dr Penet, Dr Robertson)
- Translation and ethics, ideology, and power (Dr Arnold, Dr Lin, Dr Penet)
- Translation and emotions/wellbeing (Dr Penet)
- Translation and reception (Dr Arnold)
- Translation products, processes and strategies (Dr Chen, Dr Jin, Dr Lin, Dr Penet, Dr Robertson)
- Institutional translation (Dr Penet)
- Translator and interpreter training and assessment (Dr Cacheiro Quintas, Dr Chen, Dr Penet, Dr Wu)
- Reflective/autonomous learning and educational psychology (Dr Chen, Dr Wu)
- Audiovisual translation studies (Dr Chen, Dr Henry-Tierney, Dr Robertson)
- Game translation (Dr Chen, Dr Robertson)
- Translation and localisation of digital products (Dr Robertson)
- Translation technology and translator agency (Dr Cacheiro Quintas, Dr Penet, Dr Robertson)
- Legal translation and legal and medical interpreting (Dr Du)
- Migration and multilingualism (Dr Du)
- Respeaking or translation voice to text (Dr Cacheiro Quintas)
Find out more about staff in the School of Modern Languages
Important information
We’ve highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.
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.
Qualifications explained
Find out about the different qualification options for this course.
MPhil – Master of Philosophy
An MPhil is available in all subject areas. You receive research training and undertake original research leading to the completion of a 40,000 – 50,000 word thesis.
Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications
PhD – Doctor of Philosophy
A PhD is a doctorate or doctoral award. It involves original research that should make a significant contribution to the knowledge of a specific subject. To complete the PhD you will produce a substantial piece of work (80,000 – 100,000 words) in the form of a supervised thesis. A PhD usually takes three years full time.
Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications
How you’ll learn
Assessment methods
Depending on your modules, you’ll be assessed through a combination of:
- Thesis
- Viva
Postgraduate research student support
Our mission is to help you:
- stay healthy, positive and feeling well
- overcome any challenges you may face during your degree – academic or personal
- get the most out of your postgraduate research experience
- carry out admin and activities essential to progressing through your degree
- understand postgraduate research processes, standards and rules
We can offer you tailored wellbeing support, courses and activities.
You can also access a broad range of workshops covering:
- research and professional skills
- careers support
- wellbeing
- health and safety
- public engagement
- academic development
Find out more about our postgraduate research student support
Your development
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) researcher development programme
Each faculty offers a researcher development programme for its postgraduate research students. We have designed your programme to help you:
- perform better as a researcher
- boost your career prospects
- broaden your impact
Through workshops and activities, it will build your transferable skills and increase your confidence.
You’ll cover:
- techniques for effective research
- methods for better collaborative working
- essential professional standards and requirements
Your researcher development programme is flexible. You can adapt it to meet your changing needs as you progress through your doctorate.
Find out more about the Researcher Education and Development programme
Doctoral training and partnerships
There are opportunities to undertake your PhD at Newcastle within a:
- Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT)
- Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)
Being part of a CDT or DTP has many benefits:
- they combine research expertise and training of a number of leading universities, academic schools and academics.
- you’ll study alongside a cohort of other PhD students
- they’re often interdisciplinary
- your PhD may be funded
If there are currently opportunities available in your subject area you’ll find them when you search for funding in the fees and funding section on this course.
The following centres/partnerships below may have PhD opportunities available in your subject area in the future:
Northern Bridge Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership – www.northernbridge.ac.uk/
Your future
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.
Visit our Careers Service website
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
Check the government’s website for more information.
Facilities
Our facilities include:
- a postgraduate common room
- three dedicated interpreting suites
- professional translation software
- the Language Resource Centre, equipped with audio-visual and computing facilities linked to a digital speech bank
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
Academic entry requirements
A 2:1 honours degree and usually a good master’s degree in a subject related to one of the discipline areas covered by the School of Modern Languages.
You are required to attend an interview, which may be conducted via Skype if necessary.
