Which language pairs does the MA Translation Studies support?

We support European languages (French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and others), Arabic, Mandarin Chinese and selected additional languages — into and out of English. Tutor availability for some pairs is by application; admissions can confirm for your specific combination.

Does the MA Translation Studies cover audiovisual translation?

Yes. A dedicated module covers subtitling, dubbing and accessibility translation (SDH, audio description). Audiovisual translation is now a major employment area and the course treats it as a core specialist track rather than an optional add-on.

Can I do the MA Translation Studies part-time?

Yes. The MA can be taken over 24 months part-time. Online and distance routes are designed for working translators — most students continue freelancing or holding in-house roles through the course.

Will the MA Translation Studies help me apply for ITI or CIOL membership?

Yes. The course is aligned with ITI and CIOL professional standards and the MA credential, combined with the translation portfolio you produce, strengthens applications for qualified or chartered membership at the appropriate level.

What kind of dissertation do students write on the MA Translation Studies?

Either research-track theoretical work, 12,000–15,000 words, or an applied translation project with substantial critical commentary. Recent dissertations have covered audiovisual translation of comedy, postcolonial retranslation of canonical texts, and terminology management for emerging technology domains.

MA Translation Studies in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MA Translation Studies at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a one-year UK postgraduate degree for working translators and advanced bilingual graduates seeking research-track and professional credentialing. You will study translation theory at advanced level, practise translation across literary, legal, commercial and audiovisual domains in your language pair(s), and produce a substantial translation portfolio plus a 12,000-to-15,000 word dissertation supervised by an active researcher in translation studies.

Translation is a serious profession with its own theoretical tradition and its own professional bodies. The MA Translation Studies is built around the standard those professional bodies expect — aligned with Institute of Translation & Interpreting and Chartered Institute of Linguists guidance. By the end of the MA Translation Studies you can translate to publication standard, defend your choices using current translation theory, and contribute to professional and scholarly conversation in the field.

Key Features

Translation theory core — equivalence, skopos, target-culture orientation, postcolonial and feminist translation, contemporary critical translation studies.
Specialist practice modules — literary, legal, commercial, scientific and audiovisual translation.
Translation technology module — CAT tools (memoQ, Trados, Memsource), terminology management, MT post-editing.
Professional practice module — freelance business, agency relationships, ITI and CIOL professional standards and ethics.
12,000–15,000 word dissertation — research-track theoretical, or applied translation project with critical commentary.
Substantial translation portfolio across literary, specialist and audiovisual registers.

What You Will Learn

The MA Translation Studies is structured around the working life of a serious translator — theory, practice, technology, business. You graduate able to translate to publication standard across registers, defend your choices using current theory, and operate professionally inside the translation industry or within institutional translation contexts.

Translation theory — major frameworks from equivalence to skopos to postcolonial translation.
Literary translation — prose, poetry, drama, longform non-fiction.
Legal translation — contracts, statutes, court material, sworn translation foundations.
Commercial and technical translation — marketing, technical documentation, financial.
Audiovisual translation — subtitling, dubbing, accessibility (SDH, AD).
Translation technology — CAT tools, terminology management, MT post-editing.
Professional practice — freelance business, agency relationships, ITI and CIOL standards.
Dissertation methodology — research design, write-up at MA standard.

Who This MA Is For

Working translators with at least intermediate professional experience.
Advanced bilingual graduates — modern languages, applied linguistics, area studies — entering professional translation.
In-house translators at agencies, publishers, broadcasters and international organisations wanting formal credentialing.
Future academics preparing for PhD work in translation studies.

Career Pathways

Graduates of the MA Translation Studies move into senior translation, localisation and translation-adjacent roles across UK and international markets. Typical post-MA destinations include:

Professional Translator (in-house, agency, freelance)
Localisation Project Manager (technology, games, professional services)
Subtitler (broadcaster, streaming platform, indie subtitling agency)
Legal Translator (specialist legal-translation provider, international firm)
Literary Translator (publisher in-house or freelance)
Senior In-House Translator (EU institutions, UN-system agencies — entry routes)

The MA also serves as a launchpad for doctoral research in translation studies and for ITI/CIOL chartered status applications.

Entry Requirements

A UK 2:2 honours degree (or international equivalent) in a related subject, OR a 2:2 in any subject with two years of relevant professional experience.
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
Personal statement (max 1 page) outlining your motivation, relevant experience and intended specialism.
Two academic or professional references; demonstrated advanced proficiency in at least one working language other than English.
Applicants without a related undergraduate degree may be considered with significant industry experience and a written sample.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.