Gain the sought-after skills you need for a career in specialist language work on this practical and respected master’s course.

Our MA Translation and Professional Language Skills course prepares you to work as a professional linguist at a high level.

During the course, you'll develop the skills required for a range of roles in international organisations and language service providers. You'll mostly work with the written word to develop proficiency in specialised language services, such as:

• translating
• editing
• proofreading
• précis-writing (a type of summary writing used by the United Nations). This is only available on course pathways that include French, Spanish or Russian

Through your core units, you’ll advance your editing, revision, and proofreading abilities. These are often the key areas of expertise sought by employers and agencies in the industry.

You can then complement these foundational skills with optional units in specialisms like public service interpreting, public speaking, and translation technology; and even learn how to set up and run your own language services company.

Bath has longstanding links with international organisations like the United Nations and European Union. We make use of these links to keep our programmes up to date with the professional world and to set up external training opportunities where possible.

Watch our recent webinar about this course

Learn from experts in the field

You’ll learn from highly experienced tutors who work, or have previously worked, as professional linguists in various settings. This will allow you to benefit from their wealth of experience, contemporary knowledge, and industry networks.

Use specialist facilities

Depending on your choice of optional units, you will have access to our professional-grade interpreting labs and on-campus TV studio. These are equipped with interpreter consoles and microphones, interpreter booths, and online conference facilities. Access to these labs is exclusive to students studying interpreting units.

Gain important career skills

On completion of this course, you'll leave with:

• a proven ability to work with varied and challenging texts, providing a strong foundation for working at an international level
• experience of working to deadlines and using style guides
• contacts and relationships with potential employers from career-focused talks and/or external training
• access to our close-knit alumni network of linguists who work in international organisations, private bodies and independent agencies
• evidence of translation skills, including the dissertation you'll complete at the end of the taught part of the course
• a greater level of intercultural awareness, which is important for working in an international role

You'll also have the opportunity to attend talks or extracurricular units to enhance your core learning. These will cover a range of topics such as law, economics and current affairs.

In addition to this, we regularly invite speakers and trainers from the course’s professional network to deliver career-focused talks and additional training sessions.

Training opportunities

Where possible, we use our extensive network of contacts to organise external training opportunities. These are often with the language services of international organisations, government departments or translation companies.

These opportunities can provide you with invaluable insights into the work of professional linguists and are highly valued by employers. However, they are not compulsory or guaranteed. Your language combination and your progress on the course will be considered when matching you with potential training opportunities, along with any other relevant information.

If you do undertake additional training, you will be able to hone your skills as a linguist by carrying out authentic tasks and receiving direct feedback from experts in the field.

Our students have previously undertaken training with many organisations, including:

• the United Nations
• institutions of the European Union
• the Council of Europe

Graduate Prospects

Our MA Translation and Professional Languages Skills course is vocational and has an excellent international reputation.

Many of our graduates have gone on to a range of careers in specialist language work. Others have used the transferable skills gained to pursue further study, or careers in teaching, publishing, and design.

Recent graduates have gone on to work for:

• European Central Bank
• United Nations
• GCHQ
• International Atomic Energy Agency
• International Court of Justice
• Expedia
• Healthline
• Wine & Spirit Education Trust

Associations and resources

By studying this course, you will be able to access a number of tools and online resources to support your learning. These include:

• Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) - CIOL representatives will host a presentation (either on-campus or online) giving tips on how to start your career as a linguist, updates on CIOL activities and membership options. You'll also be able to access The Linguist, CIOL’s publication
• Conférence Internationale Permanente d'Instituts Universitaires de Traducteurs et Interprètes (CIUTI) - This course is recognised by CIUTI for its quality and relevance. You will have access to the latest developments in the interpreting and translation professions
• Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) - You will receive information about the only UK-based independent professional membership association for translators, interpreters and all those involved in supplying language services
• National Network for Translation (NNT) - You will be notified about national and regional events, and other related activities

You will normally need one of the following:

• IELTS: 7.5 overall with no less than 7 in the speaking component and no less than 6.5 in the writing, listening and reading components
• The Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic): 73 overall with no less than 65 in the speaking element and no less than 58 in the writing, listening and reading elements
• TOEFL IBT: 108 overall with a minimum of 27 in the speaking component and a minimum of 24 in the writing, listening and reading components.

You will need to get your English language qualification within 24 months prior to starting your course.

This course is designed to equip you with the knowledge and practical abilities required to work in various careers within economics. These include banking, consulting, governmental organisations and research institutions. It also provides suitable preparation for doctoral study and future roles in academia. Common graduate roles in applied economics include: applied economist civil servant consultant financial analyst investment banker risk analyst Recent graduates have gone on to work in a number of different roles across the world in organisations such as: World Bank Royal Bank of Scotland HSBC JP Morgan Chase & Co Deloitte HMRC and other government institutions both in the UK and overseas Others have chosen to continue their careers in academia.