MA Translation Studies

Postgraduate Entry Requirements

Academic Qualifications: Applicants should have successfully completed a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a recognized institution with a minimum overall score of 60% or equivalent.

English language proficiency:

• IELTS: A minimum overall score of 6.5 or 7.0 with no individual component below 6.
• TOEFL: A minimum overall score of 100.
• PTE Academic: A minimum overall score of 76.
• Some postgraduate programs may have specific subject prerequisites or additional requirements.

Cardiff University offers a range of scholarships to support international students pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate studies. These scholarships are designed to attract high-achieving students from around the world, easing the financial burden and recognizing academic excellence. 

Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship: Cardiff University’s Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship is a merit-based award that provides partial funding for exceptional international undergraduate and postgraduate students. This scholarship rewards high academic achievement and study, making it ideal for students with strong academic backgrounds.

Global Wales Postgraduate Scholarship: This scholarship offers substantial funding to international postgraduate students from certain countries, including the USA, India, Vietnam, and EU nations. The scholarship covers part of the tuition fees and is awarded based on academic merit and potential for success.

Chevening Scholarship: Offered in collaboration with the UK government, the prestigious Chevening Scholarship is available to international students who demonstrate leadership potential and academic excellence. The award covers tuition fees, living expenses, travel costs, and other allowances, supporting future leaders and influencers in various fields.

Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships: For students from Commonwealth countries, the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships provide funding for postgraduate students who would otherwise be unable to study in the UK. The scholarship includes full tuition, living expenses, and airfare, ensuring accessibility for students from developing nations.

British Council GREAT Scholarships: Cardiff University partners with the British Council to offer the GREAT Scholarships for students from specific countries, including China, India, Malaysia, and Thailand. These scholarships provide financial assistance for tuition fees and are intended to encourage bright students to pursue postgraduate studies in the UK.

Subject-Specific Scholarships: Certain academic departments at Cardiff University offer additional scholarships tailored to specific fields of study, such as engineering, business, and life sciences. These scholarships provide partial funding and are aimed at attracting talented students to specific programs.

Financial Aid and External Scholarships: In addition to Cardiff University scholarships, students can explore external funding options such as loans, grants, and scholarships provided by their home countries or private organizations. The university’s financial aid office offers guidance to help students find external financial support.

Cardiff University’s MA in Translation Studies thus opens up a diverse range of career paths, enabling graduates to enter a variety of industries, from media and technology to academia and international organizations.

Translator: Graduates of the MA in Translation Studies are well-prepared to pursue careers as professional translators in various sectors, including literary, technical, commercial, and scientific translation. They can specialize in translating documents, websites, legal texts, or literary works.

Interpreter: Many students use their skills to become interpreters in different settings such as conferences, courtrooms, international organizations, or healthcare institutions. The program equips students with the necessary tools to interpret in real-time or in written form.

Localization Specialist: With the rise of global digital markets, localization experts are in high demand. Cardiff's MA in Translation Studies prepares students to adapt content for international markets, including websites, software, and video games, ensuring that language and cultural nuances are accurately represented.

Subtitler/Captioner: As multimedia content grows, subtitling and captioning for films, television, and online platforms are vital. Graduates can work with audiovisual media, providing accurate and culturally appropriate captions or subtitles for various languages.

Translation Technology Specialist: With the growing use of translation software and machine translation, graduates may choose to work as specialists in translation technologies, managing and improving the efficiency of tools like CAT (Computer-Assisted Translation) tools or MT (Machine Translation) systems.

Project Manager in Translation Agencies: Many graduates find opportunities in translation and localization project management, overseeing projects that require coordination between translators, clients, and technology. This role requires strong organizational skills and knowledge of the translation industry.

Academic and Research Positions: For those interested in academia, the MA in Translation Studies provides a foundation for pursuing a PhD or entering research roles in translation and linguistics. Graduates can contribute to advancing the field through scholarly research or teaching at universities.

Freelance Translator/Interpreter: The flexibility of the MA program enables graduates to work as freelance professionals, offering translation and interpreting services to a wide range of clients across different industries and regions, managing their own schedules and client relationships.

Language Specialist in Multinational Corporations: Cardiff’s MA prepares graduates for roles as language specialists within large corporations, assisting in the translation and localization of marketing materials, internal communications, and product documentation for global audiences.

Cultural Advisor: Graduates with expertise in translation studies can also work as cultural advisors, providing insight into cultural differences and assisting companies in adapting their communication strategies for various international markets.