Interpreting and Translation, Mandarin and English

As China raises its international profile in the spheres of economics, politics and culture, it has declared high-level training for specialist translators and interpreters as one of the country's educational priorities. In line with the Chinese Ministry of Education's recent introduction of a new framework for master degrees in Translation and Interpreting (MTI), the University of Nottingham Ningbo China started to recruit its first postgraduates in September 2008.

Educational Aims

In the first instance we offer an MA in Interpreting and Translation in Mandarin and English. Other languages will be added in future. The degree aims to train students who already possess high-level English and Mandarin language skills to professional levels of competence in interpreting and translation. Graduates from the course will be capable of interpreting across a wide range of subjects involving dialogues at specialist consultations and presentations by consecutive mode. Subject to performance in Semester 1, students will have the practice in simultaneous interpreting. Graduates will be capable of translating across a wide range of subjects and have a sound conceptual understanding of the material being translated.

The course will raise students' language skills to a higher level, introduce students to interpreting and translation theory, new technologies for translating and interpreting, key concepts of economics and business, technology, the media and culture. Students will also have the opportunity to continue a second foreign language from intermediate level. Teaching will be enhanced with input from professional interpreters and translators, and the university will seek accreditation for the degree from Chinese and British professional bodies.

The programme is made up of core modules in the theory and practice of interpreting and translation. In addition, students may take optional modules in specialist areas of interpreting and translation, and continue their study of a second foreign language. In the second semester students will continue with both interpreting and translation but they will have the opportunity to specialise in one or the other through the Advanced Translation or the Advanced Interpreting modules. Admission to the modules will be subject to performance in the Professional Translation or Professional Interpreting modules in semester 1. Students will write a dissertation or complete an interpreting or a translation project for submission in September. The programme will work closely with the Career Office in offering students the opportunity to undertake internships in summer in China, the UK or Europe with an international agency, public service sectors or private companies.

Applicants with English as a second language should have a good undergraduate degree in any subject and an IELTS score of 7 (with no less than 6 in any element) for admission to the one-year programme. Applicants who do not meet this requirement may be accepted onto the pre-Master Course with an IELTS score of 6 and are required to achieve the equivalent of IELTS 7 by the end of the pre-Masters. Applicants with Chinese as a second language should have a good undergraduate degree (Upper Second level or international equivalent) and a high level of competence in written and spoken Chinese. Applicants may be required to attend for interview and aptitude tests before admission.*TOEFL paper-based 600(no less than 4.5 in TWE)*TOEFL computer-based 250 (no less than 4.5 in essay rating)*TOEFL iBT 100(no less than 21 in any element) English Language Requirements IELTS band: 7 TOEFL paper-based test score : 600 TOEFL iBT® test: 100