Master of Translation and Interpreting (MC-TRANINT)
Masters (Coursework)Year: 2025 Delivered: On Campus (Parkville)
About this course
Contact
Coordinator
Associate Professor Ester Leung
Email: esther.leung@unimelb.edu.au
Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Currently enrolled students:
Future students:
Overview
| Award title | Master of Translation and Interpreting |
|---|---|
| Year & campus | 2025 — Parkville |
| CRICOS code | 103338F |
| Fees information | Subject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date |
| Study level & type | Graduate Coursework |
| AQF level | 9 |
| Credit points | 200 credit points |
| Duration | 24 months full-time or 48 months part-time |
Master of Translation and Interpreting prepares the highly skilled professionals who will mediate international relations over the coming decades. Master of Translation and Interpreting is aimed at bilinguals who intend to work as professional translators and interpreters in professional roles that demand high-level translation, interpreting and intercultural skills. Graduates may work in fields such as government, business, commerce, law, international relations, or specialised technical areas. Master of Translation and Interpreting is notable for its access to the intellectual resources of Australia’s No. 1 university, in particular the Asia Institute and the School of Languages and Linguistics.
Master of Translation and Interpreting focuses on both written and oral translation between English and Chinese languages. Students will develop professional competence in translating and interpreting specialised topics, managing terminology, using translation technologies, and negotiating the cultural and intellectual boundaries of the English-speaking world. Practical learning is underpinned by study of theories of translation and interpreting. Preparation for professional practice is provided by real world connection in varied forms of experiential learning such as translation industry projects, scenario analysis and/or internship. A research pathway is offered by the Translation and Interpreting Studies Thesis.
Study methods include intensive small group sessions, autonomous study through learning technologies, connection with industry partners and placement in a professional translation and interpreting environment.
Master of Translation and Interpreting is endorsed by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd, Australia (NAATI), at the levels of Certified Translator, Certified Advanced Translator, Certified Provisional Interpreter, Certified Interpreter, Certified (Specialist) Legal Interpreter. Please see the NAATI website for further details.
Links to further information
Entry requirements
1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have:
- An undergraduate degree in any discipline with at least an H2B (70%) weighted average
Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.
2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:
- Prior academic performance; and
- Relevance of previous studies
3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.
4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university's English language requirements for graduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.
The English Language Requirement must be satisfied and the applicant must be at native competency or near-native competency in the Chinese Language.
Please note: Credentials for language competence will be determined by the course coordinator/selection committee, and may include prior study, tests and interviews. Native speaker is broadly defined here as a person who has spoken the language from birth and has had the majority of their education in the medium of that language.
Notes
Applicants with the following may be awarded up to 50 points of credit:
- An undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005) and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF127). For the purposes of considering requests for reasonable adjustments, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the overview, attributes, outcomes and skills of this entry. Further details about how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Intended learning outcomes
Students who complete this Course will be able to:
- Demonstrate informed understanding of recent developments in the discipline of Translation and Interpreting Studies and their professional practices
- Translate and interpret texts, written and spoken, taking into consideration the major theories underpinning the practices of translation and interpreting
- Apply strategies for translating and interpreting different types of texts, varying in register, style and domain
- Understand the cultural and intellectual foundations of the cultures in relation to the translation and interpreting tasks
- Utilise the range of technologies specific to the translation and interpreting tasks
- Work in team-based and project-based work environments
- Produce high-quality translations and interpreting that demonstrate the integration and application of theory and technical skills
- Apply knowledge and skills to plan and execute a substantial research-based project
- Translate and interpret to publication-quality in selected specialised genres, including managing terminology and accessing research tool
Generic skills
The generic skills that students who complete this course should develop are:
- The ability to communicate effectively
- The ability to convey information appropriately and accurately
- The ability to apply knowledge in practice and research
Graduate attributes
The Melbourne Experience enables graduates to become:
- Knowledgeable in their specialist discipline with skills to examine issues with multiple disciplinary perspectives
- Aware of social and cultural diversity in communities
- Potential leaders in their professions and their communities
For further information please see http://provost.unimelb.edu.au/teaching-learning
Course structure
The Master of Translation and Interpreting requires the successful completion of 200 credit points.
Students are required to complete the program requirements/structure from the year that they commenced their program. All compulsory, core and capstone subjects must be completed to be eligible to graduate from the program.
200 POINT PROGRAM
Duration: 2 years full time
* Compulsory subjects (87.5 points)
* Capstone subjects (min 25 points)
* Core subjects (min 12.5 points)
* Elective subjects (min 12.5 points)
CAPSTONE REQUIREMENT
Capstone subjects must be completed in the final hundred points of the program. All students are required to complete one Capstone option (at least 25 points) under the chosen stream of study. This requirement cannot be waived or replaced in any circumstances.
CAPSTONE STREAM 1
TRAN90021 Translation, Interpreting, Communication (12.5 points) or
TRAN90022 Translation Industry Project (12.5 points) or
TRAN90027 Translation Practicum (12.5 points)
(Total 25 points – 2 subjects must be selected)
Purpose: To enhance career-readiness and employability by equipping students with the ability to apply theory to practice.
Whereas “Translation, Interpreting, Communication” addresses the issue of translators and interpreters being intercultural facilitators and mediators in a workplace, “Translation Industry Project” offers students an opportunity to undertake real-life translation projects assigned by industry partners.
Translation Practicum is a 12.5-point subject where students are placed in a professional translation environment. They will work on individual and team-based translation projects that require them to integrate their linguistic, technical and communicative skills, and to experience the variety of roles in professional translation such as commissioner, editor and project manager.
Or
TRAN90010 Translation Internship (25 points)
Purpose: Translation Internship is a 25-point subject where students are placed in a professional translation environment. They will work on individual and team-based translation projects that require them to integrate their linguistic, technical and communicative skills, and to experience the variety of roles in professional translation such as commissioner, editor and project manager.
CAPSTONE STREAM 2
TRAN90012 Translation and Interpreting Thesis 1 (18.75 points) and TRAN90013 Translation and Interpreting Thesis 2 (18.75 points)
Purpose: To advance students' critical and analytical skills for career development in academia.
Students should contact their course coordinator prior to the commencement of the semester to apply for the minor thesis pathway. Students will be matched with a supervisor appropriate to their needs and research interests. Under the guidance of this supervisor, students will produce a text of 12,000 words comprising a research project or commented translation/interpreting project approved by the coordinator or supervisor.
150 POINT PROGRAM
Duration: 1.5 years full time
* Compulsory subjects (62.5 points)
* Selective (12.5 points)
* Capstone subjects (min 25 points)
* Core subjects (min 12.5 points)
* Electives subjects (max 37.5)
CAPSTONE REQUIREMENT
Capstone subjects must be completed in the final hundred points of the program. All students are required to complete one Capstone option (at least 25 points) under the chosen stream of study. This requirement cannot be waived or replaced in any circumstances.
CAPSTONE STREAM 1
TRAN90021 Translation, Interpreting, Communication (12.5 points) or
TRAN90022 Translation Industry Project (12.5 points) or
TRAN90027 Translation Practicum (12.5 points)
(Total 25 points – 2 subjects must be selected)
Purpose: To enhance career-readiness and employability by equipping students with the ability to apply theory to practice.
Whereas “Translation, Interpreting, Communication” addresses the issue of translators and interpreters being intercultural facilitators and mediators in a workplace, “Translation Industry Project” offers students an opportunity to undertake real-life translation projects assigned by industry partners.
Translation Practicum is a 12.5-point subject where students are placed in a professional translation environment. They will work on individual and team-based translation projects that require them to integrate their linguistic, technical and communicative skills, and to experience the variety of roles in professional translation such as commissioner, editor and project manager.
Or
TRAN90010 Translation Internship (25 points)
Purpose: Translation Internship is a 25-point subject where students are placed in a professional translation environment. They will work on individual and team-based translation projects that require them to integrate their linguistic, technical and communicative skills, and to experience the variety of roles in professional translation such as commissioner, editor and project manager.
CAPSTONE STREAM 2
TRAN90012 Translation and Interpreting Thesis 1 (18.75 points) and TRAN90013 Translation and Interpreting Thesis 2 (18.75 points)
Purpose: To advance students' critical and analytical skills for career development in academia.
Students should contact their course coordinator prior to the commencement of the semester to apply for the minor thesis pathway. Students will be matched with a supervisor appropriate to their needs and research interests. Under the guidance of this supervisor, students will produce a text of 12,000 words comprising a research project or commented translation/interpreting project approved by the coordinator or supervisor.
EXTERNAL SUBJECT RULE
Student may undertake an external subject (not listed within the program structure) with the permission of the program and subject coordinator. All external subject requests must be for the elective subject requirement, not as a compulsory, core or capstone subject. The maximum external subjects allowed are as follows:
* 200 point program undertaken at University of Melbourne (2 years): maximum 25 points
* 150 point program undertaken at University of Melbourne (1.5 years): maximum 12.5 points
* 100* point program undertaken at University of Melbourne (1 year): 12.5 points
* 50*^ point program undertaken at University of Melbourne (0.5 years): 0 points
* GC-ARTS, GD-ARTS, GCA-ARTS and GDA-ARTS students are not normally granted permission to undertake external subjects towards their degree.
^ Exception: Students admitted to 50 point programs may apply to take LING90002, Presenting Academic Discourse, as an external subject.
Please note that advanced standing contributes to a student’s remaining points undertaken at University of Melbourne, and may affect how many points the student can undertake outside the enrolled program.
For policies that govern this degree, see the Courses, Subjects, Awards and Programs Policy [https://policy.unimelb.edu.au/MPF1327#section-4.15] in the University Melbourne Policy Library [https://policy.unimelb.edu.au/]. Students also should also refer to information in the Enrolment and Timetabling Policy. [https://policy.unimelb.edu.au/MPF1294#section-4.1]
Majors, minors & specialisations
Entry point programs
| Name | Credit Points |
|---|---|
| 200pt Program | 200 |
| 150pt Program | 150 |
Further study
Students who successfully complete the Master of Translation and Interpreting program may be eligible for the PhD or Masters by Research program
The Master of Translation and Interpreting program is usually undertaken full time, however applications for part-time study may be considered for students who are admitted into the program and are unable to maintain full time study due to special circumstances.
Last updated: 19 April 2025