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MA Interpreting

Academic Year 2021/22

A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be registered. All programmes of the University are subject to the University's Quality Assurance and Enhancement processes as set out in the DASA Policies and Procedures Manual.

Programme Title

MA Interpreting

Final Award
(exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes)

Master of Arts

Programme Code

IDC-MA-IN

UCAS Code

HECoS Code

101130

ATAS Clearance Required

No

Health Check Required

No

Portfolio Required

Interview Required

Candidates will normally be interviewed as part of the application process in order to ascertain competency in their language pair.

Mode of Study

Full Time

Type of Programme

Postgraduate

Length of Programme

Full Time - 1 Academic Year(s)

Total Credits for Programme

180

Exit Awards available

INSTITUTE INFORMATION

Teaching Institution

Queen's University Belfast

School/Department

Arts, English and Languages

Quality Code
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code

Higher Education Credit Framework for England
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/higher-education-credit-framework-for-england

Level 7

Subject Benchmark Statements
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements

The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/quality-code/qualifications-frameworks.pdf

Accreditations (PSRB)

REGULATION INFORMATION

Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations
(Please see General Regulations)

N/A

Programme Specific Regulations

Awards, Credits and Progression of Learning Outcomes
The following regulations should be read in conjunction with the University’s General Regulations for Postgraduate Students.
Assessment

The pass mark for each module and the dissertation is 50%.

Students must pass all taught modules (120 CATS points) and the dissertation (60 CATS points) to be awarded the degree of MA in Interpreting.

Students must pass all taught modules before proceeding to the dissertation.

Students who fail one or more of the taught modules are permitted one further attempt to pass the module at the next available opportunity for a maximum of 50%.

Two copies of the dissertation must be submitted by mid September (specific date may vary from year to year).

The dissertation must be submitted within a period of no more than two years after completion of the taught modules. A candidate who fails the dissertation may re-submit it for a maximum mark of 50%. Only one resubmission will be permitted.

Where an overall average of 60+ is achieved, candidates will be awarded the degree of MA in Interpreting with commendation.

Where an overall average of 70+ is achieved, a mark of 70+ is achieved in the dissertation module, and an average of 65+ is achieved in the other modules, candidates will be awarded the degree of MA in Interpreting with distinction.

Candidates who pass all the taught modules but who do not submit a dissertation or fail to achieve a mark of at least 50% in the dissertation shall be eligible for the award of Postgraduate Diploma in Interpreting.

Students with protected characteristics

Are students subject to Fitness to Practise Regulations

(Please see General Regulations)

No

EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF PROGRAMME

The overall aim of the Master of Arts in Interpreting programme is to offer a high quality, supportive teaching and learning environment that provides students with an advanced qualification in the field of interpreting to enable them to work at the highest professional level with opportunity to:
Develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the prevailing theories and practices of Interpreting through intellectual and interactive enquiry;
Receive a grounding in the field of Interpreting, defined as theory and practice, that will enable students both to undertake independent research and/or to work as high-quality professional interpreters in a range of relevant settings;
Develop sophisticated intellectual enquiry and debate with fellow students, academics and professional practitioners, drawn from a range of relevant backgrounds, through interrogation of theoretical models and analysis of practice-based work;
Enhance their professional interpreting skills and to theorise within the context of the discipline and their own practice;
Build a professional knowledge of the language-services market place and skills to work efficiently and effectively within the profession;
Learn and promote a dynamic and innovative approach to interpreting as a mode for understanding the socio-political and cultural complexities posed by the movement of peoples and the demands of multi-ethnic organisation;
Develop effective writing and oral-communication skills, and to develop as independent interpreters and self-reflective lifelong learners;
Undertake and successfully complete a substantial piece of research within the field of Interpreting.

Develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the prevailing theories and practices of Interpreting through intellectual and interactive enquiry;

Receive a grounding in the field of Interpreting, defined as theory and practice, that will enable students both to undertake independent research and/or to work as high-quality professional interpreters in a range of relevant settings;

Develop sophisticated intellectual enquiry and debate with fellow students, academics and professional practitioners, drawn from a range of relevant backgrounds, through interrogation of theoretical models and analysis of practice-based work;

Enhance their professional interpreting skills and to theorise within the context of the discipline and their own practice;

Build a professional knowledge of the language-services market place and skills to work efficiently and effectively within the profession;

Learn and promote a dynamic and innovative approach to interpreting as a mode for understanding the socio-political and cultural complexities posed by the movement of peoples and the demands of multi-ethnic organisation;

Develop effective writing and oral-communication skills, and to develop as independent interpreters and self-reflective lifelong learners;

Undertake and successfully complete a substantial piece of research within the field of Interpreting.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning Outcomes: Cognitive Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Apply theory to practice;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminar discussion, seminar presentations, language exercises, scenario and situational role-plays

Methods of Assessment

Research exercises, performance analysis, essays and dissertation.

Critically reflect and make judgment in terms of their own professional performance;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminar discussion, seminar presentations, language exercises, scenario and situational role-plays

Methods of Assessment

Research exercises, performance analysis, essays and dissertation.

Engage with and interpret, at a sophisticated level, layers of meaning within discourse;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminar discussion, seminar presentations, language exercises, scenario and situational role-plays

Methods of Assessment

Research exercises, performance analysis, essays and dissertation.

Undertake and conduct sustained research;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminar discussion, seminar presentations, language exercises, scenario and situational role-plays

Methods of Assessment

Research exercises, performance analysis, essays and dissertation.

Contextualise within a variety of perspectives and professional situations;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminar discussion, seminar presentations, language exercises, scenario and situational role-plays

Methods of Assessment

Research exercises, performance analysis, essays and dissertation.

Synthesise and present complex ideas, in both written and oral form, within the framework of a structured and reasoned argument in a well-articulated, and stylistically mature fashion;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminar discussion, seminar presentations, language exercises, scenario and situational role-plays

Methods of Assessment

Research exercises, performance analysis, essays and dissertation.

Work autonomously, manifested in self-direction, self-discipline, and time-management;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminar discussion, seminar presentations, language exercises, scenario and situational role-plays

Methods of Assessment

Research exercises, performance analysis, essays and dissertation.

Apply a critical apparatus at a high level of expertise;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminar discussion, seminar presentations, language exercises, scenario and situational role-plays

Methods of Assessment

Research exercises, performance analysis, essays and dissertation.

Develop independent and sophisticated insights into the world of the professional interpreter, and to demonstrate these through the undertaking of independent research projects;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminar discussion, seminar presentations, language exercises, scenario and situational role-plays

Methods of Assessment

Research exercises, performance analysis, essays and dissertation.

Demonstrate specialist knowledge and skills deriving from extensive research in all areas of professional activity.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminar discussion, seminar presentations, language exercises, scenario and situational role-plays

Methods of Assessment

Research exercises, performance analysis, essays and dissertation.

Learning Outcomes: Transferable Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Plan and undertake independent research

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminar discussion, seminar presentations, language exercises, scenario and situational role-plays

Methods of Assessment

Research exercises, performance analysis, essays and dissertation.

Retrieve, sift, and select current and relevant primary and secondary information from standard and electronic sources

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminar discussion, seminar presentations, language exercises, scenario and situational role-plays

Methods of Assessment

Research exercises, performance analysis, essays and dissertation.

Communicate and present to a range of audiences at an advanced level of professionalism

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminar discussion, seminar presentations, language exercises, scenario and situational role-plays

Methods of Assessment

Research exercises, performance analysis, essays and dissertation.

Utilise IT skills for professional use

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminar discussion, seminar presentations, language exercises, scenario and situational role-plays

Methods of Assessment

Research exercises, performance analysis, essays and dissertation.

Engage in independent learning and research

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminar discussion, seminar presentations, language exercises, scenario and situational role-plays

Methods of Assessment

Research exercises, performance analysis, essays and dissertation.

Learning Outcomes: Knowledge & Understanding

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

knowledge and understanding of the principles and practices of professional interpreting and translation;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Students’ acquisition of knowledge is achieved primarily through core seminars leading to further guided independent study
All students take Principles and Practices of Interpreting as a foundation module. This module introduces students to the various forms of interpreting practice – simultaneous, consecutive, liaison and conference – and the particular methodologies and skills (note-taking, presentation, technical etc) that they require.

Methods of Assessment

Interpreting modules are assessed by a combination of essays and practical exercises.
These exercises give students the opportunity to apply the bodies of theoretical knowledge acquired in the theoretical core of each module within specific contexts of professional practice.

knowledge and understanding of the range of contexts in which interpreters work;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Students’ acquisition of knowledge is achieved primarily through core seminars leading to further guided independent study
All students take Principles and Practices of Interpreting as a foundation module. This module introduces students to the various forms of interpreting practice – simultaneous, consecutive, liaison and conference – and the particular methodologies and skills (note-taking, presentation, technical etc) that they require.

Methods of Assessment

Interpreting modules are assessed by a combination of essays and practical exercises.
These exercises give students the opportunity to apply the bodies of theoretical knowledge acquired in the theoretical core of each module within specific contexts of professional practice.

knowledge and understanding of the tools and resources for professional research;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Students’ acquisition of knowledge is achieved primarily through core seminars leading to further guided independent study
All students take Principles and Practices of Interpreting as a foundation module. This module introduces students to the various forms of interpreting practice – simultaneous, consecutive, liaison and conference – and the particular methodologies and skills (note-taking, presentation, technical etc) that they require.

Methods of Assessment

Interpreting modules are assessed by a combination of essays and practical exercises.
These exercises give students the opportunity to apply the bodies of theoretical knowledge acquired in the theoretical core of each module within specific contexts of professional practice.

knowledge and understanding of the language-services sector;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Students’ acquisition of knowledge is achieved primarily through core seminars leading to further guided independent study
All students take Principles and Practices of Interpreting as a foundation module. This module introduces students to the various forms of interpreting practice – simultaneous, consecutive, liaison and conference – and the particular methodologies and skills (note-taking, presentation, technical etc) that they require.

Methods of Assessment

Interpreting modules are assessed by a combination of essays and practical exercises.
These exercises give students the opportunity to apply the bodies of theoretical knowledge acquired in the theoretical core of each module within specific contexts of professional practice.

knowledge and understanding of the socio-political and cultural complexities posed by the movement of peoples and the demands of multi-ethnic organisation

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Students’ acquisition of knowledge is achieved primarily through core seminars leading to further guided independent study
All students take Principles and Practices of Interpreting as a foundation module. This module introduces students to the various forms of interpreting practice – simultaneous, consecutive, liaison and conference – and the particular methodologies and skills (note-taking, presentation, technical etc) that they require.

Methods of Assessment

Interpreting modules are assessed by a combination of essays and practical exercises.
These exercises give students the opportunity to apply the bodies of theoretical knowledge acquired in the theoretical core of each module within specific contexts of professional practice.

Learning Outcomes: Subject Specific

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Command a high level of linguistic competence in their chosen language pairs appropriate to a full range of professional interpreting contexts;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

All teaching is seminar and workshop-based, thus facilitating the focused application of knowledge and theory to practice.

Students present seminar papers, and play an active role in determining the subjects to be discussed.

Extensive independent reading is expected in advance of seminars, and is required for the essays that students submit.

Students complete a series of preparatory tasks for the workshop elements of each module.

Methods of Assessment

The dissertation marks the culmination of this learning process, and draws together students’ knowledge and understanding of the subject, in particular the relationship between theory and practice, their subject-specific skills, and their cognitive and transferable skills.

Apply a high level of competence in the professional skills of interpreting: research and glossary competence, note-taking skills, active-listening skills, discourse and pragmatic analysis;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

All teaching is seminar and workshop-based, thus facilitating the focused application of knowledge and theory to practice.

Students present seminar papers, and play an active role in determining the subjects to be discussed.

Extensive independent reading is expected in advance of seminars, and is required for the essays that students submit.

Students complete a series of preparatory tasks for the workshop elements of each module.

Methods of Assessment

The dissertation marks the culmination of this learning process, and draws together students’ knowledge and understanding of the subject, in particular the relationship between theory and practice, their subject-specific skills, and their cognitive and transferable skills.

Demonstrate efficiency and effectiveness in business practice;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

All teaching is seminar and workshop-based, thus facilitating the focused application of knowledge and theory to practice.

Students present seminar papers, and play an active role in determining the subjects to be discussed.

Extensive independent reading is expected in advance of seminars, and is required for the essays that students submit.

Students complete a series of preparatory tasks for the workshop elements of each module.

Methods of Assessment

The dissertation marks the culmination of this learning process, and draws together students’ knowledge and understanding of the subject, in particular the relationship between theory and practice, their subject-specific skills, and their cognitive and transferable skills.

Effectively work at a professional level with a range of electronic and software-based resources;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

All teaching is seminar and workshop-based, thus facilitating the focused application of knowledge and theory to practice.

Students present seminar papers, and play an active role in determining the subjects to be discussed.

Extensive independent reading is expected in advance of seminars, and is required for the essays that students submit.

Students complete a series of preparatory tasks for the workshop elements of each module.

Methods of Assessment

The dissertation marks the culmination of this learning process, and draws together students’ knowledge and understanding of the subject, in particular the relationship between theory and practice, their subject-specific skills, and their cognitive and transferable skills.

MODULE INFORMATION

Programme Requirements

Module Title

Module Code

Level/ stage

Credits

Availability

Duration

Pre-requisite

 

Assessment

 

 

 

 

S1

S2

 

 

Core

Option

Coursework %

Practical %

Examination %

Principles and Practices of Interpreting

MML7050

7

40

YES

YES

24 weeks

N

YES

70%

30%

0%

Simultaneous Interpreting

MML7051

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

20%

80%

0%

Public Service Interpreting

MML7052

7

20

YES

YES

24 weeks

N

YES

25%

75%

0%

Dissertation

MML7054

7

60

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Commercial Interpreting

MML7053

7

20

YES

YES

24 weeks

N

YES

20%

80%

0%

Consecutive Interpreting

MML7056

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

20%

80%

0%

Profession & Placement Module

MML7058

7

0

YES

YES

24 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Notes

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, the structure of this programme of study has altered for academic year 2020-21 and your module choice may run in a different sequence. You should refer to the programme handbook / your School for specific module details or any queries.

All modules are compulsory. Students must pass all taught modules (at a minimum of 50%) before proceeding to the dissertation (MML7054). Because of specific language combinations changing from one year to another the programme is offered in full time only.
Please note, modules MML7052 & MML7053 will only be available to study in semester 1 (AUT) for those students who commenced the program in January 2021. September starts will take them in semester 2 (SPR).
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