MSc/PgDip Business Translation & Interpreting
ApplyKey facts
- Start date: September
- Study mode and duration: MSc: 12 months full-time
PgDip: 9 months full-time
Study with us
- gain practical experience through industry-based activities on a flexible, skill-building course
- boost employability by participating in the SDL Trados Certification Program
- option to pursue a research pathway toward PhD study
- skill-focused, practical course combines business knowledge and translation/interpreting skills
How could the Covid-19 pandemic affect my studies?
Covid-19: information & FAQsWhy this course?
The translation industry is on the rise and specialist translators are highly sought after.
The integration of business knowledge and translation/interpreting skills will give you a competitive edge in the job market, opening up a broader range of career opportunities.
Through the skill-focused and practical nature of the course, you'll gain invaluable industry experience and proficiency in translation and interpreting, which will potentially enhance your employability.
Our lecturers have a wide range of practical and research experience in translation and interpreting.
The practical translation and interpreting sessions will include industry-based tasks.
Glasgow is the economic centre of Scotland, where you can expect to experience a rich cultural and social life.

Interested in postgraduate study?
Our friendly and knowledgeable team will be available to provide you with all of the information you need to kick-start your postgraduate journey at the University of Strathclyde.
Join one of our upcoming online drop-in sessions on:
- Wednesday 20 January - 3pm to 4:30pm
- Thursday 25 February - 3pm to 4:30pm

All of my lecturers and my supervisor at Strathclyde were very helpful and supportive. It was a wonderful and unforgettable experience to study in Strathclyde and also live in a city with marvelous buildings and warm-hearted people.
Graduate
What you’ll study
Your classes will include:
- Text Typology & Translation
- Professional Interpreting Practice
- Translation and Language Technology
- Interpreting for Business and Commerce
- Business Translation
- Translation & Interpreting Studies
- Dissertation/Translation project
Facilities
Our translation labs are equipped with translation software, highly desired in the translation industry, such as SDL Trados.
Learning & teaching
Lectures, workshops and lab practice will all ensure exposure to and engagement with real-world translation and interpreting scenarios.
Assessment
Assessment will be delivered through written assignments, practical interpreting scenarios, practical translation tasks, team and/or individual projects.
Please note
Currently, we only admit students who can master another language in addition to English, from the following:
- Chinese
- Spanish
- Italian
- French

We're a 5-star
QS-rated University
Text Typology and Translation
You are introduced to a variety of text types and gain practical experience of the translation strategies for effective translation of a wide range of specialised texts, including commercial, technical and political texts. This class will allow you to gain a professional level of translation proficiency.
Translation and Interpreting Studies
You get to know contemporary translation theory relating to business translation and interpreting and be able to critically evaluate the appropriateness and acceptability of your own and others’ translations and interpretations.
Professional Interpreting Practice
You will gain a practical knowledge of the various techniques and skills required to reach proficiency as an interpreter and be able to use them effectively in different modes of interpreting through practice.
Translation and Language Technology
You will gain hands-on experience of various cutting-edge translation tools to improve translation consistency and efficiency. You will also have the opportunity to work towards an industr-recognised qualification from SDL Trados.
Interpreting for Business and Commerce
Business Translation
This class provides you with further exposure to a variety of authentic business texts to translate and evaluate, through which experience of commerce and the translation industry will be gained.
Optional classes
- Introduction to Intercultural Communication
- Narrative Processing across Languages & Cultures
- Contemporary Scottish Cultural Studies
- Research Skills in Literature, Culture & Communication
Entry requirements
Academic/ professional requirements | First- or upper second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent. An academic background in English or translating is not required. Applicants with a lower degree classification may be considered on an individual basis. Suitable applicants are required to pass an aptitude test prior to admission, comprising of a written translation test. This may be followed by an oral interview to further demonstrate your language proficiency. The oral interview can be conducted face-to-face or online, according to circumstances. We currently admit students who can master another language in addition to English, from the following:
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English language requirements | Please check our English requirements before making your application. |
Aptitude test | Suitable applicants are required to pass an aptitude test prior to admission, comprising of a written translation test. This may be followed by an oral interview to further demonstrate your language proficiency. The oral interview can be conducted face-to-face or online, according to circumstances. |
International students
We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 100 countries across the world. Find out all you need to know about studying in Glasgow at Strathclyde and hear from students about their experiences.
Visit our international students' sectionFees & funding
All fees quoted are for full-time courses and per academic year unless stated otherwise.
Scotland | £7,100 |
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England, Wales & Northern Ireland | £7,100 |
International | £16,000 |
Available scholarships | Take a look at our scholarships search for funding opportunities. |
Please note: the fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year. Find out more about fees.
How can I fund my course?
Scottish postgraduate students
Scottish postgraduate students may be able to apply for support from the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). The support is in the form of a tuition fee loan and for eligible students, a living cost loan. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from England
Students ordinarily resident in England may be to apply for postgraduate support from Student Finance England. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from Wales
Students ordinarily resident in Wales may be to apply for postgraduate support from Student Finance Wales. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from Northern Ireland
Postgraduate students who are ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland may be able to apply for support from Student Finance Northern Ireland. The support is a tuition fee loan of up to £5,500. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
International students
We've a large range of scholarships available to help you fund your studies. Check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Strathclyde Alumni
Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences Alumni Discount
Alumni from undergraduate programmes who graduated between 2014-2019 can receive 10% off the fee for full-time programmes.
Find out more about our alumni discount
Translation and interpreting play a fundamental role in the transmission of information, ideas, ideologies and identities across boundaries of language and culture. I'm passionate about helping students to develop the skills that they need to identify and overcome barriers to communication, and to thrive in industry. I am also highly enthusiastic about bringing theory into dialogue with practice.
Programme leader
Careers
Students gain professional proficiency in translation and liaison interpreting, specialising in business and commerce, which will open up a broad array of potential career paths from within the translation industry to global commerce and media.
Job titles from both the public and private sectors could include, but not necessarily be restricted to:
- translator
- interpreter
- technical writer
- international communication specialist (in advertising, marketing, media, and public affairs)
- educator
- administrator
Equipped with new business skills, you could also work freelance or establish your own translation and interpreting agency or business. This MSc is also a stepping-stone to pursue a PhD in the field of translation and/or interpreting.
Glasgow is Scotland's biggest & most cosmopolitan city
Our campus is based in the very heart of Glasgow, Scotland's largest city. National Geographic named Glasgow as one of its 'Best of the World' destinations, while Rough Guide readers have voted Glasgow the world’s friendliest city! And Time Out named Glasgow in the top ten best cities in the world - we couldn't agree more!
We're in the city centre, next to the Merchant City, both of which are great locations for sightseeing, shopping and socialising alongside your studies.
Find out what some of our students think about studying in Glasgow!
Find out all about life in GlasgowApply
Business Translation and Interpreting
Qualification: PG Diploma
Start Date: Sep 2021
Mode of Attendance: full-time
Business Translation and Interpreting
Qualification: MSc
Start Date: Sep 2021
Mode of Attendance: full-time
Contact us
Register your interest and find out more about the programme
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak our team are working from home and can be contacted via our online enquiry form.