Master of Translation and Interpreting

at University of Melbourne

200 POINT PROGRAM (2 YEARS FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME EQUIVALENT)
 

• Compulsory subjects (87.5 points)

• Capstone subjects (minimum 25 points)

• Core subjects (minimum 12.5 points)

• Elective subjects (minimum 12.5 points)
   

150 POINT PROGRAM (1.5 YEARS FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME EQUIVALENT)
 

The 150 point program is available only to applicants who meet certain entry requirements, including completion of an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline. To see if this applies to you please view the Handbook entry.
 

• Compulsory subjects (62.5 points)

• Selective (12.5 points)

• Capstone subjects (minimum 25 points)

• Core subjects (minimum 12.5 points)

• Electives subjects (maximum 37.5)
   

Capstone requirement
 

Capstone subjects must be completed in the final hundred points of the program. All students are required to complete at least one Capstone option (at least 25 points). This requirement cannot be waived or replaced in any circumstances. 
 

Students must complete 87.5 points of compulsory subjects.
 

• Translation and Interpreting as Product

  12.5 pts
   

• Students are introduced to the major theoretical and methodological approaches for evaluating the results of translation and interpreting as textual products, including the social and cultural embedding of those products, how they are received, how they can be evaluated, and how they concern the ethics of the translation and interpreting professions. Through seminars, class activities and readings, students gain insight into the central issues in product-based translation studies. The focus is on building the knowledge and analytical skills required for the production of successful translations and interpreting renditions.
   

• Translating in an Australian Context

  12.5 pts

• The subject introduces students to the basic theory and practice of translation and interpreting. Students will learn to apply text analysis, text typology, and contrastive analysis of their working languages to identify, analyse, and resolve translation and interpreting problems while independently developing an efficient and rational approach to the process of written and oral translation.
   

• Translating From English to Chinese

  12.5 pts

• This subject enhances students’ understanding of the theory and practice of written translation. Students will learn to apply text analysis, text typology, and contrastive analysis of their working languages to identify, analyse, and resolve translation problems professionally while independently developing an efficient and rational approach to the process of written translation.
   

• Translating in a Chinese Context

  12.5 pts

• The subject introduces students to the basic theory and practice of translation and interpreting. Students will learn to apply text analysis, text typology, and contrastive analysis of their working languages to identify, analyse, and resolve translation and interpreting problems while independently developing an efficient and rational approach to the process of written and oral translation.
   

• Translating from Chinese to English

  12.5 pts

• This subject enhances students’ understanding of the theory and practice of written translation. Students will learn to apply text analysis, text typology, and contrastive analysis of their working languages to identify, analyse, and resolve translation problems professionally while independently developing an efficient and rational approach to the process of written translation.
   

• Translation and Interpreting as Process

  12.5 pts

• Students experiment with the main variables of translation and interpreting processes, including directionality, speed, documentation and revision, in order to develop their own efficiency and quality control. Translation and interpreting technologies, pre-editing, post-editing and terminology management are incorporated into the process, as are the basics of project management. Through seminars, class activities and readings, students gain insight into the central issues in process-based translation and interpreting studies. The focus is on building the performance skills required for the successful production of translations and interpreting renditions.
   

• Business and Legal Translation

  12.5 pts

• The subject aims at preparing skills for translating technical language of special genres in Chinese economic and legal contents, and nurturing critical understanding of the cultural and intellectual foundations of the English- and Chinese-speaking worlds. Students will be given hands-on practice on reading and translating a variety of business and legal documents, including official policy statements, statistical material, business contracts, court documents and dispute resolutions. Special attention will be paid to foreign trade issues and the economic links between China and the world, and the current development in China’s economic and legal reform.
   

  The terminology and style of these documents will be discussed and analysed, as will the linguistic features of this particular genre of written material, and the source and purpose of their publication.
   

  Students must complete a minimum of 12.5 points of core subjects.
   

• Specialised Translation

  12.5 pts

• Students will be trained in specialised fields of English-Chinese translation in this subject. They will choose to work in two of the following specialisations: business & commerce, journalistic writing; public & government; political speeches; and literary writing. Through lectures and discussions, students will develop understanding of skills and techniques required for specialised translation. Students will complete translation assignments regularly throughout the semester and be given regular individual feedback from the coordinator using online tools. Through practical translation tasks and practice activities, students will familialise themselves with genre-specific linguistic features of the source and target languages, and develop professional translation skills in the chosen specialisation areas.
   

• Consecutive Interpreting

  12.5 pts

• The subject focuses on consecutive interpreting at the professional level (including dialogue interpreting, monologue interpreting and sight translation) on complex, non-specialised topics as well as specialised topics in legal and health settings. Students are trained in essential skills such as memory, organising information, note-taking and paralinguistics. Through extensive practice in role plays and simulated interpreting projects, students will develop cross-cultural and consecutive interpreting skills as a professional interpreter.
   

• Community Interpreting

  12.5 pts

• The subject focuses on community interpreting at the professional level on specialised topics in legal and health settings. Students are trained in essential skills such as note-taking, organising information and using the appropriate terminology and genre in the given context of the interpreting event. Through extensive practice in role plays and interpreting exercises, students will develop cross-cultural and advanced consecutive interpreting skills as a professional community interpreter.

In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:
 

• an undergraduate degree in any discipline with at least an H2B (70%) weighted average; and

• native or near native speaker competence in English and Chinese
   

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.
 

In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:
 

• prior academic performance; and

• relevance of previous studies
   

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.
 

Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s Graduate English language requirements for graduate courses. For those applicant 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 eligible for advanced entry to the 150 point/1.5 year program:
 

• an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent, and native or near native speaker competence in English and Chinese

• Cognate disciplines include: translation and/or interpreting studies; bilingual communication; Asian studies; linguistics / applied linguistics; English / English language; TESOL

• Indicative first year fee AUD$38,720
   
• Indicative total course fee AUD$79,376

The Master of Translation and Interpreting readies you for work in professional fields including:
 

• Translation and interpreting

• International relations

• Multi-national firms

• Commercial and industrial organisation

• Public service
   

Past translation graduates have gone on to work as translators and interpreters, language / translation tutors and lecturers, journalists, project managers, business analysts, marketing officers and public servants.