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Accessibility & LanguageTranslation Studies (MA)
MA (Translation Studies)
Course Overview
This Masters Programme is designed to provide advanced linguistic and technical training in order to prepare our graduates for careers as professional translators. Students will develop their language skills to a very high level and gain experience in translation technology including Trados and subtitling technologies It caters for students who have a degree in one or two of the following languages: French, Gaeilge, German, Italian or Spanish.
Scholarships available
Find out about our Postgraduate Scholarships here.
Scholarships available
Find out about our Postgraduate Scholarships here.
Applications and Selections
Applications are made online via the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System.
Who Teaches this Course
Spanish Discipline,
Arts Millennium Building, Room 2017,
University of Galway,
Ireland
View Profile
Requirements and Assessment
Students will be expected to translate into and from at least one of the following languages (French, Gailge, German, Italian or Spanish) throughout the year. Other modules will be assessed through exams and/or by essay. A dissertation must also be submitted.
Key Facts
Entry Requirements
A Second Class Honours NQAI Level 8 degree or equivalent, with Second Class Honours Grade 2 or equivalent in one of the following languages: French, Gaeilge, German, Italian or Spanish.
Supplemental items (as listed for all Taught programmes in the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies): Official qualifications and exam results (transcripts) to date; English language competency; Personal statements; Passport or Birth Certificate.
Additional Requirements
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
In some circumstances, applicants with a lower degree grade or with a degree in a different subject but certified knowledge of the language and/or who have relevant work experience in the field of Translation Studies will be considered. Further information is available on the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning website.
Duration
1 year, full-time
Next start date
September 2025
A Level Grades ()
Average intake
10
QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes
Closing Date
You are advised to apply early, which may result in an early offer; see the offer round dates
NFQ level
Mode of study
ECTS weighting
90
Award
CAO
Course code
MA-TRS
Course Outline
In Semester 1, the programme introduces students to the field of Translation Studies, providing a strong theoretical focus and a history and development of this field through seminars. Alongside this, students develop the skills of translation, focusing on one or two of the following languages (French, German, Gailge, Italian and Spanish), and may select from cognate subjects dealing with Intercultural Communication or Translation Methodology and Text. In Semester 2, students continue to work on their translation skills, and subsequently complete a dissertation broadly related to any of the theoretical or social issues broached throughout the year and relevant to the field of Translation Studies, focusing on one of their languages.
As there is a genuine need for professional translators, this postgraduate programme in Translation Studies will be an important qualification for graduates wishing to add specific professional skills to their primary qualification. An important aspect of the programme will be the exploitation of new language technology and Computer-assisted Translation tools, utilising the multimedia facilities available on campus.
Why Choose This Course?
Career Opportunities
Graduates have gone on to pursue careers in a range of fields, including the civil service, teaching, translation and human resources. Beyond the honing of translation skills, students will develop a range of transferable skills through collaborative tasks and presentations at various stages of the course.
Who’s Suited to This Course
Learning Outcomes
Transferable Skills Employers Value
As a student in the MA in Translation Studies, you will…
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Develop advanced oral and written communication skills in English and one or two of the following languages: French, Gaeilge, German, Italian or Spanish
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Receive advanced training on different approaches to translation and subtitling.
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Develop proficiency in translation technologies, including Trados and subtitling software.
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Acquire advanced research skills in evaluating various translation challenges.
Work Placement
Study Abroad
Related Student Organisations
Course Fees
Fees: EU
€7,890 p.a. (including levy) 2025/26
Fees: Tuition
€7,750 p.a. 2025/26
Fees: Student levy
€140 p.a. 2025/26
Fees: Non EU
€18,500 p.a. (€18,640 including levy) 2025/26
For 25/26 entrants, where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 3.4% per annum for continuing years fees.
Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant – please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €4,000 towards your tuition (2025/26). You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee. A P1 grant is where SUSI will pay tuition up to a maximum of €6,270. SUSI will not cover the student levy of €140.
Note to non-EU students: learn about the 24-month Stayback Visa here.
Find out More
Dr Tamara de Inés Antón
E: tamara.deinesanton@universityofgalway.ie
Quick Links
What Our Students Say
Angela Kennedy |
For me, the M.A. in Translation Studies is the ideal route to a language-related career. The course's practical elements, including training in interpretation and use of translation software, offer real, hands-on experience. My oral and written skills in both languages are improving consistently, and one also has the opportunity to delve into the more theoretical aspects of translation.
Claire Murphy | MA in Translation Studies (Spanish and Italian)
I found the M.A. in Translation Studies a really important way of developing my language skills and language awareness. The combination of practical and theoretical issues provided an important framework for both my dissertation and my subsequent work as a language teacher. Few courses in Ireland allow me to combine my two languages with an intensive study of the field of Translation Studies.
2025 QS Subject Rankings: Top 250
