MA Literary Translation
Course options
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2023
Course Overview
What do Karl Ove Knausgård, Valeria Luiselli and Clarice Lispector have in common with Jo Nesbø, Georg Trakl and Yoko Tawada? They’ve all been translated into English by graduates from the MA Literary Translation at UEA!
On this course, you’ll focus exclusively on literary translation, combining translation practice with translation theory. You’ll gain the academic qualification needed for a career as a professional translator, as well as laying the foundation for further academic research.
We have been training literary translators for nearly 30 years. Our students have gone on to become award-winning translators, writers, editors and academics.
The course is supported by the British Centre for Literary Translation (BCLT).
On this course, you’ll combine a strong practical focus with serious reflection on stylistic, cultural and theoretical questions.
At its heart is a lively programme of literary translation workshops taught by leading practitioners in the field.
Many of our students go on to become published translators, while others work in publishing or the media. Alternatively, the MA Literary Translation will provide you with a very good basis for PhD study, should you choose to take your studies further. You’ll also benefit from our annual programme of readings, visits and residencies from writers and translators.
Throughout the course, you’ll have the chance to build your understanding of the professional aspects of translation. In the three main modules that make up the course – and in special workshops with professional translators as well as in the British Centre for Literary Translation Summer School – you will have plenty of opportunities to network and learn more about what being a translator involves.
You may also have the opportunity to join the editing team for our journal, Norwich Papers, or be asked to contribute a translation to our anthology.
Entry Requirements
- Degree Classification
- Bachelors (Hons) degree - 2.1 or equivalent
- Degree Subject
- Literature or Related Subject Preferred
- English Foreign Language
We welcome applications from students whose first language is not English. To ensure such students benefit from postgraduate study, we require evidence of proficiency in English. Our usual entry requirements are as follows:
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IELTS: 7.0 (minimum 7.0 in writing and speaking, and 6.0 in reading and listening)
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PTE (Pearson): 76 (minimum 76 in writing and speaking, and 64 in reading and listening)
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
Other tests, including Cambridge English exams and the Trinity Integrated Skills in English are also accepted by the university. The full list of accepted tests can be found here: Accepted English Language Tests
INTO UEA run pre-sessional courses which can be taken prior to the start of your course. For further information and to see if you qualify please contact intopre-sessional@uea.ac.uk
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- Intakes
This course is open to UK, EU and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.
Additional Information or Requirements
Candidates will be required to submit a translation of a short story, poem or literary text with the source text of no more than 5 pages with their application.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2023/24 are:
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UK Students: £9,500 (full time)
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International Students: £19,800 (full time)
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
We estimate living expenses at £1,023 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
FURTHER INFORMATION
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.
Employability
After the Course
Our MA Literary Translation will be a hugely valuable qualification when it comes to starting your career in this field. There is evidence that even firms specialising in technical or commercial translation value an MA Literary Translation.
As well as going on to careers in literary, technical and commercial translation, many of our graduates choose to combine freelance translation teaching, lecturing, librarianship, work in the media, or publishing. In these fields, too, this MA will give you an advantage, both through the transferable skills you’ll gain, and the technical and creative expertise you’ll build.
Careers
A degree at UEA will prepare you for a wide variety of careers. We've been ranked 1st for Job Prospects by StudentCrowd in 2022.
Examples of careers you could enter include:
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Professional freelance translator
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Editor
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Publisher
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Academic