MA in Translation and Interpreting for Public Services and Institutions

Profession

Students of this MA Course are trained to provide translation and interpreting ( both simultaneous and consecutive) services in various multilingual societal contexts, including administration and governance, healthcare and education, law enforcement and court hearings.
Students learn two foreign languages and acquire a wide range of cross-disciplinary knowledge and skills including multilingual document processing, computer technologies and AI use for specialised translation and interpreting in different public domains. Upon the course completion students are aware of the specifics and patterns regarding multilingual communication during negotiations, conferences, interviews , consultations, etc.

Educational Process

The programme is implemented in English. Possible pairs of working languages include English, Russian, French, Spanish and German. Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Korean languages can be offered to students according to their choice, as well. The teachers are native speakers of these languages. Students acquire theoretical and applied knowledge about the development and use of language in multilingual social and institutional contexts, engage in translation and interpretating (both consecutive and simultaneous) skills training within administrative, medical, legal, educational fields, explore the specifics of intercultural communication ethics and behavioural patterns in the above areas of multilingual social interaction. The MA course also guides students through the use of multilingual linguistic corpora, digital resources and technologies for remote translation and interpreting. Students have consistent training in simultaneous interpreting via the use of professional equipment in the booths. The learning process rests on ISO standards for the translation and interpretating service provision. The training materials are based on real projects on translation and interpreting within the framework of the activities of various state institutions. Core courses have been developed in cooperation with potential employers, including the offices of the Federal Migration Service in Moscow, healthcare institutions, etc. Teachers involved in the training combine academic and practical experience, hold doctoral degrees and act as practicing translators and interpreters in international and national institutions (The Council of Europe, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, etc.). Webinars with practicing translators and interpreters as invited speakers are part of the MA course, as well.

Practice

During their studies, students have the opportunity to take part in internships both in Russia and abroad. Respective tracks help students improve the level of foreign language proficiency, acquire skills related to intercultural mediation in various government agencies and corporate structures. In the course of their studies students also engage in translation and interpreting assignments from Moscow-based state and corporate institutions.

Career

The graduates are able to provide lingua-cultural mediation among persons who do not speak the official language of the hosting country and representatives of administrative, medical, legal, and educational institutions of the state. Currently, the programme graduates work both abroad and in Russian public and corporate structures. Graduates also have an opportunity to continue their studies at the PhD course in Training Specialised Foreign Language, Translation and Interpreting Skills within Digitalisation.