MA in Translation and Interpreting for Public Services and Institutions

Profession

Graduates of the programme are awarded Master's degree in Linguistics with specialisation in translation and interpreting for public services and institutions. This programme’s graduates are qualified to facilitate effective mediation between representatives of different countries and speakers of different languages in the administrative, medical, legal and educational spheres, moreover they are able to provide qualified assistance to those who need language support in the above-mentioned areas. Translation and interpreting for public services and institutions is one of the key components in ensuring the language rights of foreigners staying in the country as tourists, invited specialists, migrants, refugees, etc.

Educational Process

The language of tuition is English. Possible working language pairs include English, Russian, French, Spanish and German. Eastern languages – Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Korean – are also available for study and are taught by native speakers. 
The programme focuses on the development of applied professional skills but also provides systematic theoretical training. Students gain theoretical knowledge about the development and use of language in multilingual social and institutional contexts and acquire practical skills in translation and interpreting in the administrative, medical, legal, and educational settings, as well as explore the nuances of intercultural communication ethics and behaviour patterns in the specified areas of social interaction. Furthermore, they master multilingual linguistic corpora, digital resources and remote interpreting technologies, and practice simultaneous interpreting using professional equipment in interpreting booths. 
The curriculum includes specialised disciplines in translation and interpreting for the administrative, legal, corporate, healthcare, and education sectors. Due to the rapid development of artificial intelligence technologies, particular emphasis is placed on developing skills for using AI in translation work: prompt engineering in information retrieval, creating specialised reference resources, and editing initial translation and interpreting outputs. Taking into account the demands of the modern translation and interpreting industry, a special course on translation projects management is available.
The educational process is based on Russian Federal professional standard for specialists in translation and interpreting (04.015) and international standards for translation and interpreting services provision within the system of state bodies, agencies, and institutions (ISO 13611:2024, ISO/TS 6253:2024, ISO 21998: 2020, ISO 20228:2019). The educational aids stand on real translation and interpreting projects within the framework of various state institutions. Core disciplines have been developed in collaboration with prospective employers, including Moscow offices of the Federal Migration Service, healthcare institutions, etc. The faculty combine academic expertise with industry experience, hold doctoral degrees and work as practicing translators and interpreters in international and national institutions. 
The programme includes seminars with practicing translators, as well as opportunities for internships and language schools in countries of the target languages. Students interested in trainers’ caree can choose to study subjects related to teaching various types of translation. 

Practice

As part of the programme, students may participate in volunteer translation projects at the request of government and commercial organisations. They also complete a pre-graduation translation internship as part of the curriculum at government agencies, research and educational institutions in Moscow at the request of the relevant structures, or at RUDN University in accordance with the programme's training profile and at the request of the university's departments.

Career

Graduates of the programme possess the interdisciplinary skills required to facilitate intercultural communication among speakers of different languages in various institutional contexts, and to support communication among individuals who do not speak the country’s official language and among representatives of administrative, medical, legal, and educational institutions of the relevant state. Currently, graduates of the programme provide language support for corporate and educational organisations, as well as for government agencies in the Russian Federation and abroad.