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Master of Arts (with Honours) - MA (Hons)
Modern Languages (Interpreting and Translating) Chinese / German
Heriot-Watt University
Entry requirements
Here's what you will need to get a place on the Modern Languages (Interpreting and Translating) Chinese / German course at Heriot-Watt University.
Select a qualification to see required grades
A level
B,B,C
including main language at B for entry to Year 1.
Tuition fees
| Location | Fees |
|---|---|
| England | £9,535 per year |
| Scotland | £1,820 per year |
| Wales | £9,535 per year |
| Northern Ireland | £9,535 per year |
| Channel Islands | £9,535 per year |
| Republic of Ireland | £9,535 per year |
| EU | £19,456 per year |
| International | £19,456 per year |
Course summary
What this course is about
UCAS code: RLCG
Here's what Heriot-Watt University says about its Modern Languages (Interpreting and Translating) Chinese / German course.
Heriot-Watt University has been teaching languages for a professional purpose for over 50 years.We were ranked as the Number 1 University in Scotland for Modern Languages in the National Student Survey 2018 with the highest overall student satisfaction. We also gained the highest ranking in Scotland for employability from Modern Languages in the Guardian University Rankings 2019.
MA (Hons) Modern Languages (Interpreting and Translating) is a clear example of our career-focused approach to language studies. Combining the two areas of language studies for which Heriot-Watt University is best known, this degree allows you to develop highly employable interpreting and translating skills to a professional standard.
You will study Chinese and German to an advanced level, learning in small class sizes in our unrivalled interpreting and translating teaching facilities. Our facilities include recently refurbished interpreting booths, which are modelled on those used by the United Nations and European Parliament, and computer labs with state-of-the-art Computer Aided Translation tools, as used by professional translators.
In Year 1, if it is necessary, we offer intensive courses to help bring you up to speed in your second non-native language (Chinese or German). This tried and tested approach ensures you will be able to use your interpreting and translating skills in two non-native languages by the time you graduate. Year 2 introduces regular classes on simultaneous interpreting and Year 3 is spent abroad, on two Erasmus placements at partner institutions, immersed in your chosen languages and cultures. In Year 4 you will study advanced interpreting and translating skills and learn about political contexts and organisations.
This degree will prepare you for careers requiring the practical application of advanced language, communication and intercultural skills and it will teach you about the wider professional contexts in which you will use these skills.For example, you will learn about the unique interpreting approaches required for various professional contexts, such as: health care situations, business situations, legal contexts, or for conferences.
Accreditation The Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies is a member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI). We are also official higher education partner of the Chartered Institute of Linguists – a professional body that maintains the highest standards for practising interpreters and translators: Chartered Institute of Linguists In addition, we are founding members of CIUTI, the world’s oldest and most prestigious international association of universities who train interpreters and translators: CIUTI.
Course details
Qualification
Master of Arts (with Honours) - MA (Hons)
Department
Languages and Intercultural Studies
Location
Edinburgh Campus | Edinburgh
Duration
4 Years
Study mode
Full-time
Subjects
• German language
• Translation studies
• Chinese languages
Start date
September 8, 2025
Application deadline
January 29, 2025
Heriot-Watt University reviews
Showing 15 reviews
2nd year student
Pretty good Student Union, whether its giving out free stuff or helping you with something, theres always good people there.
2 years ago
2nd year student
Edinburghs got some decent clubs. Having lived here my whole life, its the kind of city you dont want to escape. Its beautiful, many work opportunities especially for students.
2 years ago
2nd year student
Financially the accomodation isnt worth it, the courses are free to Scottish students but for International students its terrible (this is the same for all Scottish Universities). Cost of living in Edinburgh can be high, but for the most part its okay.
2 years ago
2nd year student
Very supportive, if youre not feeling the best, have had certain bad circumstances arise they are very helpful in aiding you.
2 years ago
2nd year student
Over priced, bad quality, small. Its on the outskirts of Edinburgh and yet its cheaper to rent a flat closer to the middle.
2 years ago
2nd year student
The core lecturers of this course are good, although there is one or two I wish had been different on certain modules. The lectureres communicate well with students whenever they need it. The quality of teaching is also very good, and it is very easy to ask things if you dont understand.
2 years ago
National Student Survey (NSS) scores
The NSS is an annual survey where final-year students are asked to rate different aspects of their course and university experience.
The Modern Languages (Interpreting and Translating) Chinese / German course at Heriot-Watt University features content from more than one subject area. Using the options below, you can see ratings from students who took courses in each of these subject areas at this uni
Select an option to see a detailed breakdown
Teaching on my course
84%
low
Teaching on my course
84%
low
How often does your course challenge you to achieve your best work?
91%
high
How good are teaching staff at explaining things?
81%
low
How often do teaching staff make the subject engaging?
81%
low
How often is the course intellectually stimulating?
81%
low
Learning opportunities
84%
med
Learning opportunities
84%
med
To what extent have you had the chance to bring together information and ideas from different topics?
90%
high
How well does your course introduce subjects and skills in a way that builds on what you have already learned?
81%
med
How well has your course developed your knowledge and skills that you think you will need for your future?
81%
med
To what extent have you had the chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth?
91%
high
To what extent does your course have the right balance of directed and independent study?
77%
med
Assessment and feedback
72%
low
Assessment and feedback
72%
low
How well have assessments allowed you to demonstrate what you have learned?
63%
low
How fair has the marking and assessment been on your course?
72%
low
How often does feedback help you to improve your work?
84%
high
How often have you received assessment feedback on time?
72%
med
How clear were the marking criteria used to assess your work?
70%
low
Academic support
69%
low
Academic support
69%
low
How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to?
71%
low
How well have teaching staff supported your learning?
65%
low
Organisation and management
73%
med
Organisation and management
73%
med
How well were any changes to teaching on your course communicated?
76%
med
How well organised is your course?
74%
med
Learning resources
89%
med
Learning resources
89%
med
How well have the IT resources and facilities supported your learning?
85%
med
How well have the library resources (e.g., books, online services and learning spaces) supported your learning?
89%
low
How easy is it to access subject specific resources (e.g., equipment, facilities, software) when you need them?
95%
high
Student voice
70%
med
Student voice
70%
med
How clear is it that students' feedback on the course is acted on?
59%
med
To what extent do you get the right opportunities to give feedback on your course?
77%
low
To what extent are students' opinions about the course valued by staff?
74%
med
How well does the students' union (association or guild) represent students' academic interests?
58%
low
Other NSS questions
Other NSS questions
Overall, I am satisfied with the quality of the course.
74%
med
How well communicated was information about your university/college's mental wellbeing support services?
56%
low
Select an option to see a detailed breakdown
Teaching on my course
88%
med
Teaching on my course
88%
med
How often does your course challenge you to achieve your best work?
93%
high
How good are teaching staff at explaining things?
89%
low
How often do teaching staff make the subject engaging?
85%
med
How often is the course intellectually stimulating?
85%
med
Learning opportunities
89%
high
Learning opportunities
89%
high
To what extent have you had the chance to bring together information and ideas from different topics?
92%
med
How well does your course introduce subjects and skills in a way that builds on what you have already learned?
89%
med
How well has your course developed your knowledge and skills that you think you will need for your future?
89%
high
To what extent have you had the chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth?
93%
high
To what extent does your course have the right balance of directed and independent study?
84%
med
Assessment and feedback
78%
med
Assessment and feedback
78%
med
How well have assessments allowed you to demonstrate what you have learned?
74%
med
How fair has the marking and assessment been on your course?
82%
med
How often does feedback help you to improve your work?
84%
high
How often have you received assessment feedback on time?
78%
med
How clear were the marking criteria used to assess your work?
72%
low
Academic support
74%
low
Academic support
74%
low
How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to?
73%
low
How well have teaching staff supported your learning?
73%
low
Organisation and management
81%
med
Organisation and management
81%
med
How well were any changes to teaching on your course communicated?
79%
med
How well organised is your course?
84%
med
Learning resources
91%
med
Learning resources
91%
med
How well have the IT resources and facilities supported your learning?
87%
med
How well have the library resources (e.g., books, online services and learning spaces) supported your learning?
92%
med
How easy is it to access subject specific resources (e.g., equipment, facilities, software) when you need them?
94%
high
Student voice
76%
med
Student voice
76%
med
How clear is it that students' feedback on the course is acted on?
64%
med
To what extent do you get the right opportunities to give feedback on your course?
84%
med
To what extent are students' opinions about the course valued by staff?
81%
med
How well does the students' union (association or guild) represent students' academic interests?
57%
low
Other NSS questions
Other NSS questions
Overall, I am satisfied with the quality of the course.
84%
med
How well communicated was information about your university/college's mental wellbeing support services?
62%
low
Student information
The Modern Languages (Interpreting and Translating) Chinese / German course at Heriot-Watt University features content from more than one subject area. Choose an option below to find out about the students taking courses in each of those subject areas at this uni.
| Most popular A-levels studied | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Grade | |||||
| French | B | |||||
| Spanish | B | |||||
| German | B | |||||
| Business Studies | B | |||||
| Mathematics | B | |||||
| Most popular A-levels studied | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Grade | |||||
| French | B | |||||
| Spanish | B | |||||
| German | B | |||||
| Business Studies | B | |||||
| Mathematics | B | |||||
Graduate prospects
What graduates do next
Facts and figures about Heriot-Watt University graduates who took Modern Languages (Interpreting and Translating) Chinese / German - or another course in the same subject area.
Graduate statistics
60%
In a job where degree was essential or beneficial
95%
In work, study or other activity
55%
Say it fits with future plans
60%
Are utilising studies
Top job areas
20%
Business and public service associate professionals
15%
Artistic, literary and media occupations
10%
Elementary occupations
10%
Sales occupations
Graduate statistics percentages are determined 15 months after a student graduates
Earnings after graduation
Earnings from Heriot-Watt University graduates who took Modern Languages (Interpreting and Translating) Chinese / German - or another course in the same subject area.
Earnings
£18.6k
First year after graduation
£23.4k
Third year after graduation
£29.6k
Fifth year after graduation
Shown here are the median earnings of graduates at one, three and five years after they completed a course related to Modern Languages (Interpreting and Translating) Chinese / German.
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree
Discussions
Discussions
Students are talking about Heriot-Watt University on The Student Room.
Chat with Heriot-Watt University
Hello! I'm a second year student at Heriot Watt studying Maths with Physics. Outwith my degree, I'm the School Officer for Maths, Treasurer of Maths Society and a member of Boat Club. Feel free to ask me anything about these things!
Heriot-Watt University open days
Heriot-Watt’s open days offer you the opportunity to explore campus, tour teaching and recreational facilities, talk to academics, staff, and current students, and learn more about the programme you could go on to study.
If you can't make an open day, book a campus tour. These take place regularly and can be guided or self-guided.
Source: Heriot-Watt University