Welcome to Master in Translation Studies!

Undertake a learning journey in translation that is key to the circulation of knowledge, literature and information across the planet. In our multicultural and multilingual academic community — ideally set in Toronto, the most diverse city in the world, — you’ll collaborate with dynamic professors who are experts in many languages and various research areas, including literary translation and reception, translation theories, political texts and ideology, crowd sourced translation, ethics in Translation and Interpreting studies, space and mobility, epistemologies of communication, visual arts, communication policy and surveillance. Whether you want to increase your specialization or pursue advanced studies in the growing academic field of translation studies, you will earn skills to set you apart in the workplace. 

Learn about program details

Skills You'll Learn


  • Learning and improving research practices 
  • Working independently and collaboratively with people from different disciplines and cultures 
  • Becoming an independent thinker 
  • Applying research findings to translation practice and professional settings 
  • Developing the best practices of oral and written communications  

Careers


As a Master in Translation Studies graduate, you are well-equipped to become a leader and changemaker. You can choose to pursue grad studies or obtain additional qualifications. Here are a few examples of possible career paths:  

  • Translation in the public and private sectors 
  • Management 
  • Teaching 
  • School or university administration 
  • Research 
  • Law 
  • Community interpreting 
  • Intercultural communication 

Hands-On Experiences


Apply the concepts and theories you’re studying to real world challenges. Engage in guided practical experiences in the classroom, workplace, community and abroad. These are some opportunities for Master in Translation Studies students. 

  • Attend the School of Translation’s monthly conference series to hear about translation projects and research 
  • Volunteer at the annual Glendon Graduate Conference in Translation Studies  
  • Participate in research activities (writing workshops, research meetings, collaborative projects with the language industry, etc.) 

Admission Requirements


The Master in Translation Studies is open to students who have completed an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Translation or another discipline who have some experience in translation and / or interpreting. All applicants except graduates from Canadian translation programs must write and pass an entrance examination in English.  

PROFILE 1:

An Honours BA (i.e., four-year degree) or equivalent in Translation with a minimum of a B average in the last two years of full-time equivalent study,  including:
- course(s) in terminology and documentation
- a course in translation theory
- a minimum of 6 credits in translation practice courses.


Note: If an applicant is missing one (exceptionally two) of the required three-credit courses, he/she will be required to take it concurrently with graduate courses.

PROFILE 2:

An honours degree or equivalent in another discipline, with a minimum of a B average in the last two years of full-time equivalent study PLUS an average of B in a series of undergraduate courses taken as a qualifying program.

AND

Demonstrated competence, to the satisfaction of the Admissions Committee, in two languages, one of which must be English.

The Qualifying Program consists of five translation half-courses (15 credits) offered by the School of Translation at Glendon College. Applicants must pass the Qualifying Program entrance exam and then select courses in consultation with the School. Two courses are required from all students:

  • TRAN 3270 3.0 – Theory of Translation/ Théorie de la traduction/Teoría de la Traducción
  • TRAN 2280 3.0 – Documentation et terminologie/Documentation and Terminology (English/French bilingual section) or Documentation and Terminology (non-language specific section taught in English)

The other three courses are chosen in consultation with the Chair of the School of Translation. As Glendon offers programs in English-French and English-Spanish translation, the choice of courses will depend on the student’s language combination, academic background, and translation-related interests. A set of courses is available also for students with other language combinations. In addition to the two courses above, Qualifying Program students will select three courses from the following:

  • GL/TRAN 2250 3.0 Comparative Stylistics/Stylistique comparée
  • GL/SP 3550 3.0 Comparative Stylistics for Spanish-English Translation
  • GL/COMS 2902 3.0 Idea, Opinion, Argument: Rhetoric for Academic Settings (writing-intensive)
  • Translation practice courses, EN-FR: GL/TRAN 2210, 2220 AND/OR 3210, 3220, 4235
  • Translation practice courses, EN-SP: GL/TRAN 3545 AND/OR GL/SP/TRAN 4910, 4915, 4920
  • GL/TRAN4250 3.0 Techniques of Revision in Translation/Techniques de la révision en traduction
  • GL/TRAN/HUMA 4636 3.0 History, Societies & Translation I (writing-intensive)
  • GL/TRAN/HUMA 4638 3.0 History, Societies & Translation II (writing-intensive)
  • Any other writing-intensive 3.0 credit course taught in English at Glendon

To register in these courses, students must be admitted to the School of Translation as visiting (non-degree) students.

The Qualifying Program may require one or more semesters, depending on the candidate’s previous experience in translation and on the number of similar courses he or she may have taken in another university, which may be counted as equivalent. This must be approved by the Graduate Program Director.

Students whose language combination is not EN-ES or EN-FR are encouraged to demonstrate that they have taken translation practice courses in their language combination prior to applying to the MA in Translation Studies.

Note: A minimum average of “B” in the Qualifying Program is required to be considered for admission into the MA Program. Students are advised to consult with the Graduate Program Director well before applying for admission to the MA in Translation Studies. Students must apply for admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies upon completion of the Qualifying Program. Taking the courses required for the Qualifying Program does not guarantee admission to the MA Program.

Program Requirements

OPTION 1: 4 COURSE + THESIS

Candidates for the MA Degree by Thesis must complete four courses and write a thesis based on original research. The thesis must be successfully defended at an oral examination. Examples of MA theses defended in the program can be found in under Research.

OPTION 2: 6 COURSES + MAJOR RESEARCH PAPER

Candidates for the MA Degree by Research Paper must complete six courses and submit a Major Research Paper on a well-defined topic. The MRP is assessed and marked by the student’s Research Supervisor and by another member of the program.

OPTION 3: 8 COURSES

Candidates for the MA degree by coursework must successfully complete eight courses, or equivalent, chosen from those offered by the program.

NOTE: MA Thesis and Major Research Papers must conform to expectations for academic writing, academic integrity guidelines and FGS submission guidelines. 

View full academic requirements for graduate programs

THESIS

The thesis is expected to be approximately 120 pages long (+ the bibliography)

The thesis must:

  • be the result of an in-depth, original research project conducted within the period of graduate study at York.
  • demonstrate a clearly stated problem, framework, literature review, and methodology.
  • include an extensive bibliography.

Candidates conducting research involving human participants must fill out the ethics review protocol for approval and submit it along with their MA thesis proposal—research with human participants cannot begin until the university Ethics Review Committee has approved the protocol submission.

Students interested in this option should first identify a Research Supervisor who will help them develop a thesis proposal (see template). Once approved by the supervisor, the proposal is submitted to the Graduate Program Director and approved by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Once completed, the thesis must be defended before a committee comprised by the supervisor, two members of the graduate program and an outside reader.

York University awards a prize to the best three MA theses defended each year (all graduate programs considered).

More information on Thesis and Dissertation

MAJOR RESEARCH PAPER

The Major Research Paper is expected to be approximately 50 pages (+ the bibliography)–longer than a final research paper for a graduate course.

The MPR must be based on the student’s original work conducted within the period of graduate study at York. It can be on a new topic or it may be an extension of a paper written for a course.

Students interested in this option should first identify a Research Supervisor, then submit a topic and a proposal to the Graduate Program Director for approval.

Candidates conducting research involving human participants must submit the ethics review protocol along with the MRP proposal—research with human participants cannot begin the graduate program must approve the ethics review protocol.

Once completed, the MRP is assessed on the final submission and an oral presentation conducted with the Research Supervisor and the second member of faculty.

Student Supports & Programs

Glendon Campus prides itself on being a supportive community that goes the extra mile to ensure you get the help you need. See some of the resources Translation Studies students use the most. 

Meet Your Professors

You’ll learn from and get to know approachable professors, who are prominent members of the international translation studies community and actively working and researching in the field. 

Nelida Chan

Miriam Compagnoni

Valérie Florentin

Lorraine Janelle

Brian Mossop

Dominique Picouet

Salah Basalamah

Elena Basile

Hélène Buzelin

Marco Fiola

Marta Marín-Dòmine

Joshua Price

Sherry Simon

Adriana Şerban

Sehnaz Tahir Gürçaglar

Xiaoping Song

News & Events

Get involved on campus and in the community to meet fellow students and boost your Glendon experience. 

The 13th Annual Glendon Graduate Conference in Translation Studies
Glendon Campus, York University, Toronto
April 14-15, 2023 (Hybrid format)

TRANSLATION AND UNHEARD VOICES

https://www.glendon.yorku.ca/transconf/


Latest News
Highlights
No items found
No items found

See all News

Apply Now!