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Faculty of Modern LanguagesTranslation, Communication, Language Technology – Master

Students of translation studies study the theory and practice of the written transmission of factual and specialist texts into another language. In addition, they learn about theories and strategies of multilingual communication and cultural mediation and acquire skills in the area of innovative language technologies.

Facts & Formalities

DegreeMaster of Arts, Double Degree
Type of programmeConsecutive
Start of programmeWinter and summer semester
Standard period of study4 semesters
Language(s) of instructionGerman and selected foreign languages
Fees and contributions151.05 € / Semester
Application procedureConsecutive master’s programmes with access restriction
Application deadlinesInformation about deadlines can be obtained after you have put together a degree program.
Part-time optionYes
International degree programYes

Course Content

In the Master’s degree programme Translation, Communication, Language Technology (MA TKS), students acquire advanced scientific knowledge and skills in the field of Translation Studies. Graduates of the MA programme:

  • have mastered their chosen foreign language at the C2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, have academically substantiated intercultural skills and therefore also excellent language mediation competencies, 
  • have comprehensive knowledge of linguistics, cultural studies, multilingual communication and translation studies,
  • have strong textual and discourse-analytical competencies. They can contrastingly analyse complex texts from language-internal and -external perspectives and translate these professionally in consideration of text type conventions.
  • are able to independently conduct scientific work and have developed professional competencies in their research, 
  • have advanced skills in multilingual terminology work and have comprehensive knowledge of theories, techniques and methods of translation of creative texts and/or of specialised communication,
  • have differentiated and extremely high professional and research-oriented skills in the area of language technologies due to continuous use of applications and tools associated with computer-aided translation, machine translation, corpus analysis, terminology management and localisation,
  • can work independently and in a team, e.g. in group projects to foster acquisition of professional skills. 

The Master’s programme relates languages to the primary language German (A-language), either: 

  • an active foreign language (B-language)  
  • an active (B-language) and a passive foreign language (C-language)  

Students translate texts from their B- and C-languages into their A-language and from their A-language into their B-language and consolidate their skills in translation studies. 

In addition to these fundamental combinations, students in the translation programme can select from the following options after graduation from the MA TKS:   

  • upgrading a C- to a B-language  
  • adding a C-language

Course Structure

The Master’s degree programme Translation, Communication, Language Technology comprises 120 credits.

  • Semester 1 – 3: Lectures, courses and final examination
  • Semester 4: Completion of the Master’s thesis 

The Master’s programme is a modular programme.

International Programme Versions

The Master’s programme can be pursued as an international version. In cooperation with the Universidad de Salamanca, Heidelberg University offers the DAAD-backed international programme version “Specialised Translation and Culture Mediation” as a Double Degree programme. The Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and Heidelberg University offer the international programme version “Specialised Translation and Translation Technologies”.

Additional degrees

Bachelor 100%

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