Master of Arts Programs

1. MA Program in Translation

2. MA Program in Conference Interpreting

1. MA Program in Translation

The Department of Translation and Interpreting Studies offers a program leading to an MA Degree in Translation. The program is designed to accommodate students with different qualifications as well as graduates of the Department, offering them theoretical study in addition to further practice in translation. It aims to prepare students for careers in translation, editing, academic research, and teaching.

The program is open to all candidates with an undergraduate degree and proficiency in English and Turkish as well as one other language. Candidates for admission must fulfill the requirements specified in the Regulations of the Institute of Social Sciences.

To fulfill the requirements of the MA Degree in Translation, students must complete a total of 25 credits of course work, including a translation project and a scholarly thesis submitted in standard format.

TOTAL: 25 credits.

Course Descriptions

TR 501 Approaches in Translation (2+0+3) 3
Ample translation practice to enhance skills in interpreting linguistic and cross-cultural complexities in the source text, and in reconstructing them in the target text. Emphasis on translation studies terminology and the use of all available reference sources.

TR 511 Literary Translation I (2+0+3) 3
Analysis of literary discourse with a view to devising strategies for the translation of a wide variety of texts. Special emphasis on drama. Application of strategies through constant practice.

TR 512 Literary Translation II (2+0+3) 3
Analysis of literary discourse with a view to devising strategies for the translation of a wide variety of texts. Special emphasis on poetry and fiction. Application of strategies through constant practice.

TR 521 Translation Theories (3+0+0) 3
Survey of translation theories from their origins to the present. Emphasis on contemporary theories: their role and function in translating, criticism and translator- training. Term paper.

TR 522 Translation Criticism (3+0+0) 3
Defining areas of critical interest in published translations of literary and philosophical texts. Critical scrutiny from different perspectives pertaining to recent developments in translation studies. Term paper.

TR 524 Editing (3+0+0) 3
Practice in editing translations, in copy editing, and in preparing a substantial translated text for publication.

TR 526 Literary Criticism and Translation Theories (3+0+0) 3
Survey of the interaction of literary criticism and translation theories over the last two centuries. Analysis from diachronic and synchronic perspectives.

TR 529 Stylistics (3+0+0) 3
Study of distinctive features in literary expression and creative writing. Focus on various genres, with emphasis on Turkish and Western works, keeping in perspective the role of style in the translation process. Term paper.

TR 530 Research Techniques in Translation (3+0+0) 3
Methodological approach to research. Designing a research project in translation studies: selection, planning and techniques of research. Focus on interconnecting different theories with appropriate research.

TR 532 Translation Project (3+0+3) 4
Supervised translation of a complete text, supplemented by a commentary explaining the translation process and the problems encountered; a glossary of technical terms, and a list of references.

TR 579 Graduate Seminar Non-Credit (0+1+0)
New perspectives on translation for a deeper awareness of topics relevant to translation studies, through seminars offered by faculty, guest speakers and graduate students.

TR 690 Thesis

2. MA Program in Conference Interpreting

The MA Program in Conference Interpreting, offered by the Department of Translation and Interpreting Studies, is designed as a two-year, multilingual Program without a thesis. The Program aims to recruit students from among university graduates who hold a degree in a wide range of subjects such as interpreting, law, business administration, international relations, economics, medicine and engineering. The language of instruction will be English and the candidates will need to be competent in Turkish, English and in either French, German or Italian. Language combinations may be expanded in the coming years.

The MA Program in Conference Interpreting has two major interrelated aims. The first aim of the program is to provide the students with the necessary skills they need to work as simultaneous conference interpreters in view of the growing need for multilingual conference interpreters and especially in view of Turkey's EU membership in the future. The second aim of the program is to create critical awareness in the students with regard to their own processes and positions and to ensure research competency in the rapidly expanding discipline of Interpreting Studies by familiarizing them with the theories, tools and methods of the field.

TOTAL: 59 credits

Course Descriptions

INT 501 Advanced Simultaneous Interpreting I (3+0+2) 4
Introduction to the basic processes and strategies of simultaneous interpreting. Simultaneous interpreting practice through various techniques such as shadowing, memory exercises, etc.. Simulated interpreting practice into the mother tongue from active and passive languages in laboratory booths. Interpreting at a basic level from authentic conference materials and recordings.

INT 502 Advanced Simultaneous Interpreting II (3+0+2) 4
Advanced practice of simultaneous interpreting in the working languages in booths. Laboratory simulations of conference situations with special emphasis on the various problems and challenges posed by real-life interpreting practice. Discussion on the dialectical relationship between the socio-cultural context-interpreter-interpreting performance.

INT 503 Advanced Simultaneous Interpreting III (3+0+2) 4
Advanced practice of simultaneous interpreting in the working languages in booths with invited speakers. Simulations of conference situations with invited guest speakers in the laboratory with special emphasis on the various problems and challenges posed by real-life interpreting practice. Discussion on the dialectical relationship between the socio-cultural context-interpreter-interpreting performance.

INT 504 European Union Institutions and Policies (3+0+0) 3
Introduction to the European integration with special emphasis on the EU institutions, processes and procedures. Discussions on the history of the European construction process, Community Law, European economic and political integration.

INT 505 Advanced Simultaneous Interpreting in Conference Situations I (3+0+2) 4
Acquisition of professional skills into the mother tongue in actual conference situations. Attendance to conferences on a diversity of topics and interpreting exercises. Analysis and criticism of actual interpreting performance vis-à-vis actual conference situations.

INT 506 Advanced Simultaneous Interpreting in Conference Situations II (3+0+2) 4
Advancement of professional skills in actual conference situations. Special attention to interpreting into the active language and from the active language into the mother tongue. Attendance to specialized conferences and seminars on a diversity of topics. Analysis of actual interpreting performance in conferences.

INT 507 Advanced Simultaneous Interpreting in Conference Situations III (3+0+2) 4
Refinement of interpreting skills in actual conference situations. Special attention to rapid shifting between the mother tongue and the active language and from the passive language to the mother tongue in real-life interpreting tasks. Integration of on-sight interpreting skills to actual performance. Discussion on the implications of the presence and performance of the interpreter on actual conference interactions.

INT 508 Interpreting Theory (3+0+0) 3
Introduction to interpreting research and theory. Study of existing literature. Discussion on the cognitive, psycholinguistic, neurological and sociological paradigms in analysing and understanding the process and product of interpreting. Developing self-reflexivity in interpreters on their interpreting performance.

INT 509 Advanced Consecutive Interpreting I (3+0+2) 4
Introduction to consecutive interpreting. Training in consecutive interpretation without notes. Summarization, comprehension, note-taking and memory skills mainly into the mother tongue. Specialized vocabulary in various fields through the study of authentic conference texts.

INT 510 Media Interpreting (2+0+2) 3
Aspects of electronic media interpreting. Focus on the analysis of spoken and visual messages relayed through the media. Language transfer methods such as voice-over, narration, dubbing and commentary. Emphasis on the combined functions of journalist, reporter, editor, broadcaster, announcer and linguistic interpreter. Analysis of recorded media interpreting performances.

INT 511 Advanced Consecutive Interpreting II (3+0+2) 4
Advance practicing of consecutive interpreting in the working languages of students. Further training in content analysis and expansion of longer chunks of structured speech based on notes.

INT 513 Dialogue Interpreting (2+0+2) 3
Training for interpretation in social services as well as legal, medical, business settings. Discussion on the implications of these settings on the interpreting process and product. Familiarization with the diverse demands of dialogue interpreting such as the importance of intercultural communication skills and turn-taking.

INT 515 Introduction to the Practice of Interpreting (2+0+2) 3 
Introduction to the cognitive, physical, psychological and social aspects of interpreting. Emphasis on communication skills, voice coaching, public speaking, conference procedures, ethics of interpreting, working conditions and practices. History of interpreting in the world and in Turkey.

INT 517 Research Project in Interpreting I (3+0+0) 3
Preliminary studies and literature survey for a research project on a topic related to interpreting.

INT 518 Research Project in Interpreting II (3+0+0) 3
Development of a research project at an advanced level related to interpreting.

If it is deemed necessary, applicants accepted to the program will have to take one or two semesters of academic prep courses.

Application and Registration

 Applications should be made to the Office of the Registrar during the general postgraduate application period at Boğaziçi University. Quotas and conditions for acceptance will be announced during the application periods. This information can be reached via the Boğaziçi University website (www.boun.edu.tr).

Conditions for Application and Documents Required:

1. An Application Form, to be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. You can also download this form from the following address: http://www.boun.edu.tr/undergraduate/organization/application_form.doc

2. Two letters of recommendation. The people recommending you should write their references on the special forms prepared by the Department. These can be obtained from the Department or downloaded from our Recommendation Form page.

3. An Application Form, which can be obtained from the Department or downloaded from our Document-Form page.

4. Photocopy of diploma

5. Official transcript of undergraduate education

6. Evidence of proficiency in English (a minimum score of 79 + Writing 24 on the internet-based TOEFL, or an overall score of 7 in ELTS).  Applicants who have not taken these tests will be required to take the English Proficiency Exam BUEPT given by the BU School of Foreign Languages. Minimum score required in BUEPT is 60. The scores of these exams are valid for two years. A statement of approval from the School of Foreign Languages must be attached to the application when TOEFL or ELTS score is being submitted. 

7. ALES or GRE or GMAT score sheet

ALES scores are valid for two years.  ALES — the Selection Examination for Graduate Students — is administered  in Turkish. GRE/GMAT scores are valid for a maximum of five years.

8. The graduation grade point average you attained in your undergraduate studies should be at least 2.25 out of 4 or at least 60 out of 100.

9. Applicants should have a very high level of competence in at least two languages involved in the program (Turkish, English, French, German and Italian) in addition to their own mother-tongues. Of these languages, at least one should be at A level, one at B level and one at C level. Any documentation you possess showing the level of your languages should be submitted along with your application. The A language is the mother-tongue or strongest language of an interpreter. The B language is the second strongest language of an interpreter. An interpreter should be capable of interpreting into this language. The C language is the third language of an interpreter. An interpreter must be able to interpret from this language into the A or B language, but will not interpret from the A or B language into the C language.

10.  Applicants must write a “Statement of Purpose” explaining why they want to take an MA in the field of Conference Interpreting, and this should be submitted to the Office of the Registrar together with the other application documents. Applicants must specify in their Statements of Purpose which of the languages they know belong in the categories outlined above.

11.  Applicants who fulfil the conditions for application will take both written and oral examinations.

12.  Applicants are advised to keep themselves abreast of current affairs worldwide and of topical events in the European Union and Turkey.

13.  The MA program in Conference Interpreting is, by its very nature, a program that requires students to come to classes at times that may well change, as well as to attend conferences and lectures. It is most important that applicants should be able to fit in with the variable class schedule.

About the Entrance Examination

1. In the written examination, applicants will be asked to produce a written translation in their B language of a text on a topical matter in their A language. They will also be expected to translate a text written in their C language into their A language. The use of dictionaries will not be allowed.

2. In the oral examination, applicants will be expected to listen to 3-5 minute speeches on a topical subject given by the examiners and, without taking notes, to relay these in their active languages. (That is, they will relay from their B and C languages into their A language and from their A language into their B language.) Applicants will not be asked to perform simultaneous interpreting in the oral examination. Applicants may be requested to give short speeches on topical subjects using their A and B languages.