Translator and Interpreter

Location: Budapest
Program format: Correspondence
Funding: State-subsidized, tuition-based

Why choose this program at Kodolányi?
The program provides marketable knowledge in a rapidly changing world. It is an exceptionally practice-oriented program. It holds valid international FIBBA accreditation starting in September 2024, which is unique in Hungary.

What can students expect from this program?
The program provides new and professional techniques, as well as in-depth knowledge, applicable in the rapidly evolving and changing world of translation and interpreting. We train translators, interpreters, and language engineers who are capable of professionally performing the task of written and oral language mediation from a foreign language into Hungarian and from Hungarian into a foreign language. They are able to render written or spoken source-language texts accurately in terms of content and linguistically correct in the target language; they are well-informed about the political, economic, social, and cultural life of the source- and target-language countries, as well as the countries of the European Union; they are familiar with the ethical and rhetorical rules of language mediation; and they are proficient in the technology applicable to language mediation
(Trados, MemoQ), and are familiar with its advantages and potential applications.

The program’s labor market partners The Department of English Studies at Kodolányi János University maintains relationships with numerous translation agencies offering internships, and several strategic agreements help students expand their practical professional knowledge.

What other opportunities are available to students while pursuing their degree?
Graduates of the Master’s program in Translation and Interpretation have an exceptionally wide range of career opportunities, as they can find work in the public and nonprofit sectors, as well as at multinational corporations and major domestic companies (e.g., data analyst, project coordinator, technical language specialist, language trainer and coach, interpreter, translator, project manager, as well as cultural organizer, marketing specialist, or executive assistant). This also includes any position where a high level of proficiency in English and/or German, as well as language mediation skills, is desirable or considered an advantage. Graduates with a master’s degree in translation and interpreting are prepared for PhD-level research and further studies.

Specializations

Specialization 1: Translation
Track, Specializing in Economics, Business, and Law
Specialization 2: Interpreting
Track

Admission Requirements:
Programs accepted as prerequisites for admission to the master’s program—with full credit transfer—include any bachelor’s degree program.

A further requirement for admission to the program is that the applicant possess a state-recognized C1-level language proficiency certificate in English or an equivalent document, as well as a state-recognized B2-level language proficiency certificate in an additional foreign language or an equivalent document.

Admissions Exam (Oral): The oral admissions exam is conducted in English. During the exam, the applicant must complete one impromptu translation task and one impromptu interpretation task (sight translation, memory translation, or consecutive interpretation).

Calculation of Admission Scores

Admission Scores: (max. 100 points)

Admissions interview: maximum 80 points,

Grade on diploma, rounded to the nearest whole number × 2: maximum 10 points (satisfactory: 2 × 2 points), average: 3 × 2 points, good: 4 × 2 points, excellent: 5 × 2 points)

Bonus points: a maximum of 10 bonus points may be awarded.

• Maximum equal opportunity points: 1 point o disability: 1 point o child care: 1 point o disadvantaged status: 1 point
• 1st place in institutional TDK: 5 points
• Institutional TDK 2nd place: 3 points
• 3rd place or honorable mention in the institutional TDK: 2 points
• 2nd English-language published/accepted publication: 3 points
• Certificate of participation in a national professional competition: 2 points
• OTDK 1st place: 7 points
• OTDK 2nd place: 5 points
• OTDK 3rd place: 4 points
• Professional publication: 3 points
• Participation in a scientific conference: 3 points

Admission Requirements:
All credits can be fully transferred from any BA program

Foreign Languages Required: Admission to the Master’s program requires a state-recognized higher-level (C1) complex-type language examination in a foreign language
(English) and a state-recognized intermediate-level (B2) complex-type language examination in another foreign language, or an equivalent high school diploma or certificate.

Admission Exam (oral): The exam consists of the examinee’s introduction, a discussion of any previous translation or interpreting experience, and impromptu translation (transcription and interpreting, from memory, and mediation). Language of the exam: English

Calculation of Admission Points

Admission points (max. 100 points)

admission interview: max. 80 points,

diploma grade rounded to whole numbers multiplied by 2, up to a maximum of 10 points. (Pass: 2 × 2 points, Satisfactory: 3 × 2 points, Very Good: 4 × 2 points, Excellent: 5 × 2 points)

Additional points: a maximum of ten points may be added.

• Equal opportunities: max. 1 point o disability: 1 point o child care: 1 point o disadvantage: 1 point
• Institutional TDK Conference (Scientific Student Association Conference): first place:
  5 points
• Institutional TDK Conference (Scientific Student Association Conference), second place: 3 points
• Institutional TDK Conference (Scientific Student Association Conference) third place:
  2 points
• Published or forthcoming publication in English: 3 points
• Certificate from national professional competitions: 2 points
• National OTDK Conference (National Scientific Student Association Conference) – first place: 7 points
• National OTDK Conference (National Scientific Student Association Conference), second place: 5 points
• National OTDK Conference (National Scientific Student Association Conference), third place: 4 points
• publication: 3 points
• participation in a scientific conference: 3 points