Master’s Degree in Conference Interpreting (MUIC), University of Granada
A brief history
The Master’s Degree in Conference Interpreting (MUIC) at the University of Granada, established in 2013, is part of a long-standing tradition of interpreter training at this public university. This tradition dates back to 1979, when the School of Translators and Interpreters was created as a diploma program, which in 1992 became the current Faculty of Translation and Interpreting. During that period, studies were organized as a degree program that already included a final year specialization in conference interpreting. Subsequently, with the implementation of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), this degree was transformed into the Bachelor’s Degree in Translation and Interpreting and two separate master’s programs: the Master’s in Professional Translation and the Master’s in Conference Interpreting.
Characteristics of the of the Master’s programme
The MUIC is structured as a one-year program (two semesters) worth 60 ECTS credits. It is clearly professionally oriented, with no predominant theoretical component, and focuses on the development of conference interpreting skills.
The working languages offered are Arabic, English, French, and German in combination with Spanish. It is particularly noteworthy for being the only master’s degree, both nationally and internationally, that includes the Arabic–Spanish combination.
The program provides different language profiles: one combining language A, B and C, where language A must be one of the languages offered; another combining only language A and B, which is only available in the Spanish–Arabic–Spanish or Spanish–German–Spanish combinations (students with this profile must also complete an additional 12 ECTS credits in translation—Arabic or German—within the Master’s in Professional Translation); and a third profile combining language A (which must be Spanish in this case) with three C languages.
Curriculum
The curriculum includes courses aimed at the progressive development of interpreting skills, starting with Fundamentals of Conference Interpreting I and II (6 ECTS each), followed by practical conference interpreting courses in different language directions: B–A, A–B and C–A (12 ECTS each). The program also includes external work experience (6 ECTS) and a Master’s Thesis (6 ECTS), thus completing the training.
External work experience
Regarding the external work experience, the program has several local cooperation agreements that allow students to carry out real interpreting assignments. In addition, study visits are organized to major international institutions such as the European Commission, the Court of Justice of the European Union, FAO, WHO and the Council of Europe. In these contexts, students can practise in dummy booths (i.e. with the microphone switched off), simulating real professional conditions.
Faculty
The teaching staff of the master’s program has extensive experience both in teaching and in the professional practice of conference interpreting. In fact, a significant proportion of the faculty are still active as professional interpreters, which ensures up-to-date training closely aligned with professional practice.
Facilities
MUIC classes are held in the facilities of the Faculty of Translation and Interpreting at the University of Granada. The Faculty is equipped with three interpreting laboratories (one with 15 fully equipped professional booths and two with semi-open booths), as well as a conference room with four closed double booths.