Do you hold an undergraduate degree in any discipline, whether related to translation or not? Do you have advanced writing skills in English and an additional language? Have you ever wondered about the role translation plays in almost every aspect of communication and the movement of knowledge across cultures and borders?
The Master in Translation Studies (MATS) at York University’s Glendon campus gives you an opportunity to explore translation as a meaningful social, political and cultural activity. This program focuses on the theoretical aspects of translation as a practice, process, product, and activity. While it includes a few practice-oriented courses where students focus on translating texts, the program primarily aims to explore how research can enhance our understanding of translation as an inter- and cross-cultural practice.
Glendon’s Master in Translation Studies is the only such program in Canada that doesn’t require applicants to be proficient in both English and French. The program is open to applicants who have either English or French and another language. This means that you could be learning with and from others who have working languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Italian, Spanish, Urdu, etc. and bring experiences from a host of other contexts and cultures.
Our student body is richly diverse, encompassing a wide range of linguistic and cultural backgrounds. By examining languages and cultures through the lens of translation theories, our class discussions are always engaging and thought-provoking. The program fosters a close-knit and supportive community, where students and faculty collaborate closely. Our dedicated faculty members are actively involved in organizing and participating in numerous research-focused activities throughout the year, such as lectures, workshops, and networking events. In addition, our students take the initiative in organizing an annual graduate conference. They also engage in various events hosted by the Centre for Research on Language and Culture Contact.
Faculty and students from MATS program.
Courses in the MATS combine theoretical knowledge with practical application. On the translation practice side, the program offers courses such as Literary Translation, Audiovisual Translation and Subtitling, Translation and Tourism, and Medical Translation. The more theoretical courses include Translation Studies and Research Methods; others focus on topics such as Experiences of Translation in the Americas, Balzac Translated-Translating Balzac, Politics and Translation, Ideology and Translation, Translation and Ethics, Translation and Mobility, and Translation and Digital Technologies, to name but a few.
The Master in Translation Studies can be completed in two years and offers three options: courses only, courses plus a Major Research Paper, or courses plus a thesis. The program is designed to serve full-time students as well as professionals who wish to obtain a graduate degree in Translation Studies while continuing to work. As such, all courses are scheduled in the evening, and some are offered online.
The MATS is a funded program. Once admitted, most eligible full-time domestic students receive a guaranteed funding package for the duration of the program. Note: No funding is available for international students.
For more information on the program structure and admission requirements, visit yorku.ca/gradstudies/mats/. Discover why translation matters!
The application deadline for the 2026–2027 academic year is February 15, 2026.