Hear from others

"My decision to enroll in the University of Illinois’ online Master of Arts degree in Translation and Interpreting (MATI) was driven by two factors: value and flexibility. The flexibility of the program comes from its online nature, which has allowed me to maintain full-time employment while earning the degree. Unlike some other programs, the University of Illinois has also been able to accommodate my specific language pairing (English and Japanese). " 

"The University of Illinois online Master of Arts in Translation & Interpreting program has given me the freedom to work full time and travel while still in school. Many are concerned that online courses can be difficult due to a lack of personal connection, but the professors at TIS are always available for questions, they are invested in their students, and they are clearly passionate about their respective fields. "

"The University of Illinois online Master of Arts in Translation and Interpretation program has given me the opportunity for an education and career that is flexible to the life of a military family. The experienced professors are always available to answer questions about schoolwork and share their wisdom about the profession and its various career paths." 

"The Illinois MA in Translation and Interpreting has greatly facilitated my transition into the translation industry. I am amazed by how much I have learned despite being far from campus.  The faculty is top-notch and I so appreciate their experience, availability to answer any questions and value feedback.  Every week I am developing skills that will serve me well in this field.  I am so pleased that I enrolled in this program!"

"The University of Illinois online Master of Arts degree in Translation & Interpreting has allowed me the flexibility I needed to balance my family responsibilities, full time work and school. The program includes a balanced blend of online discussions, instructor led classroom videos, scholarly readings and practical individual and group projects.  This program has provided me with ample opportunity and resources to apply my learning outcomes.  The courses are engaging, practical and challenging.  Each professor I've had has also taken the time to share their personal experiences as a translator and/or interpreter, providing the class with a realistic outlook of the profession. What I've also found to be invaluable is the honest feedback I've received from both peers and professors and the practical experience I've gained."

"U of I's Translation and Interpreting program afforded me the opportunity to pursue graduate study in my chosen field without having to step away from my full-time job.  As a language professional with 16 years of experience doing translation and language teaching, I found U of I's courses both practical and theoretically enriching. I continue to use the skills I've acquired in the program in my daily professional and personal life, to include my work as a language educator and translator for the non-profit sector."

"The M.A. in Translation & Interpreting Studies at U of I is the program for those who aim to be professional translators/interpreters. First and foremost, it offers courses about professional skills and theories in the T & I field. For instance, I took many great courses relating to Translation and Interpreting, and all of them aimed to equip me with the skill set an aspiring translator/interpreter needs in my future. In addition to the courses, flexibility is another advantage I like. Take me as an example. Although I started my study on the track of translation for professions, I could also take courses other than translation, say Community Interpreting and Conference Interpreting, which has immensely expanded my knowledge. Last but not least,  what’s better than learning in a multilingual culture? I have classmates speaking French, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Italian, and German, and I’m always excited to learn new things from different cultures. To put it simply, the T & I program at U of I has prepared me to advance in my career in the T & I field!"

"The online M.A. in Translation and Interpreting program in University of Illinois is wonderful because it gives me the opportunity to pursue the exact degree that I want, but I can work on it at my own convenience. As a military spouse who has to move around, I really appreciate the online MA program's availability. I can closely work with on-campus students as well as my professors because I can always get their connections and immediate feedback. The program opened up my eyes to the possibilities in conference interpreting, translating for the professions and literary translation. I am confident that it will expand my career paths in the future, too."

"Thanks to the MA in Translation and Interpreting at Illinois, I got to specialize more in my main interest (interpreting) and acquired the necessary knowledge and skills for starting my career with confidence. Time went by so fast because I really enjoyed the very friendly and collaborative atmosphere, as well as the academic and human quality of all the professors that are experts in their field. They left a great impact on me as a person and future interpreter."

"I was looking for a masters program that would give me opportunity to learn about the technologies and resources available to translators today. The Master of Arts in Translation and Interpreting at the University of Illinois offered what I was looking for and much more. I had access to different CAT tools and learned a great deal about terminology management. I also learned important elements of translation theory and techniques that I apply on a daily basis as a freelance translator. I definitely feel more prepared and qualified as translator after completing the program."

"The MA in Translation and Interpreting Studies at the University of Illinois has allowed me to further develop my abilities as a language professional and interact with others in a diverse setting. It is clear that the TIS faculty and administration support the success of the graduate students through an affordable and flexible program. I would certainly recommend this master’s degree for anyone seeking an opportunity to continue their education and advance in the translation and interpreting industry."

"Interpreters are not just a box, where one language goes in, and another comes out. We have to do a lot more than just throw an interpreter into a room and tell them to repeat what the clinician said."

"When I decided to enroll in the on-campus M.A program in Translation and Interpreting at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign I never imagine I had to start it during a pandemic. Many doubts crossed my mind, but I moved forward with my plans. Few weeks into my first semester my doubts dissipated as I started feeling the support from all the faculty. At the end I took a leap of faith and it all paid off. As soon as I graduated I got hired for a full time position at a well-known children's hospital in California. I have also been working on translation projects as a freelancer. Now, I am looking forward to getting certified and continuing my education."