BA in Chinese to MFA in Literary Translation at Boston University

Programme overview

The BA in Chinese to MFA in Literary Translation gives high-performing undergraduate students the opportunity to begin taking courses toward a graduate degree while working toward their BA in Chinese. Many students find the MFA an asset in their post-graduation career plans. Students receive training in Chinese language and literature and, simultaneously, in the history, theory, and practice of literary translation.

Faculty: College of Arts & Sciences | Study mode: full-time | Location: Boston, MA, United States

What you will study

Bachelor’s-to-master’s programs are linked bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in which the two degrees are conferred sequentially. This bachelor’s-to-master’s program allows students to apply a maximum of 8 units from their undergraduate degree toward the associated master’s degree. The units applied toward the master’s degree must be at the 500 level or above.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Students should apply to the MFA by February 15 of the student’s junior year. The applicant must include the BU transcript, two faculty recommendation letters, a sample of critical writing (8–12 double-spaced pages, usually drawn from previous coursework), a translation sample with the original text (8–12 double-spaced pages of prose or 80–100 lines of poetry), a plan of study, and a personal statement describing the applicant’s interest in the program.

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences master's programmes admit for Fall 2027; Spring 2027 entry is offered for selected programmes (Economics MS programmes, History of Art & Architecture MA, Preservation Studies MA, Online MS in Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence).

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Fall 2027 master's deadlines are mostly priority January 15 and final March 15 (African American & Black Diaspora Studies priority February 15, final March 15; Preservation Studies February 15; Sociology and History of Art & Architecture January 15). Spring 2027 deadlines for selected programmes are priority October 15 and final November 15. Applications are submitted through the online application; the GRE is required only for the Economics MS/MA programmes and the MS in Psychological & Brain Sciences.

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