Kickstart Your Career in Localization: Top Degrees & Courses

Curious about what education you need to become a localization specialist? Do you need a degree, specialized training, or both?

The truth is—it depends. But to help you get started, here’s a list of top institutions and courses offering solid, career-focused localization training.

American schools

Middlebury Institute of International Studies

• Type of program: 2-year Master’s degree
• Location: Monterey, California
• Estimated costs: between $20K and $40K in tuition per year after scholarships
• Prerequisite: Bachelor’s degree

The Master of Arts in Translation and Localization Management at the Middlebury Institute provides a well-rounded education that blends language, culture, business, and technology. Their graduates secure roles at companies like Netflix, Google, and Salesforce, as well as project management positions at top Language Service Providers (LSPs).

Student testimony:

Kavikuil Sarojini – a passionate localization professional from India with a decade of experience in the industry

I always felt drawn to the broader scope of localization management—where cross-functional collaboration and strategic planning come together to shape impactful global products.

To pursue this vision, I enrolled in the advanced entry Master’s program in Translation and Localization Management (TLM) at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. Without a doubt, this has been one of the best decisions I’ve made for my career growth.

The TLM program at MIIS offers a comprehensive and forward-thinking curriculum that goes far beyond project management. It covers every major aspect of the localization industry—from audiovisual and media localization to quality and supplier management, financial operations, game localization, program strategy, and cutting-edge translation technologies.

What makes this program even more impactful is the incredible faculty—seasoned professionals who bring their real-world experience and mentorship into the classroom.

University of Washington

• Type of program: 2-year Master’s degree
• Location: Seattle, Washington
• Estimated costs: around $42,871/year
• Prerequisite: Bachelor’s degree

The University of Washington offers a more scientific approach with the Master of Science in Computational Linguistics, which equips its students with a scope of skills applied in translation, voice recognition, automated text analysis, search engines, and other technologies.

Skills come along with a salary: according to PayScale, in 2025, the median salary for computational linguists was around $101,000 a year.

Kent State University

• Type of program: 2-year Master’s degree
• Location: Kent, Ohio
• Estimated costs: undergraduate Ohio resident tuition:  $13,466 for Ohio residents; $23,690 for the rest
• Prerequisite: Bachelor’s degree

The Kent State University Master of Arts in Translation is among the oldest and largest translation master’s degrees in the US. The only strict requirements for admission are proficiency in a foreign language and motivation to work in the language industry.

The good news is that the institution offers the possibility to study onsite as well as online.

Still, this program is not the sole opportunity for those envisioning a localization career, as Kent also offers a Bachelor of Translation.

Student testimony:

Joseph Mario Cancelliere, Senior Project Manager at Argos Multilingual

When I was deciding what to study after high school, I chose Kent State University’s B.S. in Translation—one of the few programs in the U.S. offering an alternative to a traditional French degree. I knew I wanted to work in translation, and Kent State’s proximity to my hometown made it a convenient and appealing choice. The program offered a strong foundation in translation theory, language, and literature, while also requiring students to select a subject-area specialty. I chose international business, which led me to take additional courses in business management, accounting, and marketing. This interdisciplinary approach gave me both the linguistic and contextual knowledge I needed to begin a career in localization.

My education at Kent State thoroughly prepared me for the localization industry. From starting out as a localization specialist to advancing into project and program management roles, the skills and insights I gained have been instrumental throughout my career.

Europe

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spain)

• Type of program:  1-year Master’s degree
• Location:  Barcelona, Spain
• Estimated costs: around €1660/year for EU citizens and non-EU citizens holding an EU residence permit; €4500/year for non-EU citizens who do not hold an EU residence permit
• Prerequisite: Bachelor’s degree

The University of Barcelona offers a Master’s degree in Audiovisual Translation and Localization, focused on translations into Spanish and Catalan. As one of the first audiovisual translation and accessibility diplomas in Europe, the institution prepares students for working with dubbing, subtitling (also for the deaf and hard of hearing users), as well as translation of video games.

Again, the students may choose to attend lectures or study online.

University of Surrey (UK)

• Type of program:  1-year Master’s degree
• Location:  Surrey, United Kingdom
• Estimated costs: £10,900 for UK students, £21,800 for non-UK students
• Prerequisite: Bachelor’s degree

If you fancy studying in the UK, the University of Surrey’s Master’s in Translation, Interpreting, and AI would be an excellent choice. This internationally recognized MA program blends practical training in translation and interpreting with a strong emphasis on developing cutting-edge technological skills, particularly the application of AI in translation and interpreting.

University of Leuven (Belgium)

• Type of program: 1-year Postgraduate programme with the Workplacement or a half-year without
• Location: Leuven, Belgium
• Estimated costs: €2,500 for the work-placement track and €2,300 for the non-workplacement track
• Prerequisite: Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree

The Postgraduate Programme in Translation Technology at KU Leuven’s Faculty of Arts is a globally recognized program that equips students and professionals with essential technological expertise and ICT skills for a successful career in translation and localization in the modern era. Thanks to a partnership with Phrase, a popular translation management system, the students enjoy free access to their platform.

Online

Online courses offer flexible learning opportunities and can be a valuable addition to your career plan, enhancing your skills and strengthening your CV. Check out some promising offers that caught our attention.

Localization academy

• Type of program:  Certificate
• Location: Online
• Estimated costs: depending on the subscription, $39-49/month or $249 biannually
• Prerequisite: n/a

Localization Academy responds to the issue of student debt in the US, opening its arms to learners with different backgrounds. Their goal is to create a world where talent and what someone can do are more important than the college name on a CV. The website features numerous online courses destined for the next generation of localization professionals.

Lokalise Academy

• Type of program:  Certificate
• Location: Online
• Estimated costs: Free!
• Prerequisite: n/a

Lokalise Academy is another great alternative for those interested in online learning. Their community brings together leading experts in the industry, including our SVP Customer Development, Antoine Rey. Bonus: The courses feature visually appealing graphics that make learning even more enjoyable and engaging.

University College London’s Online Course in Localisation

• Type of program:  11-week course with certificate
• Location: Online
• Estimated costs: £800
• Prerequisite: n/a

Among the 10 best universities in the world, University College London offers an 11-week-long interactive e-learning localization course, particularly suited for translators working or planning to work from English into another language.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but it will give you a place to start if you are looking to embark on a new educational journey.