New Zealand Sign Language - English Interpreting Major - Bachelor of Arts
Professional NZSL-English interpreters are in high demand. NZSL-English interpreters are essential to ensure the Deaf community has access to New Zealand legal, educational and health systems. This major prepares you for a career as an NZSL-English interpreter.
You become familiar with the Deaf community and culture, helping you achieve proficiency in New Zealand Sign Language. You develop interpreting skills for a wide range of settings and explore the ethical issues of sign language interpreting.
AUT is the only university where you can become a qualified NZSL-English interpreter. Our dynamic classroom environment encourages student participation at each stage of the learning journey. Our strong relationships with the Deaf community and interpreting professionals mean that you have access to up-to-date information and a range of guest speakers.
A scholarship is available from the Ministry of Education for NZSL interpreting students:
Talk to us about your study options
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This programme brochure will be available soon.
Minimum entry requirements
If you have New Zealand qualifications
- University Entrance or equivalent
- High level of competency in English (NZSL fluency is not required). Interview will be required.
If you have qualifications from another country
See entry requirements for students from other countries. Select your country from the dropdown menu.
Useful New Zealand school subjects
All subjects are useful, in particular Art History, Classical Studies, English, Geography, History, Media Studies and other languages.
English language requirements
- IELTS (Academic) 7.0 overall with 7.0 in Writing and Speaking, and 6.5 in Reading and Listening; or equivalent.
Don’t meet the entry requirements?
Consider starting with:
Develop advanced NZSL and interpreting skills to prepare you for a career as a professional NZSL-English interpreter. Courses also focus on ethical decision making, the translation and interpreting processes, and business-related skills like networking and professional conduct.
The first year focuses on developing fluency in New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL), and the study of the Deaf community and culture. You'll also complete core courses that cover effective communication, critical thinking and other transferable skills for your future career. In the second and third year you’re introduced to the interpreting profession, including the history of interpreting locally and internationally. You need to complete Year 1 courses with at least a B grade average in the language courses to progress to Year 2, otherwise you need to continue with an alternative major.
For questions about this programme you can contact our programme leader on george.major@aut.ac.nz
Year 1 courses
Core courses
- COMM570 Academic Communication: Conventions and Expectations or LSKL500 Uni101
- CLSY510 Introduction to International Studies or MAOR504 Treaty of Waitangi: Resistance and Repair
- CLSY504 Knowledge and Inquiry or CLSY515 Humans + Machines: AI in the Social World
New Zealand Sign language - English Interpreting courses
- NZSL502 An Introduction to the Deaf World
- NZSL510 New Zealand Sign Language I
- NZSL520 New Zealand Sign Language II
- NZSL600 New Zealand Sign Language Discourse
- NZSL602 Being in the Deaf World
Year 2 courses
- TRIN603 Interpreter Role, Ethics and Practice
- NZSL604 Societal Contexts for NZSL Interpreters
- NZSL610 New Zealand Sign Language III
- NZSL620 New Zealand Sign Language IV
- NZSL710 New Zealand Sign Language V
- NZSL703 Comparative Analysis of English and NZSL
- NZSL704 NZSL Interpreting I — Dialogic Interactions
You also complete an elective course*
*We recommend the following elective course MAOR505 Te Mānutanga Beginners Māori Language 1
Year 3 courses
- NZSL702 Current Issues in the Deaf World
- NZSL705 NZSL Interpreting II — Monologic Interactions
- NZSL706 NZSL Interpreting III — Advanced Interpreting Techniques
- TRIN704 Health Studies for Interpreters or TRIN702 Legal Studies for Interpreters
- TRIN705 Advanced Health Interpreting or TRIN708 Advanced Legal Interpreting
- NZSL707 NZSL Interpreting Practicum Experience I – Observations
- NZSL708 NZSL Interpreting Practicum Experience II – Professional Practice
You also complete an elective course
Workplace experience
Workplace experience is a key part of your final year. In the first semester you’ll be in the community, observing and learning from professional interpreters in a wide range of settings. In the second semester, you’ll be interpreting alongside professional interpreters, your lecturers, and classmates.
Recent placements included:
- Community workshops
- Sports events
- Pōwhiri
- Primary school classrooms
- Health appointments
Want more info about work integrated learning at AUT?
Read more about workplace experience in AUT programmes, how it works and why it’s so beneficial when you start your career.
Workplace experience in AUT programmes
Ready to enrol in your courses?
Find out how you can enrol in the courses and classes for your programme, whether you’ve just joined AUT as a new student or you’re already studying with us. If you’re looking for a course timetable or more info on a specific course use our course search.
To participate in AUT's New Zealand Sign Language - English Interpreting degree you need to be able to:
- Adequately hear and process spoken language in a wide range of settings, including when there is significant background noise and people talking over one another
- See clearly including in low light and across distances
- Speak and write English with a high level of proficiency, including an extensive vocabulary and the ability to adapt language to different levels of formality
- Speak in a clear voice
- Use hands, arms, fingers in a skilled and coordinated way (manual dexterity)
NZSL fluency is not required to begin this programme.
Beginner level applicants can use this free online tool to learn some basics.
Learn NZSL website
Other majors in the Bachelor of Arts
- Creative Writing
- Criminology and Criminal Justice
- Culinary Arts
- Economics (not offered for new students)
- Education
- Event Management
- Global Tourism
- History
- International Studies
- Interpreting
- Māori Development
- Māori Media (not offered for new students)
- New Zealand Sign Language & Deaf Studies
- Psychology
- Social Sciences
($7,618 - $8,553 tuition fees + $1,221.60 student services levy)
($34,800 tuition fees + $1,221.60 student services levy)
- Fees shown are based on a full-time workload for the points indicated next to the fee. The exact fee charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment.
- Fees are subject to change year to year. If you are planning for study beyond the current year, fees may vary from those stated.
- There may also be other fees and charges you need to pay.
- International students' tuition fees reflect the full cost of tuition. Domestic students' tuition fees are less due to a proportion of the tuition fees being funded by the New Zealand Government.
- Fees-free study may be available for domestic students
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.