Diploma in Interpreting and Translation

In today’s globalised world there are many opportunities for professional interpreters and translators. The Diploma in Interpreting and Translation helps you develop the skills for a career in interpreting or translation in as little as two years. It’s designed to prepare you for work in a variety of community settings or carry out translation assignments for clients in New Zealand and overseas.

Quick Facts

Entry Requirements

Minimum entry requirements

  • Not open to school leavers.
  • Applicants must demonstrate proficiency to undergraduate degree level in English and an additional language.

Selection criteria

Interview is required

English language requirements

  • Students with English as an additional language (EAL): IELTS 7 overall or equivalent.
  • All EAL applicants will be interviewed and required to sit a specific listening test and write a sample of English.
  • New Zealanders with English as their first language will be required to do an equivalent test in their language of choice.

Majors

Additional Majors and Minors

Additional majors and minors

Structure and Content

Year 1

  • Introduction to Translation
  • Theory and Practice of Interpreting
  • Translation Skills: Analysis, Appropriateness and Accuracy
  • Societal Contexts for Interpreting

Year 2

  • Advanced Interpretation Health Studies
  • Advanced Interpretation Legal Studies

And two papers from:

  • Advanced Interpretation Health Translation
  • Advanced Interpretation Legal Translation
  • Advanced Interpretation Health Interpreting
  • Advanced Interpretation Legal Interpreting

Related Programmes

Career Opportunities

Graduates will be able to work as translators and interpreters in the two most socially relevant areas of interpreting – health and legal settings.

Legal interpreting opportunities may include work in areas such as Tenancy Services, Customs Department, Disputes Tribunals and the Child, Youth and Family service.

Health interpreting opportunities may include work in areas such as outpatient clinics, emergency departments, mental health settings and counselling.

Possible graduate pathways include:

  • Freelance work as translators and/or interpreters working for providers such as LanguageLine nationwide telephone interpreting service.
  • Freelance work as interpreters working for government departments such as the Department of Justice, MAF, or area district health boards.
  • Staircasing into the Bachelor of Arts with majors in Interpreting, Translation, or English and New Media Studies.

Testimonials