Translation and Interpreting is a specialised field of study that trains students to convert spoken and written language between two or more languages with accuracy, cultural nuance, and professional precision. Courses in this discipline are offered at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels across Australia, with programs covering both interpreting (spoken and signed language transfer in real time) and translation (written language conversion), often with specialisations in legal, medical, community, business, and conference settings. Students learn not only the technical craft of language conversion but also the ethics, intercultural competency, and subject-matter expertise required to practise in highly sensitive environments.

These courses are designed for bilingual or multilingual individuals who wish to professionalise their language skills, graduates of linguistics or humanities degrees looking for a career-focused qualification, and internationally trained language professionals seeking Australian recognition. Because Australia's peak professional standards body — the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) — is the only body in Australia that issues officially accepted credentials for the language services profession, most courses are NAATI-endorsed or structured to prepare students for NAATI certification examinations. Employers of graduates include government departments, hospitals and health services, law courts, community organisations, multicultural agencies, international businesses, NGOs, translation agencies, the United Nations, and diplomatic services.

For undergraduate programs, applicants typically require an Australian Year 12 qualification (or equivalent) with competitive ATAR scores, plus demonstrated proficiency in at least two languages — English and one other. Some programs accept students directly from secondary school, while others may require evidence of bilingual or multilingual ability through testing or prior educational history. Postgraduate programs (Graduate Certificate, Diploma, and Master's level) typically require a completed bachelor's degree in any discipline, along with proven bilingual or multilingual competence. Many programs ask applicants to provide evidence of language proficiency in their non-English language, which may be assessed through an internal language screening test, a language portfolio, or documented prior education in that language. Some institutions require a minimum GPA.

For all students, English language proficiency is a formal requirement. International students typically need an IELTS Academic score of at least 6.5 to 7.0 overall (with no individual band below 6.0), or equivalent scores in TOEFL, PTE Academic, or C1 Advanced. Domestic applicants educated outside English-medium schools may also need to demonstrate English proficiency. Crucially, most accredited programs require students to demonstrate advanced competency in both their working languages — not just English — since professional interpreting and translation demand near-native fluency in both languages. NAATI-endorsed programs additionally assess whether applicants meet the ethical and intercultural competency prerequisites required to sit NAATI certification examinations upon graduation.