Course Overview

About This Course

THIS PROGRAM IS FOR STUDENTS COMMENCING IN 2022 ONWARDS. The Master of Translation & Interpreting (MTI) is a 96 UoC program endorsed by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI). The program prepares you to sit certification exams administered by NAATI for qualification as a Certified Provisional Interpreter, Certified Interpreter, and Certified Translator. With certain coursework, our program will also prepare you to sit specialist certification exams for Certified Advanced Translator, Certified Specialist Interpreter (Health), Certified Specialist Interpreter (Legal) and Certified Conference Interpreter. The program equips graduates with the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills to work as competent and ethical interpreters and translators in international and domestic settings. The areas of interpreting specialisation covered in the program are legal, medical, business, community and conference interpreting. The areas of translation specialisation are multimedia, business, legal, medical, scientific, technical, subtitling and captioning, translation technology (machine translation, post-editing) and community translation. The program is staffed by leading researchers and practitioners in interpreting, translation and linguistics. Academic content is underpinned by theory and up-to-date research and complemented by professional practical experience where you are able to apply what was learned in class in real professional settings. In addition to the knowledge and skills of the interpreting and translation disciplines and professions, you will also learn about the different settings in which interpreters are required to work and the different genres of translation. Related academic and practical skills such as oral and written comprehension, public speaking and writing skills, discourse analysis, critical self-analysis, research and preparation, project management and teamwork will also be taught. The program is offered in the following language combinations, subject to student demand: English and Chinese (Mandarin), Chinese (Cantonese), French, Greek, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Spanish and Turkish. Fully online mode is only available to domestic students and students not on an international student visa.

Where You Can Study

Available Locations

Canberra

Northcott Dr, Canberra, ACT 2600

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Eligibility

Entry Requirements

General Requirements

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\nYou will be considered to have an advanced level of bilingual proficiency if you have:

\n\nCompleted 3-year+ qualification equivalent to an Australian Bachelor degree which was undertaken in the nominated language, completed within the 10 years prior to commencement of the program applied for OR\nProvided evidence of a NAATI certification/accreditation for interpreting or translation for the nominated language offered in this program OR\nSuccessfully completed TAFE Diploma or TAFE Advanced Diploma of Interpreting OR\nSuccessfully completed at least one of UNSW's I&T courses (MODL5100, MODL5101, MODL5102, MODL5103, MODL5104, MODL5107, MODL5108, MODL5112) OR\nProvided evidence of being a native speaker of the language and completed high school in the nominated language for this program. High school transcript and proof of completion are required.\n\nRecognition of Prior learning:

\nStudents who have completed the short courses below are eligible to receive up to 6 UoC per course towards their program subject to the requirements and limitations specified by the UNSW Recognition of Prior Learning Procedure.

\n\nSC0002 Introduction to Interpreting and Translation -> Unspecified credit for one elective\n","links":[]}]}

Career & Study Pathways

Where this takes you

Career Opportunities

The Interpreting profession offers opportunities for employment in the public and private sectors, particularly in conference, legal, medical, community and diplomatic settings. The Translation profession offers varied opportunities for employment both commercial and freelance, including translating, editing, subtitling, captioning, and technical writing. Translation services are valued in a number of government and commercial areas including legal, medical, business, and media.

Quality & Recognition

Accreditation & Migration

Academic Regulator

TEQSA

Accreditation Status

Accredited

Course Content

Units of Competency

All Units1 units

ARTS5503

Academic Writing for the Humanities

An additional course to develop academic writing skills; credit points will not count towards the program requirements.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What languages are available for translation and interpreting in this program?

The program offers translation and interpreting in the following languages, subject to demand: English, Chinese (Mandarin), Chinese (Cantonese), French, Greek, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, and Turkish.

Is this program accredited by NAATI and what certifications can I obtain?

Yes, the program is endorsed by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) and prepares students to sit certification exams for Certified Provisional Interpreter, Certified Interpreter, and Certified Translator. With certain coursework, students can also prepare to sit specialist certification exams for Certified Advanced Translator, Certified Specialist Interpreter (Health), Certified Specialist Interpreter (Legal), and Certified Conference Interpreter.

What does the program structure look like and how many courses are required?

The Master of Translation and Interpreting consists of 16 courses and can be completed in two years full-time. It includes 4 Translation and Interpreting core courses, 1 Research course, 4 Advanced Interpreting courses, 4 Advanced Translation courses, and 3 Prescribed electives. Each university year has three terms and an optional summer study period.

What technology and facilities will I have access to during the program?

Students will have access to the latest interpreting and translation technology and equipment including training stations, simultaneous interpreting booths, a moot courtroom, translation memories, machine translation, audio-visual translation (subtitling and captioning), and corpus linguistics software.

What are the fees for this program for domestic and international students?

For domestic students, Commonwealth Supported Places are available with a 2026 indicative CSP first year fee of $4,500 and $9,000 to complete the degree. Full-fee domestic students can expect a 2026 indicative first year fee of $33,000 and $67,500 to complete the degree. For international students, the 2026 indicative first year full fee is $49,500, with $103,000 to complete the degree. Fees are subject to annual review and may vary.

Application

How to Apply

Three simple steps to get enrolled

Step 01

Enquire

Click "Enquire Now" and tell us a little about yourself. It's free and takes 2 minutes.

Step 02

Submit Documents

Our team will guide you on exactly which documents to prepare and submit.

Step 03

Get Enrolled

Receive your offer letter and confirm your enrolment. Welcome to the course!

Processing time: Offer letter issued within approximately 1 business days.

Course Snapshot

Salary, careers & skills

Typical Salary

Entry-level (0-2 years)AUD $52,000 to $68,000 per year

Early Career (2-5 years)AUD $68,000 to $82,000 per year

Mid-Level (5-10 years)AUD $82,000 to $100,000 per year

Career Paths

Community InterpreterCourt Interpreter (Legal Interpreter)Medical / Health InterpreterConference InterpreterCertified Translator

Key Skills

Consecutive and simultaneous interpreting techniquesWritten translation from source to target language with accuracy and fluencySight translation of documents across languagesSpecialised terminology management in legal, medical, and business contextsUse of computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools and translation memory software

Full Course Overview

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