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Your global career begins with the skills to work as a professional translator and interpreter in Australia and beyond.
The UNSW Graduate Certificate in Translation and Interpreting allows you to build professional translating and interpreting skills and begin to specialise according to your career goals. You'll develop practical techniques with access to current real-world technologies and with translation studies and interpreting coursework led by industry-experienced lecturers.
This postgraduate program is endorsed by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) and prepares you for their certification exams.
Why study a graduate certificate?
This is the fastest pathway to a professional qualification or further study at UNSW - you can be qualified in less than a year. In comparison, the graduate diploma takes one year to complete, and the master’s degree takes two years.
Both higher programs offer more knowledge and opportunities for specialisation and professional development – they also credit this certificate as recognition for prior learning. If you wish to quickly achieve a professional standard from a recognised institution, this certificate is ideal for you.
Customised study plan
Choose courses that focus on your preferred specialisation, including legal, medical, business, media, and community translation and interpreting. Depending on demand, you’ll build your specialisation in Chinese (Mandarin), Chinese (Cantonese), French, Greek, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Portuguese, Serbian or Spanish.
Real-world technology
You'll 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.
NAATI endorsement
The National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) endorses this graduate certificate, which means you will be prepared to sit the following exams with NAATI:
Professional experience
Apply what you learn in class to dynamic, real-world professional settings that complement the academic components of your chosen courses.
Potential to level up
Courses in this program can be credited toward the UNSW Graduate Diploma in Translation and Interpreting, which in turn can be credited toward the UNSW Master of Translation and Interpreting.
Bachelor degree (or equivalent qualification) in any discipline with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65% and an advanced level of bilingual proficiency.
Applicants should provide the evidence of proficiency in the nominated language through prior study or NAATI certification/accreditation. Alternatively, upon submitting an application, applicants may be prompted to undertake a proficiency test.
Recognition of prior learning
Receive up to 6 units of credit per course towards this program if you have completed the short courses as advised in the Graduate Certificate in Translation and Interpreting Handbook entry requirements.
Bachelor degree (or equivalent qualification) in any discipline with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65% and an advanced level of bilingual proficiency.
Recognition of prior learning
Receive up to 6 units of credit per course towards this program if you have completed the short courses as advised in the Graduate Certificate in Translation and Interpreting Handbook entry requirements.
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
We do not accept secondary qualifications from this country. We may accept tertiary study results, please contact us for more information.
Please contact us for direct entry requirements.
Recognition of prior learning
Receive up to 6 units of credit per course towards this program if you have completed the short courses as advised in the Graduate Certificate in Translation and Interpreting Handbook entry requirements.
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
The Graduate Certificate in Translation and Interpreting involves completing four courses: a core discipline course, two practical courses (one in interpreting, one in translation) and a prescribed elective. You can tailor the practical courses and prescribed elective toward your career goals and interests.
You'll choose one practical course in interpreting. This list is a sample only, for the current course list please visit the handbook.
You'll choose one practical course in translation. This list is a sample only, for the current course list please visit the handbook.
You'll choose one prescribed elective. This list is a sample only, for the full and current course list please visit the handbook.
Note: this information is subject to change. For the most current information, please view the Program Structure in the Graduate Certificate in Translation and Interpreting Handbook.
A Graduate Certificate in Translation and Interpreting will build the framework to support and strengthen your career progression as a translator or interpreter.
Depending on the courses you choose, you can work toward a career in the following industries:
Applications must be submitted through our Apply Online portal. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term. Some high-demand programs and Faculties with limited places may have an earlier application deadline or commencement date. Find out more.
For most international students, applications are submitted via our Apply Online service. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term.
Some high-demand programs with limited places, may have an earlier application deadline or may have an earlier commencement date. For more information visit our international applicant information page.
$2,255*
$2,255*
All places within this degree are Commonwealth supported. This means that if you receive an offer from UNSW Sydney as a domestic student, you will have a substantial proportion of your fees subsidised by the Australian government. Start your application today with our guide on how to apply.
*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).
Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.
*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).
Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.
Indicative fees to complete the program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year. To find out more about other costs, visit UNSW International.
At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.
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