Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) are available for this program

Check the Fees & Scholarships tab for details

Enjoy a global career with the skills to work as a professional translator and interpreter in Australia and beyond.

 

Faculty
Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture
Delivery Mode
Face-to-face (includes blended), Online
Award
Graduate Diploma in Translation and Interpreting
Commencing Terms
Term 1, Term 2, Term 3
Duration
1.0

Overview

The UNSW Graduate Diploma in Translation and Interpreting is tailored to meet your career goals. Choose electives to specialise in a particular field while you build professional translating and interpreting skills. You'll develop practical techniques with access to current real-world technologies and also with translation studies and interpreting coursework led by industry-experienced lecturers.

Why study a graduate diploma?
Open the door to your profession without committing to a full master’s degree. A graduate diploma offers more opportunities to develop your specialisation than the shorter graduate certificate. In comparison, the master’s degree takes two years and offers comprehensive knowledge, professional development, and further accreditation opportunities. The courses in the graduate diploma can also be credited toward the master's degree if you wish to continue your studies.

Key features

Customise your studies
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:

  • Certified Provisional Interpreter
  • Certified Interpreter
  • Certified Translator

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
This program is a pathway toward the UNSW Master of Translation and the UNSW Master of Interpreting. Its courses can also be credited toward the UNSW Master of Translation and Interpreting.

Why study at UNSW?

 
  • Connect with UNSW’s strong industry links and partnerships
  • Join a proudly diverse, collaborative, and inclusive community
  • Learn through supportive, research-informed teaching
  • Access a global alumni network
  • Endorsement with NAATI
Program Code
5203
CRICOS Code
106115H
Campus
Kensington
Total Units of Credit (UOC)
48

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 Diploma in Translation and Interpreting Handbook entry requirements. 

English language 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.

International direct entry

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 Diploma in Translation and Interpreting Handbook entry requirements. 

English language 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.

Check the specific English language requirements for this program

Program structure

The Graduate Diploma in Translation and Interpreting involves completing eight courses: a core discipline course, two practical courses (one in interpreting, one in translation) and five prescribed electives. You can tailor the practical courses and prescribed electives toward your career goals and interests.

Courses

    • Research and Theories of Translation and Interpreting
  • You'll choose one practical course in interpreting. This list is a sample only, for the current course list please visit the handbook.

    • Advanced Conference Interpreting
    • Community of Practice for Interpreting
    • Conference Interpreting
    • Interpreting Certification Preparation
    • Interpreting in Community Settings
    • Interpreting in International Settings
    • Interpreting in Legal Settings
  • You'll choose one practical course in translation. This list is a sample only, for the current course list please visit the handbook.

    • Advanced Translation Technology and Industry Practice
    • Multimedia Translation
    • Specialised Translation
    • Translation Certification Preparation
    • Translation Technology
  • You'll choose five electives. This list is a sample only, for the current course list please visit the handbook.

    • Any of the practical courses list above
    • Cross-cultural Pragmatics
    • Current Issues in Bilingualism
    • Language Technology
    • Second Language Acquisition
    • Semantics and Pragmatics
    • The Grammar of English
    • The Psychology of Language

Note: this information is subject to change. For the most current information, please view the program structure in the Graduate Diploma in Translation and Interpreting Handbook.

Future careers

A Graduate Diploma in Translation and Interpreting will build the framework and skills to support and strengthen your career progression as a translator or interpreter.

Career opportunities

Depending on the courses you choose, you can work toward a career in the following industries:

  • Business and economics
  • Education and academia
  • Health
  • Law and international relations
  • Marketing and publishing
  • Media and journalism
  • Tourism
  • Science and technology

How to apply

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.

Ready to start your application?

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.

Ready to start your application?

Fees & Scholarships

Commonwealth Supported Places

2023 Indicative CSP First Year Fee

$4,855*

2023 Indicative CSP Fee to Complete Degree

$4,855*

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

2023 Indicative First Year Full Fee
$27,690*
2023 Indicative Full Fee to Complete Degree
$27,690*

*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.

2023 Indicative First Year Fee
$38,250*
2023 Indicative Fee to Complete Degree
$38,250*

*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.

Scholarships


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.