Conference Interpreting - PG Dip

Program Overview

The Conference Interpreting PG Dip at London Metropolitan University equips students with practical skills and expertise in conference interpreting. Offered in full-time and part-time modes, the program covers consecutive, simultaneous, and EU/UN interpreting, preparing graduates for careers in various settings, including international organizations, private companies, and governments. Students benefit from state-of-the-art interpreting suites, personalized support, and opportunities for networking and real-world experience.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This postgraduate diploma program prepares students for a professional career as conference interpreters, working face-to-face or online via remote interpreting in various settings. Students can work for private markets, commercial organizations, or large international institutions like the European Union or United Nations. The program offers interpreters in the following languages paired with English:

• Arabic
• French
• German
• Italian
• Japanese
• Mandarin
• Polish
• Portuguese
• Russian
• Spanish
The program is offered in two modes:
• Full-time: One year duration, requiring four days of student commitment per week.
• Part-time: Two years duration, requiring two days of student commitment per week.
Both modes are taught in a synchronous hybrid mode, forming a single community of learners.

Objectives:

• Equip students with practical interpreting skills through state-of-the-art interpreting suites equipped with technology used by renowned international institutions.
• Provide opportunities to learn outside the classroom through guided trips around London and potentially international travel to visit places like the United Nations in Geneva, the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg, or the European Commission in Brussels.
• Develop expertise in innovative technology and online interpreting platforms through partnerships with external organizations.
• Teach long consecutive interpreting, setting up a professional profile as a linguist, and developing visibility in the market.
• Prepare students for accreditation tests required by freelance interpreters working for international institutions.
• Develop multilingual and multicultural conference management skills.
• Offer shadowing opportunities with professional interpreters at work and dummy booth practice face-to-face and/or online.
• Serve as a stand-alone qualification or stepping stone to the full Conference Interpreting MA.

Outline:

The program consists of 120 credits, including:

• Consecutive interpreting (English into A, or C1 into English) (core, 20 credits): Focuses on interpreting from English into the chosen language or from the second foreign language into English.
• Consecutive interpreting (A into English or C2 into English) (core, 20 credits): Focuses on interpreting from the chosen language into English or from the third foreign language into English.
• Interpreting Theory and Interpreting Assignment Preparation Strategies (core, 20 credits):
• Simultaneous interpreting (A<>English , or C1 and C2 into English) (core, 20 credits): Focuses on simultaneous interpreting from English into the chosen language or from the second and third foreign languages into English.
• The Interpreters Professional Environment (with Placement) (core, 20 credits): Discusses the professional environment of interpreters, including ethics, marketing, and networking.
• Conference Interpreting (EU/UN Context) (core, 20 credits): Prepares students for the specific requirements of interpreting in the context of the European Union and United Nations.

Assessment:

• Essays
• Presentations
• Practical interpreting performances
• Self and peer evaluations
• Reflective portfolios

Teaching:

• Taught by experienced and qualified academics and practitioners.
• Uses a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, seminars, workshops, and practical sessions.
• Utilizes state-of-the-art interpreting suites and technology.

Unique Approaches:

• Focuses on developing practical interpreting skills through hands-on experience.
• Utilizes innovative technology to prepare students for the future of interpreting.
• Offers opportunities for students to network with professional interpreters and gain real-world experience.
• Provides personalized support to help students succeed.

Careers:

Graduates can pursue careers as:

• Freelance interpreters
• Interpreters for agencies
• Interpreters for private companies
• Interpreters for international organizations
• Interpreters for governments
• Interpreters for educational institutions

Salary Expectation:

The average salary for conference interpreters in the UK is £45,000 per year.

Other:

• The program welcomes applications from students with a 2:1 degree (or equivalent) in translation, interpreting, modern languages, or a related field.
• Students must also have native or near native knowledge of English and their chosen paired language.
• The program is offered as a full-time or part-time option, allowing students to study alongside their job or other commitments.

Additional Costs:

• Students may incur additional costs for equipment, materials, printing, textbooks, trips, or professional body fees.