Prospective Students

Aims and Objectives:

The programme targets experienced interpreters and people with a knowledge of languages who may be interested in working in community interpreting situations such as in hospitals, garda stations, district courts, interviews with asylum seekers, social welfare offices, etc. The aims and objectives of the course are:

(i) to make students aware of ethical issues that may arise in the course of interpreting;

(ii) to provide professional training in interpreting;

(iii) to teach students how to source appropriate terms and definitions;

(iv) to equip students with the skills they need to work effectively as interpreters.

The programme aims to incresase the professionalisation of community interpreting in Ireland.

Programme Structure:

The programme is delivered on a part-time basis with lectures taking place on Thursday evenings and on Saturdays. Students enrolled for the programme in Semester 1 will have lectures from late September for 12 weeks with assessment during January while students enrolled in Semester 2 will have lectures from early February for 12 weeks with assessment in May. Students study four core modules making of total of 30 credits for the course.

View the subjects currently taught on this course (2011 - 2012)

The course will be offered to speakers of such languages as French, Spanish, Russian, Romanian and Mandarin Chinese.

Programme Entry Requirements

While interpreters who already hold a third-level qualification will be welcome, it is envisaged that this certificate course would equally be availed of by candidates who have a good knowledge of languages and can provide evidence of interpreting ability. It is therefore envisaged that APEL will be a factor in assessing applications to the course.

Native speakers of English should normally hold a degree in the foreign language in which they work. Applicants who do not hold a degree must demonstrate an equivalent knowledge of the language concerned. Non-native speakers of English, with excellent English language skills (e.g. IELTS 7.0 points, Cambridge Proficiency B or TOEFL 600 points) and special-case applicants are invited to apply. Selection will be on the basis of qualifications, and in some cases, interview and written test.

Career Prospects:

The Irish Council of General Practitioners has voiced its concern on a number of occasions regarding the lack of trained interpreters in Ireland. Many GPs are not aware that they can contact an interpreter to ensure communication with patients who do not have a good level of English. Hospitals often depend on a patient's friends or relatives to act as interpreters. As the role of interpreter becomes more acknowledged there will be greater demand for professional interpreters.

Entry Requirements:

While interpreters who already hold a third-level qualification will be welcome, it is envisaged that this certificate course would equally be availed of by candidates who have a good knowledge of languages and can provide evidence of interpreting ability. It is therefore envisaged that APEL will be a factor in assessing applications to the course.

Native speakers of English should normally hold a degree in the foreign language in which they work. Applicants who do not hold a degree must demonstrate an equivalent knowledge of the language concerned.

Non-native speakers of English, with excellent English language skills (e.g. IELTS 7.0 points, Cambridge Proficiency B or TOEFL 600 points) and special-case applicants are invited to apply. Selection will be on the basis of qualifications, and in some cases, interview and written test.

International Applications
International candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to those outlined above. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language. For further information on international applications click here.

Dates for Submission of Applications 2010

EU Applicants and Non-EU Applicants

Apply online through the Postgraduate Applications Centre (http://www.pac.ie/dcu) as follows:

Applying through the Postgraduate Applications Centre (http://www.pac.ie/dcu)
When applying for this programme for entry in September 2010 use the PAC code DC624 for the part-time programme and DC640 for the modular programme.

Study Visas - Important Information

Applicants who require a student visa for entry to Ireland are encouraged to
seek clarification from the relevant Irish embassy regarding the closing date for application for such visas. Applicants who do not secure a study visa in time will be unable to take up their offer of a place on any DCU programme.

Queries on Completed Applications
Queries on completed applications can be made by e-mail to registry.pac@dcu.ie

Commencement of Programme

September 2010

Full list of degrees >

Fee information

Indicative Timetable
(Weeks 20-31)