Start main page content
Wits University Faculty of Humanities
Translation or Interpreting Improve your translation or interpreting skills.
Translation or Interpreting Improve your translation or interpreting skills.

Qualification: PGDip

Faculty: Humanities

Duration: 1- 2 years

School: Literature, Language and Media

Study mode: Full-time; Part-time

Overview

The Postgraduate Diploma in the fields of Translation or Interpreting strives for a balance between professional and practical training and achieving an understanding of the broader theoretical and conceptual issues of the area.

The Postgraduate Diploma and the BA Honours are at the same NQF level – the difference between them lies in the entry requirements.

The programme (either in the field of translation or interpreting) is a one-year full-time, or two-year part-time programme.

The Postgraduate Diploma in the field of Translation consists of the following modules:

  • TRAN5004A: Specialist Translation with Interpreting
  • TRAN5005A: Specialist Translation with Interpreting
  • TRAN5007A: Advanced Practical Translation and Analysis
  • TRAN5008A: Principles and Practice of Translation
  • TRAN5016A: Translation Studies

The Postgraduate Diploma in the field of Interpreting consists of the following modules:

  • TRAN5010A: Principles and Practice of  Interpreting
  • TRAN5011A: Specialist Translation for Interpreters
  • TRAN5012A: Conference Interpreting Skills
  • TRAN5013A: Interpreting Studies
  • TRAN5014A: Interpreting Research Methods and Analysis

The Postgraduate Diploma programme is open to students with a Bachelor’s or equivalent degree in a neighbouring discipline, provided they achieved an aggregate of 50% pass on their major, and they can demonstrate proficiency in one or two languages in addition to their first language. 

All applicants for the translation track are required to compile an entrance portfolio consisting of:

  • A translation test in the relevant language combination provided by the department;
  • A letter of motivation of 750 to 1000 words in English on the reasons for applying to the Department of Translation and Interpreting Studies;
  • A 300-word academic English assessment essay on a topic provided by the department.

There may be a further language assessment and/or interview for applicants who perform satisfactorily in the entrance portfolio.

All applicants for the interpreting track are required to compile an entrance portfolio consisting of:

  • Pre-assessment form, Section A: Personal Details, Section B: Motivation for the application, Section C: Rating of language skills, Section D: Glossing Exercise and Section E: Practice Test which is a  simultaneous interpreted text from source to target language (3 min) in both language directions.

There will be a further assessment for applicants for interpreting programmes based on the initial submission of the practice test.

30 September
  • Applications are handled centrally by the Student Enrolment Centre (SEnC). Once your application is complete in terms of requested documentation, your application will be referred to the relevant School for assessment. Click here to see an overview of the Wits applications process.
  • Please apply online. Upload your supporting documents at the time of application, or via the Self Service Portal.
  • Applicants can monitor the progress of their applications via the Self Service Portal.
  • Selections for programmes that have a limited intake but attract a large number of applications may only finalise the application at the end of the application cycle.

Please note that the Entry Requirements are a guide. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee a place. Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.

International students, please check this section.

For more information, contact the Student Call Centre +27 (0)11 717 1888, or log a query at www.wits.ac.za/askwits.

Click here to see the current average tuition fees. The Fees site also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal.

For information about postgraduate funding opportunities, including the postgraduate merit award, click here. Please also check your School website for bursary opportunities. NRF bursaries: The National Research Foundation (NRF) offers a wide range of opportunities in terms of bursaries and fellowships to students pursuing postgraduate studies. External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.