Master of Translation
- Commencing Terms
- Term 1, 2 & 3
- Duration
- 1.7 Year(s)
- Delivery Mode
- Face-to-face (includes blended), Online
- Campus
-
Kensington
- Codes
- Program code 8203
- CRICOS code 083234F
-
2024 Indicative first year full fee
- $31,000*
-
2024 Indicative full fee to complete degree
- $47,500*
-
2024 Indicative first year full fee
- $43,500*
-
2024 Indicative full fee to complete degree
- $67,500*
Fees
Fees
-
NAATI accredited
-
12 language options
-
Strong industry links
International application pause for 2025 intakes
Applications for international students to study at UNSW in 2025 are currently paused. Please submit your expression of interest to join our application waitlist so we can contact you.
- Overview
- Entry requirements
- What will I study?
- Future careers
- How to apply
- Fees & Scholarships
Overview
The UNSW Master of Translation is a 1.7 year full-time postgraduate degree that prepares you for a successful career as a certified translator, both in Australia and overseas. Choose from a variety of languages and industry specialisations. You'll learn current theory and critical skills from leading interpreting and linguistics practitioners and researchers, while gaining practical experience in professional settings.
Key features
Language variety
You can combine English with Chinese (Mandarin), Chinese (Cantonese), French, Greek, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Portuguese, Serbian or Spanish (subject to student demand).
Recognition of prior learning
Fast track your degree with the option to graduate in as little as one year with recognition of your previous studies and experience.
Career skills
Get practical professional experience and desirable career skills in critical analysis, project management, teamwork, independent research and preparation.
Specialist topics
Build legal, medical, welfare, business, community and conference interpreting knowledge.
Learn from the best
The program is led by leading researchers and practitioners in the field of translation, interpreting and linguistics. Our programs are taught by experienced, NAATI accredited/certified practitioners. Our teachers are internationally recognised in legal and community interpreting, translation pedagogy and translation technologies.
Links with industry
UNSW is an affiliate of AUSIT, the national professional association for interpreters and translators. You’ll have opportunities to gain real-world experience through translation work or observe experienced translators working in different professional settings such as Agreement for the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) and the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).
Why study this degree at UNSW?
- Become qualified through a National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) endorsed program
- Be supported by our diverse, collaborative and inclusive Arts, Design & Architecture community
- Learn through research-informed teaching
- Prioritise career success - UNSW won the Australian Financial Review's Most Employable Students Award in 2024.
- Benefit from strong industry links and partnerships
- Access world-class alumni connections
- Join a global top 20 university (QS World University Rankings, 2024)
- Join a community that’s part of the prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) universities
Want to see more from UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture?
Entry requirements
There are two different streams of the Master of Translation. The stream you apply for will depend on the depth of your prior academic and/or professional experience, and how closely it relates to translation.
You may be eligible to have your study recognised via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). If your work experience or prior study is recognised, credit points can be counted towards the degree, and you would then be able to complete the coursework undertaking fewer subjects.
You will need to meet the following admission requirements to be considered for entry into the program:
1.7 year (72 UOC) program (Stream B)
- A bachelor's degree (or equivalent qualification) in any field with a credit average (equivalent to a UNSW WAM of 65) and an advanced level of bilingual proficiency.
1 year (48 UOC) program (Stream A)
- A bachelor's degree (or equivalent qualification) in a related field with a credit average (equivalent to a UNSW WAM of 65) and an advanced level of bilingual proficiency, plus one year relevant professional experience.
- Students in this stream will receive 24 UOC in advanced standing upon entry to the program, and will complete a 1 year (48 UOC) program of study.
Related fields: Interpreting and Translation, Linguistics, Languages.
Applicants should provide 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.
Applicants with a degree in a discipline not listed here but who wish to make a case for its academic relevance may apply and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
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:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
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.
There are two different streams of the Master of Translation. The stream you apply for will depend on the depth of your prior academic and/or professional experience, and how closely it relates to translation
You may be eligible to have your study recognised via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). If your work experience or prior study is recognised, credit points can be counted towards the degree, and you would then be able to complete the coursework undertaking fewer subjects.
You will need to meet the following admission requirements to be considered for entry into the program:
1.7 year (72 UOC) program (Stream B)
- A bachelor's degree (or equivalent qualification) in any field with a credit average (equivalent to a UNSW WAM of 65) and an advanced level of bilingual proficiency.
1 year (48 UOC) program (Stream A)
- A bachelor's degree (or equivalent qualification) in a related field with a credit average (equivalent to a UNSW WAM of 65) and an advanced level of bilingual proficiency, plus one year relevant professional experience.
- Students in this stream will receive 24 UOC in advanced standing upon entry to the program, and will complete a 1 year (48 UOC) program of study.
Related fields: Interpreting and Translation, Linguistics, Languages.
Students from a non-211 university in China are now required to have a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW distinction average (75%).
Applicants with a degree in a discipline not listed here but who wish to make a case for its academic relevance may apply and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
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:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
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 Master of Translation is available in two streams. The stream that you study will depend on your existing experience and knowledge. The streams are referred to as Translation A and Translation B.
Translation A recognises your prior learning and experience, with only 8 courses and one year of full-time study. Translation B has 12 courses and 1.7 years of full-time study. The key difference is that the Translation B stream offers core courses and more elective courses than Translation A.
The programs include:
- 2 Core courses (Translation B only)
- 5 Prescribed electives (Translation B only)
- 3 Prescribed electives (Translation A only)
- 4 Advanced electives
- 1 research course
Full program structure
Each university year at UNSW has three terms and an optional summer study period. You can study full-time or part-time. Depending on how you plan your study load, you can fit two or three courses into a term and one course in a summer term.
This program is structured to acknowledge the skills that you bring to your postgraduate education. Depending on your level of experience, you can study a streamlined degree in one year. Below is an example of what you could study in a standard full-time study plan.
Stream: Translation A
First year
- 1 Research core course
- 3 Prescribed electives
- 4 Advanced electives
Stream: Translation B
First year
- 2 Core courses
- 1 Research core course
- 5 Prescribed electives
Second year
- 4 Advanced electives
Future careers
As a professional translator, you’ll be able to pursue a global career and or work from the comfort of your own home. Graduates of the UNSW Master of Translation possess the skills required for careers in government and in the private sector. Our graduates work in a variety of areas, including law, health, education, tourism, business, media, science and technology, and international relations.
Accreditation
National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters, The program is endorsed by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) and also prepares students to sit the certification exams administered by NAATI for qualification as a Certified Provisional Interpreter, Certified Interpreter, and Certified Translator. With certain coursework, our program will also prepare students to sit specialist certification exams for Certified Advanced Translator, Certified Specialist Interpreter (Health), Certified Specialist Interpreter (Legal) and Certified Conference Interpreter.
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
*Fees are subject to annual review (or when required) by the University and may vary accordingly.
Indicative fees are a guide only and have been calculated based on the typical enrolment patterns of students undertaking the program. The indicative fees listed here is an estimate for tuition only and excludes non-tuition fees and charges. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year of enrolment, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (48 units of credit (UOC) per year).
You should not rely on indicative fees as fee increases are assessed when required and may exceed the indicative figures listed here. Actual fees are calculated on enrolment. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
*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.
QS World University Rankings, 2025.
AFR Top 100 Future leaders Award.
#1 Australian uni attended by start-up founders.
“I was taught by academics who are world-renowned in their field. I received the best attention from all of them. UNSW also opened doors for me through internships and professional practice opportunities. It led to work opportunities around the world."
