Department of Linguistics
FAQ
- Entry Requirements
- Intakes
- Unit selection
- Selecting the right program
- About tutorials
- NAATI
- Career pathways
Entry requirements
Q. What kind of requirements do I need to meet in applying to study translation and interpreting at Macquarie?
A. If you are an international candidate, you are required to present the results of an English language test (IELTS overall 7.0; minimum 6.5 in each of the speaking, listening, writing and reading bands) and GPA of your undergraduate degree (minimum 2.5). You are also required to have completed your undergraduate degree. For those who are applying for Postgraduate Diploma in Auslan/English Interpreting, the entry requirements are the completion of an undergraduate degree, NAATI accreditation at the parra-professional level, and 2 years of work experience as an interpreter upon gaining the NAATI accreditation.
Q. Why is the English language requirement so high for international students?
A. Professional translators and interpreters are language professionals. In order to accurately comprehend an original text and reproduce the contents of the original text in the most appropriate way in their translations, a translator or interpreter needs to be highly competent in both their working languages.. IELTS scores give a good standardised benchmark for the level of English required for people who have learned English as a second language. We believe that the English language requirements that we set are the minimal level required to ensure that students can sufficiently develop their skills to produce quality translations and interpretations.
Q. I have completed my undergraduate study over 2 years rather than 4 years. Could I be accepted into your programs?
A. If you wish to take on your study at Macquarie University at the Master’s level, we cannot accept your application. However, you may have a good chance to be accepted if you apply for the Postgraduate Diploma in Translating and Interpreting.
Q. My mother tongue is English. Do I still need to sit one of the designated English tests?
A. The basic answer is NO. However, if you began residing in an English language speaking country AFTER the completion of your primary education, you will still need to present the result of a designated English test. Also, you are required to undergo second language assessments set by us. For more details about the second language assessments, please contact us: email: translate@mq.edu.au.
Intakes
Q. Is there any difference in starting my study at Macquarie in the 1st semester or 2nd semester?
A. While there are some units that are offered in only one of the semesters, the majority of units in programs are available in both semesters. Therefore, there will be no significant differences in starting in either semester*. Please refer to the university handbook for more details.
*Auslan program is an exception as it offers semester 1 intake only
Unit selection
Q. I am interested in becoming a professional translator only. Will I need to study interpreting as well?
A. No. Our programs are designed to respond to your preferences. You may pursue your study in translation OR interpreting as well as studying both translation AND interpreting. However, taking both translation and interpreting units in your first semester is compulsory (for all programs except the Auslan stream) because translation and interpreting share common elements and lay a foundation for the development of translation and interpreting skills, regardless of your chosen professional pathway.
Q. Are there units where I can learn how to translate and/or interpret specifically in my language combination?
A. When you take units that primarily focus on developing your competencies in actual translating and/or interpreting, you will be allocated to tutorials that concentrate on T&I in your language combination (e.g. English and Chinese). This system allows you to learn how to translate and/or interpret a wide range of texts in your language combination because different languages have different challenges and issues.
Q. Will I be able to study both language directions (e.g. Korean into English and
English into Korean) in translation and /or interpreting?
A. Yes. All the units that concentrate on practicing translation and interpreting consist of tutorials for English into LOTE (Language Other Than English) and LOTE into English.
Q. Can I study in more than two working languages?
A. At the moment, no. We currently only offer T&I education in language pairs with English, so all students learn to translate or interpret between English and either Chinese (Mandarin), French, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, or Auslan.
Q. How is the ratio of units balanced with theory and practice?
A. It depends on your selection of units. If you are interested in carrying out research in the future, you may select units that focus on more theoretical aspects of T&I while you may select elective units that mainly deal with practical aspects of T&I. Having said that, our curriculum also incorporates theoretical aspects of T&I because we believe that you cannot develop your competencies in T&I without knowing and applying mechanisms that underpin T&I practice.
Selecting the right program
Q. Currently, I am considering applying for the Master of Translating and Interpreting, but I am also interested in one of the double degree programs. Which program would you recommend that I apply for?
A. We are very flexible in terms of changing programs in order to cater for students’ academic pathways. This means that students can transfer between programs after the commencement of study with us. You are encouraged to discuss such a change with staff in T&I office (C5A xxx).
About tutorials
Q. How many students are there per class?
A. It totally depends on units that you select. If you are attending a lecture, there will be a large number of students while you will see less classmates in tutorials. It also depends on language combinations. As for tutorials, a maximum number of students per class are no more than 20.
Q. Do I get feedbacks about my translation or interpreting tasks from lecturers and/or tutors?
A. Yes. We believe that providing necessary feedback about your performance in T&I is essential for improving your translation and/or interpreting competencies. We also strongly recommend you reflect on class discussions, feedback from your teachers and practice your translation and/or interpreting outside the classroom.
NAATI
Q. Do I need to pass the NAATI exams in order to graduate from your programs?
A. No. As long as you can pass all the units that you select, you will still be awarded the degree that you are enrolled in.
Q. Can I use the NAATI accreditation in countries other than Australia?
A. NAATI accreditation is also recognised in New Zealand. Other countries do not recognise it but you may gain job offers in Australia or New Zealand if you work as a freelance translator or interpreter.
Career pathways
Q. My biggest concern is whether or not I can find the right job that I am aiming for upon the completion of my study of T&I. How is the situation concerning job hunting?
A. It depends on what you would like to be and where you would like to work. Having said that, we’ve heard from our graduates that they have been successful in finding good jobs.