Course details

Summary

The Bachelor of Arts prepares you for a huge range of careers, and you can build your degree in a way that suits you – study a single or a double major, select from a wide range of minors or add elective papers from another area of study. Throughout your Bachelor of Arts you’ll develop effective communication, critical thinking and analysis skills, as well as the ability to research and present professionally. These skills are key to any professional role.

Translators are essential in our increasingly multicultural world. There is a growing demand for translations of books, websites and new media, creating many opportunities for people who speak and write in two languages.

In the Translation major you become familiar with the ethics of being a translator and learn to write appropriately using a range of styles. Throughout your studies you recognise the purpose of different types of texts, and produce translations that are correct in terms of content, style and intended purpose.

Classes are limited to 30 students, which means you'll have plenty of contact time with the teaching staff, with many resources available online. Some papers are offered online, and these have a virtual classroom.
Key features:

Growing demand for translators
Many opportunities to practise your translation skills
Suitable for people who speak and write in two languages
Workplace experience in your final semester

Career opportunities:
Translation work for:

Business, domestically and internationally
Government departments
Immigration agencies
Legal firms
Translation agencies
Freelance translation
Literary translation
Academic translation

Translators in New Zealand are able to take advantage of time differences to deliver translations to clients in Europe the following morning.

Entry criteria

Applicants must be 18 years old and have obtained a qualification equivalent to New Zealand year 13.

(Spoken language) Interpreting and Translation majors: High level of competency in English and one other language. (NZSL and English Interpreting major: NZSL fluency is not required)

Selection criteria

Interpreting and Translation majors: Applicants will complete an interview, listening test and writing test to assess their competency in both languages.

Preferred New Zealand school subjects

All subjects are useful, in particular Classical Studies, English, Geography, History, History of Art, Media Studies and other languages.

English Language Requirements:

IELTS (Academic) 7.0 overall with 7.0 in Writing and Speaking, and 6.5 in Reading and Listening; or equivalent; TOEFL iBT score of 80; Computer-based: Total score of 213 with a minimum essay rating of 4.0; Certificate in English for Academic Study (CertEAS) with B/B+ grade; GIE with B grade; CAE minimum overall score of 169; PTE minimum overall score of 50.