Master’s profile in Conference Interpreting

In the profile in Conference Interpreting of the MA in Language and Communication, you are in the interpreting booth from day one. You learn the techniques and strategies of simultaneous and consecutive interpreting under close supervision from experienced lecturers who themselves are professional interpreters and prepare for professional, service-oriented practice and entry into the profession of a conference interpreter. 

In the core models, you acquire the academic and methodological foundations. In your profile, you gain practical professional expertise.

Detailed information on the programme structure

In the profile in Conference Interpreting, you acquire outstanding interpreting competencies and learn everything you need for daily professional practice as a conference interpreter.

Focus areas:

• Simultaneous and consecutive interpreting  
• Speech training (voice production, rhetoric and speaking technique) 
• Memory training
• Note-taking
• Terminology work
• Interpreting studies 
• Professional skills

You gain practical confidence through:

• conference simulations in which you practice your interpreting skills under real working conditions,
• practice assignments in the “silent booth,” and
• voluntary interpreting assignments with charitable organisations.

You study with experienced conference interpreters who prepare you in the best possible manner for self-employment and professional entry with practical tips and tricks from professional practice. 

Information on full-time/part-time study: information sheet on Conference Interpreting study models

You take at least two and a maximum of four languages of study.  

The following language combinations are possible:

• AB
• ACC
• ABC
• ACCC

One of the languages you pursue must be German.  

The results you achieve in the professional aptitude test will determine which of your languages are classified as A, B and/or C.

With this profile, you are fully qualified to work as a conference interpreter.

• In Switzerland, conference interpreters generally work on a freelance basis.
• International organisations or parliamentary services also employ conference interpreters in salaried positions.

Working on an assignment basis exposes you to a very wide variety of subject areas and allows you to gain insights behind the scenes of many different sectors.

Typical clients:

• Government bodies
• International companies and organisations such as the EU and UN  
• Television broadcasters
• Specialist conferences and congresses
• Foundations, associations, political parties, NGOs, etc.

The profile in Conference Interpreting is suitable for graduates from all Bachelor's disciplines who have excellent language skills in at least two languages.

A Bachelor’s degree and excellent language skills in the selected two to four languages of study are required for admission to the programme. You must also pass a professional aptitude test.

In addition, you will need to possess the following attributes if you are to successfully manage your everyday study and professional life:

• Strong written and oral communication skills in various contexts
• The ability to grasp new concepts quickly
• Creativity in problem-solving
• Intellectual curiosity
• Resilience  
• The ability to handle criticism and maintain focus
• Thorough knowledge of the economic, social, political and cultural conditions in the cultural areas of your languages of study

• Stays abroad  
• Highly recommended: attendance of the one-semester conference interpreting bridging course