How is the Certificate in Interpretation Studies different from the Certificate in Translation Studies?

Translation works with written text; interpretation works with spoken language in real time. They are separate professional skills. The Certificate in Interpretation Studies is for adults specifically interested in interpreting work.

Will the Certificate in Interpretation Studies make me a registered interpreter?

No — UK public-service interpreter registration requires the DPSI qualification, NRPSI registration, or specific service-provider accreditation. The Certificate is foundational; registration requires further specialist study.

Does the Certificate in Interpretation Studies cover simultaneous (conference) interpreting?

Briefly, with observation and short structured exposure. Full conference-interpreting training requires the Diploma or specialised MA programmes. The Certificate is consecutive and liaison-focused.

Can I take the Certificate in Interpretation Studies fully online?

Yes. Live tutored sessions, recorded interpretation practice and structured tutor feedback all adapt naturally to remote delivery. Some students find online practice particularly useful as it mirrors remote interpreting work.

How is the Certificate in Interpretation Studies different from a community-interpreting volunteer training?

Volunteer training is typically organisation-specific and brief. The Certificate is a UK credit-bearing higher-education qualification with academic articulation routes. They suit different purposes; the Certificate is for adults considering interpreting as a profession.

Certificate in Interpretation Studies in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The Certificate in Interpretation Studies at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a short UK qualification for bilingual adults considering professional interpreting work. The course covers consecutive interpreting and liaison interpreting at introductory level, the working ethics of interpreter practice, and the craft of holding two languages in working parallel under pressure.

Interpreting and translation are related but distinct professions. This Certificate is the right entry point for adults who want to test interpreting specifically — particularly community, public-service and conference-introduction work.

Key Features

Consecutive interpreting basics — note-taking, memory, sustained delivery.
Liaison interpreting basics — short-form bilateral interpretation in public-service contexts.
Interpreter ethics — neutrality, fidelity, confidentiality, conflict-of-interest handling.
Conference interpreting introduction — observation and structured exposure.
Recorded practice with structured tutor feedback.
Three study modes — on-campus, fully online with remote interpreting practice, or distance learning.

What You Will Learn

The Certificate in Interpretation Studies is built around the working skills a new interpreter needs — note-taking under pressure, sustained delivery, ethical handling of sensitive material.

Consecutive interpreting — note-taking system, memory, recovery from missed material.
Liaison interpreting — short-form bilateral interpretation in social and public-service contexts.
Interpreter ethics — neutrality, fidelity, confidentiality.
Working with vulnerable subjects — trauma-informed interpreting basics.
Public service interpreting contexts — health, legal, social services.
Conference interpreting introduction (with observation).
Professional development pathways — CIOL, ITI, NRPSI registration.
Self-care for interpreters — vicarious trauma, voice care, sustainability.

Who This Course Is For

Bilingual adults considering professional interpreting work.
Working community interpreters without formal qualifications.
Translators wanting to add interpreting to their portfolio.
Heritage speakers wanting to evidence bilingual skills for interpreter work.

Career Pathways

The Certificate in Interpretation Studies is a foundation credential supporting moves into public-service and community interpreting. Typical applications include:

Public Service Interpreter (NHS, courts, social services — alongside DPSI or NRPSI registration)
Community Interpreter (charities, advocacy organisations)
Liaison Interpreter (international visitors, business)
Subtitler-Interpreter (broadcast, accessibility)
Continued Study (Diploma in Interpretation Studies, BA Interpretation Studies)
Preparation for DPSI (Diploma in Public Service Interpreting) qualification

The Certificate articulates into the Diploma in Interpretation Studies at LSJHML for students continuing.

Entry Requirements

Minimum age 16.
Secondary school qualification (GCSE/O-Level or international equivalent).
IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent) for non-native English speakers.
CEFR B2 or above in your second language (placement test offered).

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.